At (other) grandma's

On Sunday afternoon, Andy took Ivan up to his parents' house so Ivan would spend a few days with them. The idea is that he'll stay for a week, although I seriously doubt that he'll last that long without wanting to go home.

Andy drove him up to PA without me. I didn't want to go because I thought Ivan would fuss less when it was our time to leave him, if Andy were alone.

I packed his stuff in the Mickey Mouse suitcase my mom got him--of course, when I told that to my mom, she got upset, like I knew she would, because I have never packed him in the suitcase when he stays over at their house--and put Medic in his backpack.

As they drove away, I waved at him from the window and he waved back. It broke my heart, and I started missing him right away. His departure was as if someone tore a piece of me. He's stayed with my parents before for a few nights, so we've been without him for a few days, but for some reason, this going away felt bigger and was more difficult on me. It was like he was going on a big trip. Maybe it's the distance; unlike my parents who live half an hour away, Andy's parents are one hour and a half away. It's also the fact that it's Andy's parents who are obviously not my parents and to whom I'm not as close as to my parents. But it's mostly the fact that both Andy and I feared that he'd have a hard time being there and that he'd cry to come home.

For the last few months, especially since Allen's arrival, Ivan's been all about mama. He's been more sensitive and clingy to me. Two weeks ago, when he spent the night at my parents' house before his birthday party, he went to bed asking for mama and woke up asking for mama, which is something he had never done before.

But last night in PA, Andy stayed with him until it was bed time, when he changed him in his jammies. Andy's mom then read him books in the bedroom. He went back out to the living room to see Andy, then back to the bedroom for more books and went to bed. Andy left in the meantime.

I had these visions of Andy's parents calling in the middle of the night that Ivan was still awake and crying, and of Andy driving up to York at 3 a.m. to pick him up. But nope. So far, a day later, every seems OK.

According to Andy's mom, he woke up this morning, ate his breakfast, etc. Jessica was staying over, which I'm sure helped.

He did ask about dadda once, to which Andy's mom said, that dadda will come and pick him up but that first he'll play with them a bit. That answer satisfied him.

He did, however, ask about Allen. "Where is my baby Allen," he apparently asked, looking at their pictures on the fridge.

In the morning, they went to visit Paige and her twins, who are the same age. The playdate went OK, although everyone was very quiet. As I told Andy's mom, Ivan usually needs a pre-party party in order to warm up to new kids and surroundings.

For lunch, Jessica wanted beefaroni (whatever that is). Ivan didn't want it, but when he saw Jessy eat it he wanted some too. He ate a whole bowl, and said, "Mama, dadda, be proud of me. Allen, Mariposa be proud of me." because he ate his full lunch.

How endearing (although Andy and I both wondered how does he know the word "proud")

In the afternoon, they played with playdooh, colored, etc..... I last spoke to Andy's mom around 6 p.m. when everything was still fine.

We'll get a new report in the morning. I wonder how it was to put him to bed.

My personal hunch is that he won't be able to stay there the entire week. I give it until Wednesday, when we'll need to go and pick him up. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe he won't miss us and will stay longer.

But will I be able to endure not seeing him for that long?