Goodbyes are always so hard

In January 2007, I met the Taylor's for the first time: Don, Kendi, and baby Joshua. Josh was just 8 months old, not even crawling yet. I remember Kendi bring him in to KDO (Kid's Day Out) in his car seat with a Thomas the Train fleece blanket over him. He captured my heart pretty much immediately with his cute, dimply smile.

Now, he's an energetic 3 year old who can make me crack up with a single look. Wow, has he grown in the last 3 years. He went from a little baby snuggled in his Thomas blanket to a big boy who:
*dresses himself in a hoodie, gym shorts, and cowboy boots. :)
*can tell when we're almost to the sno cone stand
*make decisions on where we should eat when Kendi and I can't decide
*kick/throw a football pretty stinkin' far
*make everyone in the room crack up just by laughing
*gets so excited over the smallest things
*can jump from couch to ottoman and back, while giving Kendi and I heart attacks, but cracking us up all the same.
*loves seeing "Ambur's cats"
*thinks it's totally cool to go for a ride in "Ambur's car," but at the same time is a little sad/teary eyed to be leaving mom behind
*who tells me how much he loves me--and means it.

Today, I had to say good bye to my sweet Joshua. His family is moving to Oklahoma next week & he is spending a week in Houston at his grandparent's before they leave. So today is the last time I'll see him until March (when i go visit over Spring Break). It was so hard. Why don't goodbyes get easier? You'd think I've been through enough, especially as of late, but they still just kill me. I feel like my heart's been ripped out.

Playing the Piano together--November 2008


I love this pic:


Baking Brownies together is always fun:





Our Christmas "Date." We went to my house to play with my cat, to dinner with my aunt, cousins, and parents, and to look at Christmas Lights:



Our last "date" was a trip to McDonald's and the Flour Bluff Football game. We had an absolute blast!






I love you, Josh and can't wait until March to see you!