...and the world...spins madly...on.

As I sit here, surrounded by boxes stacks of things waiting on the movers to pack,  I’m getting a bit nostalgic about a house…a town…a state that I thought I hated.  It’s our last week in New Jersey and I can’t help but be flooded with all the memories we’ve made here.  Afterall, this is where the best thing that ever happened to us entered the world slightly unexpectedly that "normal" Friday evening.  And whether we argue that he’s a “Florida boy” or a “Jersey boy” – I brought him home *here* -- in this house, in this neighborhood next to awesome neighbors and near his New Jersey family.  He slept all alone in his crib that very first night in his room upstairs.  I secretly slept on the floor next to the crib, checking his breathing every 15 minutes.

We have so often felt like our life was on hold while we were here…but now I’m not sure why we felt that way.  We have been LIVING it all this time!  Watching and enjoying Jack grow up with all sorts of crazy experiences…traveling…teaching Jack about seasons, wild bunnies in the yard, golf, planes overhead, Valley Forge, golf, how to hate the Philadelphia Eagles, insane traffic, shipyards, the Yankees, NYC, the Liberty Bell, golf, cheesesteaks, "real bagels," and everything that NJ, NYC and Philly had to offer.  We tried to take it all in while we were here.

Jack took his first steps here…in this house…that I swore I hated.

His first birthday party was in that dining room where the light hangs too low and I hit my head.

And, while he’s been all over the place (even to multiple countries, y’all!)…his entire existence so far is wrapped up in this house….in this town…in this state…that I thought I hated.

This place…is where I created, fostered and enjoyed relationships with *my* New Jersey family.

….it’s where we made GREAT friends right next door. You know those types of friends – the kind that are more than just “can I borrow some sugar” friends – but lifetime friends that you can always relate to (“oh your kid has dirt all over her face/body/hair too?  Excellent.  So does Jack.”)

…it’s the place where *I* learned about seasons.  I do love a good brisk fall morning where I can wear my skinnies and boots and a big, comfy sweater.  There’ll be none of that in Florida.

…it’s the place where I learned about *NOT* traveling…and how there’s a balance to EVERYTHING we do in life.

…it’s the place where Matt got bitten by a dog (that is SO for another blog).

…it’s where I learned that I really do just prefer a manual shift car over a big SUV.  (Sorry, X3…but I’m getting back to my 335, but will opt for the 4 door this time.)

…it’s where Lucky learned to love the boarders as we traveled all over to see family and friends during our two years here.

This place…that I thought I hated…has become to mean so much to me….as I face leaving it. 

This is where Jack first learned to swim and love the pool and ocean.

It's where we learned that Jack LOVES "big kids" and all that they represent...fast running, fancy soccer footwork and swinging very high on the swingset!

He said his first words here...duck, hat, truck, doggie ("ruff ruff!").

We discovered here that Jack was a hugger – like his Southern family roots suggest….and has hugged his neighbor/big sister Rosie every time he has seen her since he started crawling.

I will miss my sister in law, Christine….and how she’ll drop everything to hang with Jack or meet me at the mall.

I’ll miss the Jersey Shore.

Jack is going to miss Loudy (Loudon)…his 6 year old neighbor/big brother….who he absolutely cries for every day when we get home (“see Loudy”… “Loudy” … “LOUDY!”)

I am sad that Jack’s Fridays with Grandma are coming to an end.

I know Matt will miss being so close to his Dad and seeing him so often.

We will all miss the Turning Point…our favorite brunch place, where we always have a seat.

We’ll miss how close Haddonfield is to our house…and walking down “main street USA” on a nice 

Saturday morning.

I will miss my mother-in-law and all of her amazingly sweet friends.

Jack will definitely miss the “choo choo” train (aka, the PATCO train).

I will not miss how I need to remember to bring a bottle of wine out to dinner. 

I will not miss the potholes that go to the core of the Earth or so it seems.

I will not miss the NJ turnpike.  I don’t know how anyone gets anywhere in a timely manner by using that roadway.

I will not miss the horrifying vortex that is Wegman’s.  It’s the store that is busy no matter what time of day 

or day of the week.

I will not miss the cold winter.  I just…will not.  And, since I’ll still be traveling here a little….I’ll get to experience your winter and scrape ice from my rental car windows. 

And, while there are some things we won’t miss – we appreciated our time here and the opportunity that it provided for me to be home with Jack and Matt.   

Thank you for being so nice to us, New Jersey.  You’ve grown on me…and not many things do.