Daddy, four airplanes?

So, Brandon had to go on his first business trip this past week, and then he has training this week. The last time he had to go anywhere for business was a couple of months before we got married. He left last Tuesday to go to San Francisco and got back yesterday (Saturday) at 10:45 am. Then he had to fly out again this morning (Sunday) at 6:00 am. So, he was home less than twenty four hours, and now he won't be back until Friday around 5:30 pm or so.

I don't think I really had time for it to truly hit me last week, because I kept ae busy all week. We ended spending two days at my Granny and Papa's house (which was truly amazing and relaxing). Kristi and mom were able to come down too, so it was great! I have pictures of AE, me, and Kristi trying to make Granny's famous homemade biscuits (I will post those pics later).
We were so exhausted on Wednesday night, that it didn't bother me too much that I was home alone. Thursday night, we stayed at my mom and dad's. Then early Friday, I took ae to Nanny's house, and then had dinner over there that night. Then De and Steve came over to my house and kept me company till about Midnight....then we went and got Brandon at the airport on Saturday morning. So, needless to say, we stayed busy.

However, poor ae is so out of sorts that this week, my goal is to try to get her back on some sort of schedule. All she knows is that Daddy left on four airplanes, and now he's on four more airplanes. So, at random times during the day she will say, "Daddy, four airplanes? My miss Daddy."

Today at lunch we were getting in Nanny and Papaw's car, and all of a sudden ae said, "Lost Daddy." She feels like she's lost daddy because she doesn't know where he is.

I started her bedtime routine around 8:30 tonight (since she's been staying up later, I didn't think I would jump back into our 8:00 routine just yet). We read two books, said our prayers, and read Goodnight Moon. I then covered her up and gave her kisses. Well, this of course went hand in hand with "her" routine of..."gotta potty momma....night night juice mama....my belly hurts mama..."

Finally she got quiet, then Brandon called and I think she heard the phone, because she started back with "my belly hurts, mama." So, I said, "Here (and handed her the phone), maybe this will make you feel better." So she talked to him for a bit. She asked him about being on four airplanes. She tried to tell him that we made a paper chain to tear off each day until he came home again. But then all she kept saying to him was, "I wanting my daddy; I wanting my daddy." She kept saying it over and over again. Even after I took the phone from him, and she would say it in the most pitiful voice. She broke my heart and his.

Just between you and me though, I know what she's feeling right now...because, "I wanting ae's daddy to come home too!" My heart misses him tonight.