Thursday, September 10, 2009

Better Days

My day was totally made yesterday. It was made happy. It was made sad. It was made sweet. My mom called me after work yesterday because my 4-year-old niece, Vanessa, wanted to talk to me!

Our conversation went something like this:

Vanessa: Hey Manda!

Me: Hey babycakes! (that's my nickname for her)

V: I wanted to sing you a song..

Me: Well I'd love to hear it!

V: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star . . . (she sings me a variation of the song that I'd never heard before)

Me: Yay! Did you learn that at school?

V: Yeah. We sang it in school today. I don't remember all the words though.

Me: That's okay. I'm so proud of you. You're such a big girl.

V: Well I'm a little bigger girl. I'm still only four years old.

Me: You're right. Did you have fun in school today?

V: Yeah. I made new friends.

Me: Oh really? Who are your new friends?

(she tells me the names of her new friends)

Me: Wow. That's cool. Did you get to play with them during recess?

V: No. It was raining so we couldn't play outside. But we played inside.

Me: That's great!

V: Manda, I want you come back to where you were.

Me: Where I was? You mean to Austin?

V: Yeah. I want you come back. You're too far away.

Me: Well . . .I know. I know. But I live here now. But I'll get to come see you at Christmas time and we can hang out together then. Is that okay?

V: You're too far away.

Me: I know that baby, but I'll get to see you soon enough. And I promise we'll spend a lot of time together.

V: I love you Manda.

Me: I love you too babycakes.

V: Do you want to talk to Annabelle?

(Annabelle is Vanessa's 7 1/2 month old baby sister)

Me: Of course I do! I love you babe.

V: I love you too!

Then I got to listen as my mom and Vanessa tried to tickle Annabelle so I could hear her laughing. In the background I hear Vanessa: "Come on Annabelle. You can do it. Tickle Tickle. Talk so Aunt Manda can hear you."

It was bittersweet. Oh how I can't wait to see them again. It's always tough dealing with the long distance. But I know that when I see them again, it will be so worthwhile. :D

3 comments:

Kelley said...

I know you love Seattle, but it really stinks that you have to be so far from Vanessa and Annabelle. I felt that way a lot last year in Cali and it sucks. :(

It's awesome that you'll get to see her at Christmas, though. You can save up your auntie-affection 'til then and when you finally get back to the ATX it will be like an Amanda-awesomeness explosion to make up for all the time in between!

P.S. My word verification is "cheek." Like you know, mango cheeks.

Kelley said...

Oh I forgot to say, this title is freakin' awesome.

amo (amanda) said...

i know. . . christmas seems so far away . . . soon!

ha! mango cheeks! :D