Oh, how fortunate Naomi is!

I found every penny we spent on our airfare to Chicago worth it. I wasn't very fortunate to live close to my Abuelitos growing up and two of them went away too soon.

My maternal grandmother died a few months after my oldest sister was born and my paternal grandfather died long before my parents got married. As a child, my living grandparents lived in Mexico and I saw them a few times before I was eight and I didn't really get to see them much afterwards. I sometimes wonder what it would've been like to be close to them and share moments with them the way Naomi did on our visit to Chicago. I have always been jealous of those people who get to grow up and have their grandparents in their lives. I promised myself that it wouldn't be the same for my children. I always told myself I would become a young mother so that my kids would never experience what I did. Going home was a treat. Watching Naomi bond with her grandparents brings about the sweetest joy. I don't think I can describe how it makes me feel so I had to take pictures and hope it does the trick.


As a way to reminisce my mom took Naomi to Chuck-E-Cheese. I think we can all admit that Chuck-E-Cheese food is nasty and my mom really hates since she's all about eating organic and healthy food but alas it's a childhood favorite. Well, Naomi is only 21 months old and she still gets scared getting in the play-tubes so my mom decided she would climb up their with her. I seriously had no time to convince her not to because she was already half way up the stair case. Naomi was on cloud nine crawling through those tubes and Abuelita didn't show one sign of being uncomfortable. I knew something like this doesn't happen everyday so I was prepared to snap a shot the moment they slid down. It was quite epic. :) I don't think many grandparents would do this. She's selfless.



It's true my parents have the coolest back yard in the world. It's huge and green and it makes you feel like you're far away from everyone else. A few years ago, before I got married, my dad built this charming little swing from a broken piece of wood and a rope he used for work. It doesn't look like the most trustworthy swing, but Naomi trusted that her Abuelito could push her and protect her all at the same time. This was a sweet yet scary moment. Naomi's face beamed while she swung on it and my dad had the cutest smile on his face. My dad swung her on the swing a few more times before ending our trip.




Before I tell you about the next experience you should know that Naomi is constantly doing something. Singing, dancing, jumping, discovering new things. You name it. Since she's always on the go she doesn't really make time for any snuggling (unless it's with mommy and daddy). Well, Grandpa found the greatest way to entertain Naomi. I think this specific tactic shot two birds with one stone. He would throw Naomi's favorite stuffed animals in different directions and she would run around getting them. They did this for a looong time. Once Naomi was done she jumped on the couch with grandpa was was quite and snuggly and happy. It was too cute. Naomi loved Grandpa's invented game that all her teeth were showing as she laid on the couch.


It's a fact: Naomi is Grandma's Song Bird. Ever since Naomi was a baby she liked music and not like other babies liked music. I'm sure this will sound made up but Naomi started TRYING to mimic music since she was 6 months old. Grandma and Naomi shared a lot of singing time together and I kid you not there were certain parts Naomi would sing really. Naomi came home with a few flower vocabulary. She's obsessed with tulips and daffodils since they were in Grandma's garden. Naomi spent a lot of time in Grandma's garden and her love for Grandma and flowers didn't stay in Chicago, but it came with us back home.




See, what I mean? You can't put a price on this! Naomi experienced so many more beautiful things with her grandparents, which are now memories of course but every time she looks at a picture from our trip this smile spreads across her face. As for me, watching Naomi bond with her grandparents made it so that I lived with my grandparents vicariously.