Hide

and

seek.

This is Hadleigh's new favorite game.
She counts.
"1...2...8.9.10!"
She laughs when she finds me and then says
"One more." Holding up one finger.
Sometimes she tells me which room to hide in.
Sometimes she points to where she wants me to hide.

(I hid in a different spot than directed once just to see her expression.

Priceless.)

Sometimes she walks right past me when it is so evident that I am in her
peripheral vision. (I don't think I spelled that right.)

She never wants to hide. Only find.

Very entertaining.

We went to the zoo with another family in OKC over the weekend. Had fun although it was

Way Too Hot.

(Only the African animals moved around. Elephants. Rhinos. Hippos. Giraffes. The other animals all slept in the shade. Seems like a smart idea!)

And then Hadleigh decided to play hide and seek.
Actually, she decided to walk back to me from her daddy buying water.
And she started following two mommies with strollers.
But they weren't the right mommies.

We split up. Scoured our section of the zoo.
It felt like thirty minutes.
It was probably only 5. Maybe 8.
Our friend found her.


Praise the Lord.

Have you felt that sinking pit in your stomach before?
Felt something beyond desperation?
Watched the two and a half years of your baby's life race through your mind?
Feel like you've just let God's precious gift to you slide through your fingers?

I don't think Hadleigh even knew we weren't around her.
(This kind of concerns me :) )
But it wasn't until we left the zoo, several hours later that the feeling left me.

And even now, when I think about it

I get that feeling.

I look at Hadleigh a million times a day and I am so thankful for her.
Because for five minutes I had a glimpse of what life would be like without her.
I pray I never know that feeling again.

A side note.

I am now taking back all the thoughts I've ever thought about "those" people that have those kid harnesses at the airport. If I ever fly by myself with the kids...don't be surprised to see me with one. It's not because me or my child is "undisciplined"...but because she is precious...and oh so curious!