Heart of Gold

Let me introduce you to the man whose heart is completely made of the purest gold…

Poppy.

My family is the complete opposite of a nuclear family. I have so many family members that don’t speak to each other that it is more helpful to create a tree showing the ones that do speak to each other. My family is fractured, stubborn, and independent. But some kind of magic exists that allows my family to have a relationship with my grandpa on my dad’s side.

My grandpa is the man that has always been there for me, for my mom, and for anyone, really. He is the type to hide a $100 bill in his sock so Nanna didn’t find out that he was taking us to Toys R’ Us later that day to pick out any toy we wanted. He is the type to always answer the phone when I call for help, like the time I accidentally locked my keys in my car at a trailer park. I probably shouldn’t have been there, but he didn’t ask any questions. He is the type you can always tell the truth to, like when I showed up at his doorstep and told him that I didn’t want to be a lawyer anymore.

We have a special “pinky promise” that we do when we make promises to each other. We link pinkies and we both kiss our own thumb at the same time. That’s what really seals it. I’ve made him promise me not to talk about anything related to times when he isn’t around. If he starts, I point at him with glossy eyes and he knows. It makes me teary to even type those words out. I can’t imagine a world without this man in it. Okay, let’s move on so I don’t start…

We celebrated his 88th birthday with brunch at Cracker Barrel. He always makes sure he sits right by Waylin. every time we are together. He is also fiercely proud of her. I’ve ran into some of his friends and they have seen pictures of Waylin on his phone. ❤ In fact, after we left brunch, he text me in the parking lot asking for the pictures I took at brunch.

My sister kept commenting about how good Way was at the restaurant compared to when her son was her age. I think the key to good table manners with a toddler is to always have something to do. I always engage with her and I tend to have stickers, crayons, and snacks in my diaper bag at all times.

Waylin enjoyed coloring with Poppy…and putting stickers on his bright white hat. 😂

I think everyone knows Cracker Barrel is known for their triangular peg board game. I don’t know if it has an official name. Poppy reached for the game and played it with Waylin. I was surprised by how good she was at her fine motor skills in getting those little golf tees in the hole.

We hung out in the parking lot for a little bit and got to checkout Poppy’s new car. He specifically asked me to take this picture of them! ❤ He pointed out her little hands in her pocket and I thought it was adorable that he picked up on that! She started doing that recently and I think it makes her look so much older! #takeyourhandsoutofyourpocketslittlelady

We said our goodbyes and left to go grocery shop on a full stomach. We’re at the age where shopping involves being in and our of the cart in different intervals. I let her push the cart and help me get groceries. She really enjoys being able to help me and she listens much better when she has a task.

Being at the deli counter is a little bit of a challenge because there’s not much for her to help with and there’s usually a wait. Sometimes it is a little stressful because there’s so much going on at the deli counter in a grocery store. Today, she was walking back and forth by these flatbreads, staying close to me and singing “Baa Baa Black Sheep.”

I eventually realized why she was being so peaceful This little girl brought stickers from the car in her pockets and decided to decorate all of these wraps/flatbreads with Halloween stickers! It’s getting close to Halloween, so I guess that’ll be a nice little surprise for people buying them. 🎃

Harvest Market has TONS of pumpkins throughout the entire store as decoration and for sale. I can assure anyone who bought a pumpkin from Harvest Market on this date that your pumpkin was loved in a previous life! 😂

She hugged every single pumpkin we saw. 😍 We walked down aisles that we didn’t even need to go down just so she can look for pumpkins. I love her little heart. It’s full of so much sweetness and determination.

Every October, I tell my grandpa that I hope I have even HALF the heart of gold he has. I hope the same for Waylin. Both Poppy and Way have hearts that I envy. I think that’s why they have such a great relationship with each other. I love the creases I see on Poppy’s face from Way making him smile, and I equally love the bewilderment in Waylin’s eyes when Poppy talks to her. ❤