Summer 2006

It has come to my attention via an extraordinarily perceptive Pediatrician, that perhaps Sara’s anxiety these past few months has at least partially derived itself from the loss of her Best Friend: Bryce, The Bryce Man, Brycey, Baby Blue.  I call him “Blue” for which Sara always corrects me and says, “I call him Brycey”.

Halloween 2006: Sara, Bryce & Noah

Since his move last spring, Sara has exhibited…um…maybe more than her average dose of angst.  It’s hard to tell.  She kind of taps out at the top of the scale on a normal day.  Dr. K. pointed out at her 3 year appointment that Blue had been her lovey (a word for the security blanket of your life) since birth.  Literally.  Every day since Month 3, she has been with Bryce.  Every change, every meal at school, holding her hand on the way to the Big Ball Room to play, every teacher change…every single party.  Bryce.  While it never seemed clingy, it was clear she found comfort in his presence.  Bravery.  A camaraderie that meant something to the both of them.  While Sara loves Noah with the same loyalty, Noah is braver.  Stronger.  He seems able to handle the winds of change.

Easter 2007, aka The Great Egg Brouhaha

And perhaps, with all the life changes this summer, she has felt a little lost without Brycey.  It had been the plan that they would attend Preschool together, and Sara knew it.  Every day she checks and double checks with me that Bryce indeed started at a DIFFERENT school, far, far away.  She asks when he’ll be coming.  She asks when we’ll be driving to visit him.  Not a day goes by that she doesn’t check with me on the continued presence somewhere of Blue.

Our Three Muskateers

They saw each other for a long and wonderful weekend in June for our Annual Thomas the Train Day.  The sheer joy of watching those two play together for 3 straight days was fantastic.  Not one squabble.  Not one tear.  Nothing but non-stop playing and sharing and screaming with laughter.  In July, Sara and I took an adventure to Brycey’s new house to take care of him after his tonsillectomy.  Less screaming with laughter, more popsicles.  Sara bravely and quietly stood watch over him, laying with him in his bed, handing him every stuffed animal on the planet.  Dr. Sara did everything but stand on her head, convincing him to eat and drink.

Winter 2008

School has started.  And he’s at a great school.  And she’s at a great school.  Just not together.  And I’m the Mom, so I have to put on a happy face, but inside, I miss him too.

bryce-and-sara-summer-2008

Video of Thomas the Train Weekend and Tonsillectomy Week