Hearts & Rockets

Life Changes

It was already Christmas, and I had just finished wrapping the last of Hunter's gifts. I felt my phone buzz, it was my mom.

Mom: Got your presents, see you in three days

J: Perfect! see you :)

I always sent our presents to our families before we traveled. I put away the gift wrap and went to get Sutton from her nap. I opened the door to see Sutton halfway over her crib, "Hey missy!" I said in a loud whisper, picking her up and over the crib. "Not safe." I thought to myself it might be time for a big girl bed. I looked around at her room, it was the original safari theme Hunter and Sam did almost three years ago. "Sutton, do you have to go pee?"

"No," I checked her diaper and she was still dry.

"Let's go try," she had been doing really well with the potty training, she still wore pull ups over night and for naps, "good girl, come sit." I sat on the stool across from her and we sang 'itsy bitsy spider' and once she got comfortable, she did her job. "Good girl Sutton." I helped clean her up and give her a sticker for her chart. "Look, Sutton, if you go pee on the potty one more time, you get a treat!" She clapped and we tidied up and headed downstairs just in time to hear a key turn in the door.

Hunter opened the door and Sutton bounded toward him, "DADDY!!!" He put down his bag and guitar to scoop her up into a big hug.

"Sutton look how big you are!" He kissed her cheek and opened up an arm to hug me, "How are you babe?"

"I'm good, Sutton tell daddy what you just did." She told him she used the potty and got a sticker.

"High five - such a big girl!" He placed her down and made his way into the house.

"Speaking of big girl," I said, pouring him a cup of coffee, "she needs a big girl bed. Twice this week I've caught her scaling the side of her crib making a great escape."

"Oh jeez, okay." Hunter sipped his coffee, "We'll go tomorrow, maybe it can get delivered after Christmas. Then I'll be home to assemble it." 

"And speaking of assembling, you need to go in the basement." He cocked an eyebrow and I scooped up Sutton to show Hunter the little decorative renovation I did. He walked down the plush carpet steps and to the right of the staircase was the tv room for our parents or guests who slept over. On the wall behind the couch, I did a gallery wall of our magazine covers. "It might be a little vain but I think that these are things worth preserving to look back on when we are old and grey." He wrapped his arm around me, kissing my cheek.

"It's great." He turned to see the new entertainment unit on the opposite wall, with oak and glass cabinets housing several of Hunter's Grammy's and CMA awards, as well as our YouTube awards. Down the hall toward the studio, both TCA surfboards were hung parallel to each other. "Jenna this is all great. Thank you for doing this."

"I enjoyed it," I kissed his cheek and we made our way back upstairs to spend some time together before the holidays took over.

Welcome to Toronto Pearson Airport. Happy Holidays!

We disembarked the plane and I strapped Sutton in the stroller. We gathered our luggage and found both of my parents waving at arrivals. "Hey! How are you guys?" We hugged and headed out toward the car. "Sutton, I cannot believe how big you are!" We made small talk for the ride to their home and told them how well Sutton had handled Hunter being on tour.

My sister and her long time boyfriend Jon had a surprise - they were expecting their first child. My parents each got a card saying they've been "promoted and are receiving a raise of one grand child", mine and Hunter's card said we were being promoted to aunt and uncle. Sutton got a shirt saying "Big Cousin in Training". It was such a wonderful surprise and as Ali was talking, Jon knelt down beside her and opened up a ring box - proposing to her. It was an especially wonderful Christmas. "When are you due?" I asked, over tea. Sutton was fast asleep and Hunter, Jon, Ali and I were hanging out around the fireplace. "Early August, the doctor thinks August seventh." 

"That's exciting, congratulations." We clinked our mugs. My sister recently sold her restaurant up north to come back to the city. She's working at a BMW dealership while Jon moved his business just outside of town. 

"Any plans for baby number two?" Ali asked, winking.

"Well not any time soon," I sipped me tea, "Hunter leaves January fifth for a European and Japan tour until the end of February. So it's just gonna be me and Sutton for a little while longer. She is a handful at times."

"That's why you have two hands," Ali joked, "really though, she's such a good kid."

"Thanks," Hunter said, "it's been incredible to watch her grow and change. She has a lot of personality." 

Catching up with my sister and Jon was so sweet and before we knew it, we were boarding our plane to Lafayette to see Leo and Lynette. We spent four days in Louisiana before going back to Nashville. We had four days together as a family before Hunter took off for tour. We got back to reading Sutton the book, and she was completely potty trained before Hunter left. She got her new big girl bed also.

"It honestly pains me to see her out of her crib," I sighed as Hunter and I lugged the crib to the spare bedroom, "when did she get so big?" 

He hugged me, "I know. Trust me, I think that crib has another baby or two  coming it's way" He pulled away and kissed my lips, "I was thinking, it's gonna be tricky navigating time change." I nodded.

"What if you sent us video clips?" He smiled.

"This is why I married you, you're brilliant."