My most recent crying stint happened yesterday evening, and it was very unexpected. Just so you don't worry, I'll tell you ahead of time - it was one of those happy cries.
Yesterday evening was one of those wonderful, breezy, cool summer evenings, and I thought I would go upstairs and open windows to let that nice breeze cool off the house. I turned on the light in the hallway and admired the beautiful wood floor that Brian worked so hard on. He's also been working on putting up trim in the hallway, and it looks really nice. I walked into the baby's room and had taken a couple steps toward the window before I realized that something was different.
Wait, what was...? The rocking chair!
First, a bit of history about the rocking chair. When Brian's paternal grandmother died, we were blessed to receive a rocking chair from her belongings. And, after trying out all three rockers that we had in our basement, that was the one I decided I wanted in the baby's room. It was the most comfortable fit for me. But it was a bit rough around the edges. It had been well-loved, apparently, because it was well-used. The finish had aged and crinkled up in some spots; there were a few cracks here and there.
We had asked Brian's dad if he could spruce it up a bit, and to our surprise he told us that, rather than attempt it himself, he had found a fellow down in Amish country that could "dip" the chair. (dip the entire chair in a stripping compound, rather than try to do it by hand) So, we left it at that, since the fellow didn't know when he would be able to get to it or anything.
But there it was! Sitting right next to the crib in the baby's room, just like it belonged there. The rocking chair fairy had dropped it off at some point in the past day or two. I gasped... and then I cried. It's beautiful; the man did an outstanding job. The finish is as smooth as satin, and the color is even; the cracks are fixed... It's just waiting to be rocked in.
I haven't decided yet if I'm going to give it a trial rocking, or if I'm going to wait until I have our son in my arms before I try it out. But here's a sneak peek at it for all of you: