Best Day Ever

We had been looking forward to January from the moment Ryan left. I had talked January up to Dominick since that would be six months. We didn't know when he would be home, but we knew it should be sometime in January. Next time we have a deployment I am definitely going to say the month after Ryan's scheduled to come home because come January 1st Dominick just didn't understand why his daddy wasn't on his way home.

We found out about 10 days before Ryan was set to come home and I was still hesitant to tell Dominick in case there were any changes. I finally told him so he could get excited, but he really wouldn't let himself. He kept himself really guarded which was kind of sad, but completely understandable. 

He told me there's no time for pictures

you can really see how defeated he was feeling in his posture

 

 

The day Ryan was supposed to come home his flight wasn't scheduled to get in until around 4:30, but they ended up getting delayed in North Carolina (although I didn't know this until we were already at the airport). I worked a half day and then went to get some balloons and to get Dominick. Even on our way to the airport Dominick still was very somber and just wouldn't let himself get pumped despite my best effort. He ended up falling asleep on our way to the airport and when I heard he was delayed I ended up hoping he would sleep super long. Unfortunately he woke up and wanted to go inside. We headed in and ended up having to wait about an hour more. Ryan was one of the last to come through and Dominick was near tears. He kept saying, "I can't see him. I can't see daddy." I think he thought it was just some cruel joke. As soon as Dom could see Ryan he got a HUGE smile on his face and went running to him. He kept looking at him and smiling and didn't really know what to say. It really was the best day ever.