Funny stuff

So last night we took Alex to the airport to catch a flight to Orlando and meet my Dad. Now in terms of excitement levels...Alex's was pretty high. Mine on the other hand had reached stress levels that were off the charts. Hyperventilating, chest pains the whole works. I'm about to put my baby on this massive hunk of metal with a bunch of people I don't know....hold on...can't breathe. ANYWAY...we're sitting at the overly crowded gate waiting for a plane that has yet to arrive, and as we later learn is running about 30 minutes behind schedule, surprise surprise. As we're sitting there I'm fielding a million questions from both Alex and Ava all the while fighting off my own panic attack.
"Mommy why do we haf'ta take our choos (shoes) off at degurity (security)?"
"Mommy is that MY plane? Oh no...it's takin' off."
"Mommy why is that lady wearin' that ugly shirt?"
Mommy, I'm weally thirsty and kinda hungry."
Mommy, look at those birds are they gonna fly away when MY plane gets here?"
"Mommy will I get to see the Pilot? Why is that boy crying?" And so on...
The people on either side of us were thankfully very kind and apparently not disturbed by the racket my 2 munchkins were producing. Then suddenly Ava bursts out with this little gem...
Ava: "Mommy when is the Pilot going to be here?"
Me: "I don't know honey...I"m sure he'll get here when the plane does." (I sure hope he does)
Ava" "Mommy...do Pilot's say...Aaaarrrrgggh???"
Me: "No baby...that's pirates...not pilots."
The lady sitting next to us had tears coming out her eyes she was laughing so hard. A few minutes later I overhear Ava talking to Alex...
"Alex...did you see that plane? It took off...it's flying. I just can't believe it!" (Yeah Avey...I know that feeling!) Despite my fears of letting my baby go off on his own, he made it safely to his destination and made several friends along the way. He had a blast. I am still trying to recover. It's a bittersweet moment to watch your child take a step closer to needing you less, but it's also a proud moment. He handled the unknown with bravery and huge smile. I handled it with panic attacks and a few tears. And Ava wailed as soon as Alex took his first step to getting on the plane. "I sure miss Brudder" Me too Ava, me too.