TWO!

Today is B's second birthday. It seems impossible that he's already two, and yet it also seems impossible that he's only been in our lives for two years. The conundrum of parenthood. Of course, when babies turn one, they generally don't really "get" the whole birthday thing. They know they get presents and cake, but they don't really grasp why. It's still slightly fuzzy even at two, but they're starting to get it more, at any rate. B has really been enjoying singing Happy Birthday today, considering it's one of his favorite songs anyway. And he's definitely quite taken with the fact that we're saying, "Dear B." He's also really enjoying telling everyone he's "TWO!" today (hence the post title).

I remember some things from October 25, 2007 so vividly it's as if they just happened. Other things are such a blur they might have happened a lifetime ago. Again, the conundrum of parenthood. Mostly, I remember the mixture of emotions - elation and stark terror, exhaustion and hyper-alertness. I remember thinking that I wasn't really so sure, after all, that I was ready for this. And of course I wasn't. No one ever is. But here I am, two years later. I still don't know what the hell I'm doing, a lot of the time. But I do know that I love my son more with every day that passes, and I know that I would do anything for him, and in the end, that's probably the most important thing.

Happy Birthday, Buddy Bud!

Life's a Funny Thing...

Our condo in Nashua has been on the market for several months, and hasn't yet sold. It's been SO frustrating to us. We've been racking our brains, trying to come up with things we could do to help it sell. And then, the week before last, E got offered a job up that way. We both felt like it was some kind of tremendous stroke of luck or divine intervention for him to get such a great opportunity in this economy, in a location he can get to pretty easily from where we happen to own a home! Crazy!

I had been praying and Secreting about a development like this so hard for so long, it almost didn't feel real at first. Now, it's sunk in, and we're in the reality of trying to work out logistics. What will this mean for our family? After all, one of the main reasons we left Nashua in the first place is that my commute was so horrendous, and I didn't get enough time with B. I'm trying not to obsess on these concerns, and instead to trust God/The Universe to provide me with the answer to the question, "What is the best thing to do?" I know what I want to do, but is that the best for my family?

So, that's why you haven't heard much out of me lately...lots of thinking going on. Lots of thinking.

And randomly, just a quick story about my sweet boy. This morning, he was having another of his cranky mornings (all too common lately). I mean, I have to admit, this kid was driving me nuts. I was really annoyed. But then he put on his cow rain boots and cheered right up. Now. His cow rain boots are basically too small, and he can only really put them on without socks. My thought was wearing those to daycare...on a warm, sunny day...was probably not our best move. So, instead, I brought out the new shoes we'd gotten him a few weeks ago for fall/winter. We put those on instead, and he was psyched to wear them (and I was psyched they weren't too big as I'd been fearing). So, as we got ready to head out the door, I squatted to help put his jacket on, and in his delighted state he came running over and tackled me with a hug and kisses. It's amazing, the lightning speed with which annoyance can disappear in the face of hugs and kisses from an almost two year old.

The boots in question

And just another cute shot from recently