Monday, August 31

Friday, August 21

Just another step

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Today I watched her walk away. Without so much as a glance backwards, she walked away. Tentative, a little slowly at first, but off she went with dozens of other little people. Rachel left.

The second day of kindergarten is always rougher (for me) than the first. Day one is filled with excitement over new clothes, new backpacks and school supplies, new experiences, but day two they just walk away. Another step on the long road toward their own life, toward adulthood, and one more step away from needing mommy and daddy for every little thing.

Oh, I've been told that once they head off to college that I'll be ready to see them go, but I don't think so. My heart hurts a little when I think of the ways we'll grow apart from them as they grow up. It's natural. It's necessary. I know all that, and I want that for them. I just hope we can somehow keep them close while simultaneously letting them grow, and ultimately letting them go.

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Thursday, August 20

Sunday, August 16

Rachel's Special Day

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Rachel's graduation from preschool marked the end of her toddlerhood, the end of her baby days. She's now, officially, a little girl-bright, fiercely independent, strong, and soft and cuddly. My little-little girl is growing up way before I'm ready.


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Thursday, August 13

Yin and Yang

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10 years ago tomorrow - I married the man who has held me while I cried, cheered me when I won, encouraged me when I wasn't sure, laughed at my nuttiness, called me on my bullshit, made me laugh until I cried, listened when I just needed to talk - ad nauseam, and loved me through it all.

During those 10 years -
One Condo
3 dogs - 2 died quickly and suddenly
Two job losses
A ferocious, and ultimately successful fertility battle
A move across country
Aching loneliness so far from home
The birth of our first miracle child - humbled by it all and incredulous that she made it
Postpartum Depression
A house
The miracle of the natural conception and birth of our second child
A move across country
The lifting of postpartum and the ability to see the sun again
5 years home with my babies
Goodbye full-time mommy, hello career-track
Good days, bad days
A lot of life
And through it all - the one constant
Dave

If there is a yin to my yang, he is it.

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Sunday, August 2

Sunday Morning

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It's an all girl morning. Nail polish, make-up, cuddles. But watching Alex and Ray put on make up, I have to wonder where they learned their "technique."



Beauty perfected!

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Saturday, August 1

Hmmm

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Mommy loves baubles and shiny things, and DH loves her. Hmmmm - I see baubles and shiny things....,

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