Each Life That Touches Ours

"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man."  -Heraclitus

People are important.  I was thinking the other day about someone I knew and wishing I could know her from before we met and experience their social circles before I was there.  That is, of course, impossible.  I can't know what anyone was like before I met them because none of us lives in a vacuum.  We are all like rivers and our intersecting currents (no matter how small) create ripples and move pebbles.  You can't take back those ripples.  You can't help but change and be changed.  

We have just returned from our biannual sojourn to the West.  Traveling with children is an adventure.  We have driven over 5000 miles in the last 25 days.  We have had countless potty emergencies, cleaned out the car three times, planned and re-planned and abandoned plans, crossed through eight states and back again, played dozens of travel games and instituted several quiet times, spent three and a half nights in a crammed car, and gotten to experience countless natural wonders.  And we are travel weary.  The reason we make this trip is not to see the country (which is beautiful and diverse), and not to get away (even though everyone needs that now and then), but to make connections.  The people who are most precious to us are separated from us by over 2000 miles.  These people have created the currents that have shaped our beings and directed our courses.  Allowing them to touch the lives of our children as well is a priceless gift.  Thank you to all those who have touched our lives for good.  We are forever changed and forever grateful.

I Love Three

Tuesday was Ben's birthday.  That kid really is something. He is a cuddle bug and really loves people.

He's also our little Tom Sawyer. From the time he was a small baby he could turn on the magic. A little twinkle in his eye, an impish little twist to his smile, and a wrinkle in his nose - all saying "I know I'm cute, and you know I'm cute, and you know you want to give me the world, right?"

He is all boy and then some. He likes people to interact with him, but he also is willing to do whatever he needs to get what he wants. Hence the broken arm. He got tired of waiting for someone to help him so he took matters into his own hands. 

He is just about the coolest little kid I know and I'm lucky enough to call him mine. 

The Last One

My sweet Kate is one!  I can't believe it's been a whole year. But then, I think about the past year and can't believe it's only been one year. Time is a strange, strange thing. It pretends to tick by at a regular steady pace, but really is this thick globby stream that doesn't operate under normal laws of physics. Sometimes life feels out of the time stream altogether, this alternate reality where things just exist as they always have yet slip away, too. 

So. Kate is one. My life is so full. This sweet baby fills my heart to the brim with joy. She's absolutely adorable. She loves to laugh and gets pure joy from those around her. She is such a people person!  She always wants to know what's going on and check out everyone around. And she is a busybody!  It cracks me up that she already gets involved in her siblings' business. 

She's a momma's girl all the way, but also loves playing with dad. She needs her dad play time every night. 

I love how confident she is. I know that may sound strange to say about a baby, but some are more tentative then others. Some seem wary and unsure. And some are sure of their place in the world. Kate is sure. 

She is a little scooter. She won't crawl. Or walk. She just scoots around on her behind and pulls herself up on things. 

I love my sweet girl and am so glad to have her with us in our family.