Back to school

So. I put Bella on the bus at 8:30. All the parents were there with cameras, laughing, smiling, the kids looked fresh-scrubbed and ready to go. Bella was giggling and jostling with her buddies, calling out dibs on who she'd be sitting with. One of the other mothers came over to say she was so happy they were back in school and we all smiled and nodded. Then the bus pulled up, we all cheered, and I leaned down to hug my daughter.

"Have a great day, honey!" My voice begins to crack. "I love you.." I can't talk anymore. The tears rise up, splashing over. She looks up at me and smiles, shaking her head.

"Oh, Mom. I knew you'd cry." She kisses me, pats my back reassuringly, then climbs onto the bus.

No matter how thrilled I am to have her un-bored and out of my hair, my mind and heart just can't get past the fact that eight years ago, she was an impossible dream, and seven years ago I sat in my doctor's office with tears streaming down my face watching a tiny heartbeat on an ultrasound. And now she's in first grade, and time is marching on and oh damn, I've got to stop because I can barely see the keyboard through the tears.

I am such a sap.

Rest well, Miles

Young blogger loses his battle with cancer

Miles Levin

From the article:

A few months ago, knowing his high school graduation was probably his last milestone, he wrote: "I can rest assured that even if I succumb to the rogue cells, I will leave behind a legacy of victory. Dying is not what scares me; it's dying having had no impact. I know a lot of eyes are watching me suffer; and -- win or lose -- this is my time for impact."

He did have an impact. Fifteen-thousand bloggers were responding monthly this summer. In the end, they mostly sent him God's blessing. And they spoke of positive things like seeing the brightly shining stars on summer nights, the beauty of the will to survive, simple things that make you laugh, and the need to use words to soften the hardest of times.

Rest easy, Miles, and know that your life touched countless others.

Toilet training: Day 1

I just put big boy underwear on Tony.

He zoomed around the room like a total loon for a good 10 minutes (and I thought he was fast before...), then promptly pooped his pants and laughed as I chased him down. I dumped his poop in the toilet and he tried to grab it back out. Then some hit the floor and he stomped on it, enjoying the squish between his toes. I cleaned him and the bathroom up, and he's in fresh underwear for at least the next few minutes, I hope.

This ain't gonna be easy....

I love the smell of Karma in the morning...

Animal cruelty investigator rescues dog from locked and overheated car, and then leaves owner handcuffed to car while he takes the dog to hospital. Gathered crowd beats the owner until police arrive.

I love this picture

Great moments in parenting #6,235

A few nights ago, Bella awakened me out of a sound sleep at 2:15 am. I startled awake to see her standing by my bed. I said "Boo, what are you doing up?" Her answer:

"I farted and it smelled like spaghetti and it woke me up so I came in here to get in bed with you."