Dear Hunter,

The day before your Dad's birthday, January 22, he went to the post office, like he had so many times this month, looking for the letter. A letter we had talked about for years, before you were born even. A letter we were excited for, and also concerned about. We were excited for you and what you could discover. We were concerned if we were making the right choice for you, one of the most important choices, and one of the last we would be making without your input. A letter that, when it came, made us cry, and laugh, and feel proud of you like we had on so many other days before this one.

A letter that accepted you into the class of 2023.

We knew you were smart and gentle and funny. We knew you scored so well on your tests, and we knew you played kindly with the other children on your play date. We knew you loved it at the new school. One day you asked me when you would be 'done the regular school and go to the play school' where you had the play date and we had looked at the big whale on the wall. We knew you were excited by all of the computers you saw in the classrooms. We knew you were looking forward to frolicking on the scenic playground. And now we know that you will thrive, be happy, and make friendships to last a lifetime at this place.

Our sweet little man, you are getting so big, we love you so much.
I am so proud of you, my Huntie, be proud of yourself, too.
Love,
Mama and Daddy

Baby Hunter-4 months


6 months in your first golf shirt


Your First Day at the Last Daycare-1 year 2 months


At the Races-1 year 3 months


Down the Shore-2 years


Riding Lesson with Mama-2 years 2 months


Playing With Your Camera-3 years 5 months

Getting Ready

Beck had her 9 month check up on Tuesday and she is thriving! She weighs in at 20 lbs 10 ozs, although Mimi and I were sure it was much more. The other stats were a little lost on me given that I was at the doc's the day before with a wicked cold. 5 days later I am still not well, ugh. This terrible sore throat and cold is also putting a damper on Hunter's good news that we received yesterday in the mail. He has been offered a place in the class of 2023! We are so happy for him and proud of him! We didn't say too much to him since I think he will want to go to the New School tomorrow and he won't understand that he will need to wait a few months.

Anyway, Beck is cruising and getting ready to walk, and her babbling is consistent and wildly cute! She gets so excited when Hunter gets home from school, and cries when Daddy leaves the room, the doc says good object permanence, Daddy says she just loves him so much. She is still in a full swaddle at night, mostly because this cold is giving her a hard time, but also because the teeth have been menacing her a bit. She has two bottom and two top, and given they were so hard won you would think I would have the dates they came in, but I don't, so sue me. I'll be sure to note the next one.

For now those are the milestones for the little charmers, I am still trying to simply get over this cold. Oh, and the Eagles missed the superbowl again. Shocker.

Moving + Renting = Dislike

I dislike the word hate. But if I did hate something, it would be moving. Which I have just done again for the umpteenth time with Michael. And I think I dislike (read:hate) being a landlord and renting out the house. But I have finished moving out of a 5 bedroom and cleaned nearly the entire thing in less than 2 days. I am also now sick. Surprise!! I have not been reading or commenting on blogs or keeping up. Which would lead me to this...

I hate that Amalah mentioned my comment on her delicious spot on the interwebs, and I am just now finding out. Am loser.

Amy's is a great post about the little angels that help you through the long nights with little one's, and how we all come to the Never Doing that Again column. Please to go read Amalah and enjoy smushy pics of her kiddies, I am returning to regularly scheduled sickness.

A New Year

I have an irrational fear. That I like to say is not an irrational fear. I don't like to go out on New Year's Eve. More specifically, I don't want to be on the road on NYE with some 17 (or 47) year old who has been drinking and takes me out. 'Cause I would be the one that gets taken out. Just because.

So this year we all packed into the truck to drive Mimi home at mid afternoon. Dad drove in silence while the kids eventually nodded off and Mimi and I rehashed the news, again. The economy. Obama. Crime rates. Tragedy. And the cost of food. (Happy New Year!)

We reached Mimi's house and James' car was missing, so she exclaimed that a cup off tea and brandy was in store for her, and we bid her a good evening (she would be asleep by 8pm).

Then we headed back on the journey home, rehashing childhood stories, all the schools that Michael had been in over the years, the one school I had attended. Hunt woke up going on about being hungry, which is his favorite statement right now. I caught Michael eyeing the next McDonalds while we sat at a red light light, and he pulled in so we could all have a treat (mine of course being that I wouldn't have to come up with dinner upon our return).

When we got home the kids played like angels while we had some beers and watched cheesy movies and chatted. We decided it was a perfect New Year's.

Happy and peaceful new Year to Everyone.