Reflections on 32

As my 33^rd birthday approached, I thought about the last year and started mentally composing this.

I did a lot while I was 32. I gained weight and lost weight, grew hair and cut hair; my skin got less elastic and I found a couple more gray hairs. My kids grew up and I gave birth to my fourth, and it was the happiest and most relieving day I can remember. I spent a lot of time making food and making milk and cleaning them both off of kids and out of kids. I gave lots of baths and did lots of laundry but was not able to keep the kitchen floor mopped as often as I thought it should be. I listened to a lot of Old Time Radio programs as I cleaned the kitchen, over and over, and finally painted the music room and the powder bath and the upstairs bedrooms that I had been planning to paint since we moved in, and it made me feel like I had finally taken ownership of my house. I bought a serger that I’d been thinking about for years and I love it. I made lots of clothes and finished several projects. I weeded the garden bed I planted 2 years ago and let grow over last year, and now I’m ready to plant again. I read several books that I loved and some that I didn’t love. I taught lots of piano, guitar, violin, and viola lessons and also publicly performed on piano, guitar, and viola, and I was proud of myself for that. I went camping and swimming and roller skating and ice skating. I spent one-on-one time with each of my kids and felt our love grow for each other, and spent lots of time with my husband and felt as happy and comfortable as ever, and proud of myself for making such a good choice in marriage and lucky to have found him. I spoke lots of Spanish and memorized the Greek alphabet. I didn’t travel farther than a couple of hours away by car, but I saw and did and experienced new things. I felt joy and sorrow and fear and comfort and anticipation and regret and love. I made mistakes and learned from them and did some things well and learned from them too. I saw and recognized ways in which I’ve matured and was embarrassed at my previous immaturity. I did my best all the time, but I was kind to myself too.

Altogether, I think I am kinder, wiser, smarter, happier, and better than I was a year ago. That’s a year well spent, and a really good life. Let’s have some more.

You've got your hands full!

Yes, ladies in the store, I do. But you know, the moment I'm trying to suppress my two year old's meltdown after being torn away from the Dr. Scholl's machine, minutes after he decided to nosedive out of the shopping cart, and my poopy baby has also started to scream, having you come up and snicker that at me makes me want to go all Chuck Norris on you. "Now you've got your face full - of my foot!"

In other news, Damon has learned how to take off all his clothes, including his diaper. He's starting to potty train himself, so it's not too bad...except when he flashes my piano students. Sorry, guys.

Damon also discovered recently that his last name is Brown. Just a couple of minutes ago he came up and pointed to himself and said, "Damon Brown." He pointed to me. "Mommy Brown." He ran over to Miles. "Miles Brown." Then he started looking around the room. "Fish Brown. Book Brown. Chair Brown." Well, I guess so. Damon also recently discovered that Daddy is also Steven, and likes to occasionally interchange them. He hasn't figured out my name yet, though.

And, speaking of names, Damon is awfully cute at saying "Miles." I'm very happy that he has not acted jealous of his baby brother; on the contrary, he's been very accepting and chill about the whole thing. Damon is always very careful to point out where Miles' car seat goes in the car; he doesn't want to go anywhere without him. He also likes to get diapers for him - he grabs one (or many), tosses it at him, and says, "Here ya go, Miles." Miles is a good fourth child and has been very resilient to having diapers and many other things tossed at him.

fashionisto

Damon has figured out how to take his shorts off. He's also figured out how to put them back on again...sort of.

 

Yes, they are sideways and inside out, with the legs through one hole.

Our Olivia

Raise your hand if your child reads chapter books sitting in a Bumbo.

More Miles

Our little boy is chubbing up! He likes to smile and coo and is just generally a pretty happy little guy. He gave me the gift of 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep the other day, and it was even at night, which makes him even cuter to me. He is still the most projectile baby I've ever had - no morning is complete until we both require a change of clothing.

 

Nice duck lips. He's ready for facebook!

and today at lunch...

Olivia: The good thing about reading in my head is that I never have to go to the bathroom because I'm having so much fun, even my bottom is having fun and it doesn't want to make any poop.

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