EVB

I have to tell you this story, even though it's not really mine to tell.

This is what 15 months looks like

Remember when Elle was born and I called her El Chill because she was so easy going?

Things change.

This is what three and a half looks like

Dearest Grace,

You are three and a half today.  Three and a half.  THREE AND A HALF!?  HOW DID THIS HAPPEN SO QUICKLY.  Because three years ago you looked like this ↴.

Life Hack #5 -- You're never fully dressed without a smile

We live on a quiet street that connects to a park where my girls and I spend tons of time.  Last summer as we walked the path to the park, I saw a grandma visibly jump when she saw us emerge from the woods.  What gives, I thought. This is our turf.  We're not even playing Ursula and Owlette yet. Then I dropped Elle's blanket and when I stooped to pick it up, I realized I was dressed in cropped navy sweats that I had worn while painting Grace's bedroom pink, a gray nursing tank, flip flops, a scraggly top knot, and no make up (read, no eyebrows). My girls looked darling, as kids do, and it registered that I looked like a meth head who had abducted them and was making off with them through the woods, with a quick pause at the park to keep them from screaming for their real mom.   

The Supreme Court Nomination Hearings for Judge Gorsuch - Guest Post by the Hubby

At my office, I’ve been streaming the confirmation hearings of Judge Neil Gorsuch.  Well, I HAVE taken some breaks to listen to “More Life” – an album that achieves the apotheosis of my 16 year old self: the beach level of Mario Kart music with hip hop lyrics… seriously, listen to Passionfruit and Ice Melts and tell me that stuff isn’t straight lifted from a MIDI file.  BUT OTHERWISE I’ve had all hearings all the time streaming through my desktop.  As I still fancy myself a bit of a constitutional scholar, I find this stuff pretty interesting.  And as luck would have it, the bat signal was lit yesterday inquiring into my point of view on this process. (ONE request!!!)   And as I’ve never passed up an opportunity to share an opinion before, I thought I better not start now.

This is what one year looks like

It's birthday week at our house, and we are celebrating Eleanor Elizabeth's first trip around that still-too-far-away-for-my-taste sun! Thinking back on this year, I think one of the things that surprises me most is that Elle was induced.  Since everything else she has ever done has been early, fast and ahead of schedule, I'm sort of shocked she didn't arrive a few weeks early, armed with a toothbrush and some extra diapers asking for directions to her new bedroom.   

January: a survival activity

Remember when, a few weeks ago, we were all like, 2016 is the worst, what a dumpster fire, I can't wait for this year to be over?  And then 2017 happened and now we're all looking a little shell shocked because of things like this :
http://fortune.com/2017/01/27/donald-trump-muslim-immigration-ban-conflict/

And this:
http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-globally/betsy-devos-incorrect-tweet-unwanted-attention-slams-on-twitter-4486592/

Makes 2016 seem sort of sweet and sad, or maybe like the last lap with the training wheels before dad forces you out on the open road with your two wheeler.  Eh, lame analogy, but you get it.