These Days

These days are grand--really, truly magnificent.

Having an almost (four weeks away!) two-year-old is just fun, okay!? My little Butch Cassidy makes me laugh out loud at least seventeen times a day. He's transitioned so well to his "big boy" bed, his clothes are looking larger and larger, the soles of his little (smelly) feet are black by the end of the day, he always requests bubbles in his bath, and every day we try to go on an adventure.

Some of the toddler's favorite things right now: popsicles, water, being barefoot (I cannot keep shoes on my child, really), playing in the sprinklers, going to the park, and throwing rocks into any pond we happen to spot.

Our days are blessed, full, and fun. I'm soaking in my quickly-turning-into-a-big-boy son, and enjoying the flexibility that summer brings (as well as the freckles, and sticky fingers from melting purple popsicles).

The hubbs has 20 more days until the end of his third year of medical school. We keep saying, "Can you believe fourth year is almost here!?" We're giddy with excitement. I can't wait to find out where we'll be living and what new adventures are ahead. God is in control, and when He leads, it's always better. I'm learning to give Him the wheel more and more. He steers us in new, better directions; and I know residency will be no different.

And me? I'm celebrating the fact that I'm finished with graduate school. What a huge burden off my shoulders. I'm l.o.v.i.n.g. my new job! I have amazing co-workers, my own office, and I'm making more working 15 hours a week than I was when I worked over 40 hours a week! (Was that Master's degree worth it? Oh, heck yes!) The book is coming along. It's such a labor of love to write a book. I'm not used to getting an assignment and not finishing it within a couple weeks. It has taken much adjusting to work on something slowly, diligently, for almost a year now. I know I will be glad when it's finished, and so glad that I did it.

These days are good. So good.

Gosh being a mom is fun. I cherish waffles-and-PBS time in the mornings. I cherish our trips to the library. I cherish our trips to the park. I cherish our daily walks with friends. I cherish play dates and outings. I cherish nap time (oh, do I), when little man falls asleep in his bed and I fall asleep on the couch. I cherish our afternoons spent playing in the front yard with scooter, bouncy ball, soccer ball, "chalks," bubbles, lawn chairs, etc. I cherish dinner time and waiting for Daddy to get home. I cherish bubble baths, and story time, and prayers, and that moment right before I lay him down in his bed. . .

when he says, "No, Mommy, please."

"Shh," I say, as I stroke his hair, "It's night-night time. It's time to go to bed." And I kiss his forehead and nuzzle my face close to his. And he relaxes, and because our days are so crazy full, he usually collapses into bed and is snoring within minutes.

It gives me the peace to look forward to the morning, when he comes pattering down the hallway with Bear-Bear and blankie in tow, and asks, "Waffle? Juice?" And I always get a hug, always.

And some mornings, every once and a while, there are chocolate doughnuts for breakfast. :)