a month of birthdays

Yesterday my oldest daughter, Tristan, turned 8; next week my middle son Toby will turn 6 and last week Eliza turned 4. It's hard to keep up your energy for three birthdays in a row plus the requisite parties. Yikes.

I was out late at a meeting and came home and lingered in their bedroom (they all sleep together) amazed at what had sprung forth from my womb. Amazed at the journey this mothering life has taken me on and mostly amazed at the truth in the old saying that time flies. When I decided to get pregnant almost 9 years ago it was really just a whimsical thought, sort of a gee wouldn't that be nice. Well, surprise it actually happened - and quickly. I can't really use the excuse of being young, I was 26, yet totally unprepared for the motherhood journey. I fumbled my way through pregnancy and came to birth totally unprepared. There wasn't even a crib in my home when I came home from the hospital. Yet, somehow I survived, persevered and, obviously four kids later, thrived. I am constantly amazed at the complexities and impact of everything I do every day and how it affects these little wonderful creatures. My desire to enjoy every moment, yet often rushing through the day yearning for those quiet moments of a sleeping house. However, always after they have been asleep a few hours I wander into their room and miss them, the nuances of the day.