I'm a big kid now!

It's the first day of second grade.

I do not know what happened to the years between picking this child up in Guatemala at ten months old and dropping him off at school at seven years old.

Time can't go fast enough for him.....

or slow enough for me.

I'm glad he's not a shark

We noticed about six weeks ago that The Boy's permanent bottom teeth were coming in behind his baby set. The baby teeth were just barely loose and we decided to let nature take it's course. They did finally start to loosen, but because those permanent teeth were behind them, it didn't bother him. He didn't work them with his tongue as he would have otherwise.

I finally told him I thought we should consult the dentist to get them out. He took matters into his own hands....and pulled the teeth out last night.

He asked me in a very small, innocent voice if I believed in the Tooth Fairy. "But of course!!! If you don't believe, she won't come." He put the teeth in a special tooth bag, hid it at the edge of his pillow, and went to sleep.

I posed the question of Face.book as to what teeth are worth. Two teeth at once. And, as the lovely DD pointed out, his FIRST lost teeth.

This morning his teeth were replaced with a five dollar bill and a note from the Tooth Fairy that read,

"Dear *****, Congratulations on losing your first teeth!! These are perfect, and just the size I needed. Here is $5 for your beautiful teeth. Also, give your parents this coupon, which is good for five songs downloaded to your IPod - courtesy of me. Thank you! Tooth Fairy"

She's a lot more generous than she was when I was a kid.

I'm gonna pump you up!

I started a two week regimen of steroids for my neck injury.

The pharmacist advised me to take them with food, and early in the morning - as one possible side effect is insomnia.

I hope that's temporary. Four hours of sleep won't suffice.

When the light bulb goes on

We had the opportunity to put The Boy in a high end hockey camp this week. It's run by ex-professional players from Europe and the United States. We jumped on the chance because one would usually have to travel to participate in a camp of this caliber.

Two of the coaches are staying at our house. We gave them a little heads up on The Boy - he is a talented, natural athlete - but historically he has a bit of lazy in him. He's good and because of that, he doesn't push himself. He also has a tendency to get caught up in all the grab ass games that go on around him.

For two days he has worked hard. MFH talks to the coaches and they say he is performing well. He is listening. He is working hard. These are no-nonsense kind of guys. They would tell us if it wasn't so. They aren't being paid to put up with silly crap or to blow smoke about how great our kids are.

Tonight at dinner The Boy was talking about his day. He told us two boys got in trouble and had to do push ups. One of them is his best friend.

"D was in trouble all day. He had to do push ups. I stayed away from him cause I didn't want to do push ups too!"

Okay, part of that is because he hates push ups. But honestly, I was proud of his good judgment. On the outside I was telling him what a great decision that was and how proud I am of him.

Inside my head I was screaming, "Who are you and what have you done with my son?"

His attempt at sweet talk

So it's fair season up here in Montana, along with it being August and all, and that guarantees a lot of afternoon lightning storms.

My patio door was open allowing the rain to splatter into the house and onto my floor.

Because I am a female, and therefore the only one in the house that can see this happening, I close the door and get on my hands and knees to wipe up the water.

MFH is sitting in his chair playing Guitar.Hero.....facing my butt in the air.

"You have never been more attractive to me!" he says.

Beyond our control

A girl I remember from high school buried her 22 year old son today.


I know what to say to her - I am a mother, after all - the words come easily even though I can't begin to imagine how she feels.


But it's not supposed to happen that way - we don't expect to outlive our children - and I don't know how you'd move on with your life.

My heart aches for her.

The Boy arrived home safe and sound tonight. It felt like he was gone for a week instead of just one day. I was so happy and relieved to see him. I hugged him extra long and took in his smell and felt overjoyed to be this child's mother.

I know I can't protect him forever.

But I'll hold on for as long as I can.

I miss him

I remember when The Boy couldn't be away from me for the night.

Tonight he is with his grandparents because they are taking him to Old Faithful tomorrow. While I love that, I am sad that he is old enough to do that.

Sure we talked to him.

Sure he misses us.

Sure we got to stop at the bar tonight just like the old days.

BUT

These aren't the old days. I am a mom now and I can't change that.

I wouldn't change that.

I can't wait until tomorrow night.