Milestones

When I first started my family, I remember a lot of people telling me that it goes so fast. I naively agreed with them and sincerely tried to savor my kids' babyhoods. But suddenly, it's truly sinking in how fast the time actually goes.

Anna has her learner's permit. She finds a lot of humor in the contrast between my calm, patient words and my death grip on the doorframe.

When we arrived in California for Christmas, Matthew was a little shorter than me. When we left two weeks later, he was a little taller than me. I cried. Now he's about 2 inches taller than me, and I have to look up at him. He's very proud.

Sarah got her first zit. She was afraid to let me anywhere near it and even cried trying to keep me from getting a closer look. But I insisted, "When you were born, it was written into my contract as your mother that I get to pop your first zit. Now quit your crying and get over here!"

Abby (1st grader) is a reading machine. Like mother, like daughter.

Sam is just Sam. He makes us laugh and, hopefully, will keep me young. He's not quite three, and when I put him on timeout today, he said, "I sad. Sometimes, I just want to give up." What!?!

Leah is growing up way too fast. She's working hard on her chess game. She's very competetive and is gunning for her dad.

She's also learned to "Give Me Five" and is well on her way to performing all sorts of stupid pet tricks.

These milestones are so much fun, but boy, some of them make me feel like time is passing too fast.