life in the fast lane

birthday love

there's nothing like one of my kids' birthdays to make me step back (sometimes in Shock and Awe) and really think about who they were, who they are, and who they will be. the redhead recently celebrated her seventeenth and i am awed most of all at who she is. before we adopted and she was still the baby of the family, i often said that she was God's reward for having four. the older three quickly incorporated her into their games as a sort of charming, animated toy; and she always went along with it with a grin on her face. (if i weren't buried in Christmas and work, and lazy) we have photos of her in her crib where you can hardly see her face among all the stuffed buddies they've thrown in with her. although she has days where she makes me long for a remedial course in following through, there isn't anything or anyone that i would trade this one for.

good news!

our first-born son is a man of many moods. he got some terrifc news on his LSATs last weekend and i just happened to be in the right place at the right time. i wonder where this new road will take him, i know there's a myriad of ways he could go. i wonder when or if he will have to cut his hair ... that hasn't seen a scissors since the carter administration. all these mother questions ... having a place to put them is just one more valuable service offered by the blog.

wonderful scary

once again, it's made my hair stand on end! we marked the day that the little cutie in the ruffled collar first set foot into our hearts and lives. she is the happiest 17 year old i know, and undeniably holds the position of my favorite redhead for all the rest of my life. when i flip through her photos i think i can almost hear the sound of time flying by with a truly terrifying speed. i know that her years have held much laughter, some tears, one broken arm and one broken heart (both, thankfully, now healed), swimming lessons, spanish lessons, learning how to cross the street and learning how to visit foreign countries. ice cream to ipods- her birthdays are diamonds in my days.