Ode To A Flexible Woman

So, yes, this post is nearly two weeks late. It wasn't done on purpose but being late does serve to illustrate the point of the ode.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Rocketgirl!
Who is one of the most flexible women I know.
Rocketgirl drops to the floor or the couch in an instant to help a child with homework and reading, write a post, clean something or take a picture and then she's up again like a shot to cook, teach violin, piano, hold a family dance party, call a friend, serve in her calling at church, go to the library, shop or any one of a zillion things she does.
She welcomes new members of the family with open arms and nothing held back, be they her own children, nieces and nephews or in-laws.
She's had to move many times in her life - alone or with her family - states, countries and/or weather patterns away from her comfort zone. (One time she had a baby far away from everyone and everything she knew.)
She deals well - much better than she thinks - with changes and new situations. Even on short notice.
And she does it with a good attitude, plenty of humor and charm.
Every time.
I admire that and have tried to emulate her.
This is me hoping her birthday was all she deserves and wishing her a very happy year!

Plus Nine

Aaaand boom, we're back to my life going by in a flash.
Eight days late for my birthday post...This has never happened.
(And what's worse, I am an entire week late with Rocketgirl's ode. I am ashamed.)
To begin, I laugh in the face of my last year self, promising to keep this blog current and all that. Some days I can't keep current with a shower, but really, it's because I'm lazy and it's much easier to watch this all day:

Than think of witty things to say on a blog. But I will try.
To sum up the last year, I turn to a quote from Rocketgirl, "yeah, it was a good year. No biggie, we just brought a human into this world and he's doing awesome stuff. Also, I made pesto."
And there you have it.
But of course, that's not entirely true.
In addition to bringing this human into the world my last year was spent thusly:

• Feeding said human.
• Changing the diaper of said human
• And getting said human to sleep.
• Tarzan and I took Cheetah on a plane for the first time for the wedding of a family friend.
• ATL got married!!!! (There's a post I need to get written)
• Tarzan and I celebrated 14 years of marriage. Which sounds like a lot but hasn't felt long at all.
• I celebrated eight years writing this blog - celebrated it with a massive headache and little else apparently.
• Helped PIT and MOY move into their apartment in Provo. (Another post I need to get on, hopefully before he graduates...)

Inevitably, most of the things that I did this year were baby centered. And my posts reflect that; sitting up, rolling over, "talking," playing, doctor's visits etc. Awesome though it was, it leaves me with a shorter list of items then in years past. Of course it's been a shorter number of posts this year too.
It's good to have goals.
But I did make this:

So I consider it a year well spent.

This is me with my own belated birthday.

Early Morning Magic

Mornings are my favorite times. Often when I get up Cheetah will also awaken. I’ll hear him moving around in his crib but that stops as soon as he sees me coming. He’ll coo and smile as I pick him up. When I turn the light on he doesn't cry or get upset, he simply closes his eyes and smiles. Sometimes he’ll put his head on my shoulder which melts my heart. I change his diaper and he laughs like we’re playing. Its a very special time. Then I carry him into the bedroom and the magic is over. He sees Jane and gets very interested in breakfast very quickly. The day begins and I have to leave soon after for work anyway. But I will always remember these early morning moments we have together.
Such grist is what eternity is made of.

This is me, in for Tarzan.