Growing Up

I took this photo of Allison at school this morning. One of my most favourite times of the day is after the chaos of making breakfast, digging clothes out of the dryer that should have been folded and put away, seeing if we can all be dressed by the time Lady Gaga is finished singing about bad romances, stuffing homework into backpacks, and fighting over what shoes the diva is going to wear to school- my favourite part is our walk to school. The walk to school is getting more pleasant now that spring is here, and signs of life are peaking out from the ground- daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths now decorate our path to school.

Ally's little hand is in mine, and we talk, and sing.Or rather I sing and she tells me I can't sing Lady Gaga or Pearl Jam as good as Eddie Vedder. And it's just the two of us. And I cherish these moments. I cherish them so much, that I break out my droid phone and photograph the moment almost every morning. Most of the time, my subject usually hides her face behind a tree, her backpack, or she sticks her tongue out. But this morning, after arriving at school, she let me take her picture, to which I posted it to my Facebook account- because I'm convinced that everyone loves to look at Ally as much as I do.

After I got to work, I looked at the photo, and though she changed 5 last week, and she's been growing constantly for the past 5 years, developing into this amazing person, this photo took me by surprise. In this photo, there is no babiness, no toddlerness, it's a little girl. And it's the first time I've been slightly saddened by the quick passing years. And as I look at this photo, despite the days where being a mom is more challenging than having my nose hairs picked out one by a bulldozer, I'm struck by the awesomeness that is Allison, and how amazing this journey is.

Spring has Sprung

In an attempt to become a real blogger, I've decided to try and start blogging on a daily basis. Even if it's just random rambling. Which most of my blog entries are anyway-some entries being more coherent than others.

Today's coherent entry is just random excitement that spring is here! This past weekend, the residents of our nation's capitol were able to expose skin that the sun has not seen in awhile, and finally get some doses of vitamin D that being snowed into our house for weeks almost succumbed us all to Rickets. It was a glorious weekend, and as we took the little cherubs to the park, my excitement for warm days ahead of us, was even more fueled by the dogwoods blooming in Lincoln Park, and being reunited with old friends at the playground. Yes, glorious spring.

Another sign for me that Spring is springing- is that we have begun our weekend ritual of trekking over to our neighborhood Mexican restaurant for chips, and most importantly- MARGARITAS! Pitchers and pitchers of glorious tequila and lime, to both make me feel tropical and to cure that pesky case of rickets I developed in February. These forays for liquid cheer, usually involve meeting friends to help us make the pitchers disappear. And being as tonights Margarita madness happened on a Sunday night, it gives me the strength to get through another week.

Thank you Spring for arriving, and none to late, to touch my soul with sunshine and 'ritas. Mmmm spring!

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