Sunday, March 11, 2007

You've come a long way Benny!

Ben is now 4 years old! It's early on March 11th, he's still sleeping as I wrtie this which is keeping my brain from believing it's true. As of 9:34 this morning Ben will be 4 years old.

It's very strange and wonderful to look back and think 4 years ago at this time we were in the hospital, in labor and so close to meeting him! A lot has happened in that time of course, he's grown and changed so much, as has our family. I know it's a cliche but you can't imagine the way that children will shape your life until you have them. It's such an individual experience to have your own kids, to raise them, learn from them, watch them grow and at the same time as unique and personal as it is, it's also the most common unifying thing about us. We all know someone with kids, we all were kids, and most of us who don't have kids and are in a relationship are asked when we'll have them and those of us who do have kids get asked when we're having more. (we're good with our two by the way, just to answer that for family/friends who've been asking)

Shortly after Ben was born we received a present from one of my co-workers at PlusTime. The gift was an adorable blue, fleece outfit but to me, the words on the card she gave were the real treassure. It's stuck with me these four years and it's the most truthful thing about being a parent that I have ever heard. Well, that and "you'll never sleep again".

"Having a child is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."
- Elizabeth Stone








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