We are a family of changes.

All families are, really. A family is with you from the moment you're born until the moment you die. So there are bound to be a few developments every so often!

This past year or two our family has grown leaps and bounds. My husband got a new job and I suddenly find myself married to an auditor. (I believe I woke up screaming from that dream a few times in high school, but no matter.) This has been a good, no wonderful, change for us because it gives him security and ends the uncertainty of the World of Consultants. While he doesn't always love the work it gives our family a stability that was lacking for a while.

My son was, well, born. I guess you don't get a bigger change than that one! Alex is 14 months old and full of trouble, trouble, trouble! He bites, he climbs, he falls and above all, he eats! And eats some more. Honestly, he is a dream baby and I couldn't ask for more. That's his little face peering out the window on his tunnel. Do you think he knows he's cute?

After Alex's birth I made the difficult decision to leave my job and be a stay-home mom for a while. At times I struggle with this change. Always before I felt torn between work and children - the part-time schedule meant I didn't invest my full energy into either one and both probably suffered. Now I can invest my full energy into being with the kids but I'm still learning exactly how to do that. How much should I "entertain" them? Does this mean I have to do all the laundry? And geeze-o-pete, what are we having for dinner?! Ouch. But I'm there for the moments, for the firsts, and that feels so important! Alex's first wobbly standing, his first cheerful little, "Hi!" Elizabeth's first loose tooth. Elizabeth's first swear word, but that wasn't one I will particularly cherish. Nor will she, I suspect. The time when Elizabeth drew all over herself with permanent magic marker, took off her clothes and plastered a County Fair "I milked the cow" sticker to her bare bottom. I will cherish these memories for the rest of my life and hope I can record some of them here to share with you.

My Elizabeth is starting kindergarten this week. This one has a tough time with change! She has been angry with me over the changes in our lives and I suspect she blames me for taking her out of daycare and away from her friends. Elizabeth finished her first unstructured summer this year, and she was a trooper about it. She survived on playdates, pool time and an abundance of imagination. But she made it! Now we will see what school has in store for her.