August 15, 2010 – 4:03 pm
We celebrated with family and friends at our neighborhood pool and park.
Nathan grilled hot dogs, and I made chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing, at Ben’s request. (Me: “Ben, do you want vanilla icing on your cupcakes, or chocolate?” Him: “Actually, I think I’m going to have a little bit of chocolate.”)
How can it be? My first baby has finished his third trip around the sun.
He reads memorized picture books to his sister. He points out all the bus stops he sees while we’re riding in the car. He tells his own jokes, mainly about skunks. He likes to stand on a stool in the kitchen and help me make pancakes. He presses his nose to mine and giggles, saying, “Ben nose, mommy nose!” He has a bad dream and comes into my room to find me and cuddle in the middle of the night. I do these things with him, and my heart breaks open. There are great mysteries in our time together that I only begin to grasp, before someone burps or farts and they slip away into whatever place all human experience goes.
Three years already. Happy Birthday, sweet Ben. You are the gift. I love you.
I recently started a dress up box for Ben and Maddie with some really cheap pieces we picked up at Savers on Burnet Road.
Every time we’ve pulled the box out to play, Maddie has worn the purple hat.
She and Ben both like the chunky black beads and the black and white patterned purse, which they often fill with play pizza.
She melts me.
with Great-Granny Edith
and Great-Pawpaw Tutt. My grandparents visited Austin on Monday to see us and our new house for the first time. It was their 12th anniversary. We read The Very Hungry Caterpillar about 20 times, and Ben gave them a tour of the house. Monday night we made a spaghetti dinner, and sang Happy Anniversary to the melody of “Happy Birthday.” I feel so fortunate that Ben and Maddie have been able to spend time with my grandparents, too.
The perfect tuna salad, on whole wheat:
2 cans tuna in water, drained
2 stalks celery, diced
1/3 cup finely diced onion (Red is best, but I used yellow today.)
1 thwock canola mayo (The real stuff, please. But not too much.)
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
