Surprise, Surprise

Well, I've just logged into blogger for the first time in months, and boy am I surprised by the changes to the environment.  I'm not sure I approve, but I never approve of change until it's matured a bit.  I think that's an inherited trait. 

Yesterday I saw a Norther Oriole (formerly called the Baltimore Oriole, I learned, until scientists realized that the Orioles of the eastern and western US were the same species and gave them all the same name.)  I watched it's bright orange body flit from branch to branch piping its two note call for several minutes before the children's clamoring required that I tear my gaze from it.  I lost track of it at that point.

Thunderstorms have been abundant this last week.  I even spent about 45 minutes in the middle of the night watching the lightning and listening to the thunder two nights ago.  Actually, that was a by-product of waiting for the inevitable cries of nervous children in the night -- cries, that it turns out, are not actually inevitable.  I love thunderstorms, and I said as much to Maddie this morning while we made a trip to the bathroom in the middle of our early morning thunderstorm.  She slung her arms around my neck as I carried her back upstairs and said, "I love thunder too, Mommy.  But you know what I love more?"  I shook my head.  "You!"  Sighs and snuggles.

My big girl keeps getting bigger and I watch her walk around the house with amazement.  Not because walking in itself is a grand feat, but because I'm struck, always, by how independent and confident she's become and how much I still baby her.  She'll be seven momentarily and I wonder where the time has gone.  Do the years ever slow down?

Though I won't make any promises, I'd like to post a bit more frequently.  I've always had a complex -- my life is never as interesting as everyone else's and so I tend to not share.  But it's ok.  I'm going to share anyway :)