Merritt absolutely adores trains. I think I've read "Thomas the Tank Engine" to him about a thousand times.

I got my braces off. I don't look like myself to myself, if that makes sense. Andy says I smile much much more.

Justin turned eight months old today and today was also the day he started saying "Da-da-da!" He is finally sleeping close to 12 hours a night and it's a relief.

Time is such a commodity right now and I feel like I am overflowing with ideas but so short on creative time.

One indisputable truth: there is nothing cuter than baby-size jeans.

I'm over yesterday. One of the secrets to a good marriage seems to be not to carry a grudge. I was always the master grudge holder, maybe it's the Irish in me. But Andy would amaze me with his ability to fight with me one minute then let it go and be cool the next--so I try to be like that. It's a much healthier and happier way to coexist.

Merritt talks more and more and we delight in every new phrase. He likes to narrate what's going on around him. "Mommy eat baby, daddy mess me." = "Mommy is feeding the baby and Daddy is cleaning up my mess."

Justin has achieved that really awesome age where he is content for long periods of time to roll around on the floor exploring. And boy does that kid love to bang on things. I think we have a drummer here.

I have come to the undeniable conclusion that there is a conspiracy to keep me from getting a decent nights sleep. I have husbands, children, cats, neighbor's dogs, owls, trash trucks, clicking baby monitors, and others against me. This morning Andy got up at 5:30 am to soothe Justin back to sleep. He took the monitor so presumably I was going to sleep in. I drifted back to sleep and then he woke me up at 6:30 bringing the monitor back in. Inexplicably he got dressed and left the house. Obviously I was not going back to sleep after that and the anger and frustration began to build. It is rare that both boys sleep even close to 7 am anymore and it seemed that this morning they would. Shortly after leaving Andy returns--with a dozen red roses for me, so of course I couldn't go off on him. Later I found out he had actually gone out to buy the new World of Warcraft computer game that came out today and was quickly selling out. He always said the main reason men buy flowers is out of guilt. Justin and Merritt slept until almost eight. Instead of being mad I am just numb. And tired of course. Always tired.

When my parents went out for New Years Eve and we were babysat by my grandmother, she had a tradition of taking our photo with a sign to mark the occasion. It seemed silly back then but now I can appreciate it. And yesterday I subjected the boys to the same commemoration: