For now...

I will attempt to deconstruct this weekend over the following few days, since it was all parties, all-Crazy Bridezilla and right now, I just want to sleep and focus on stuff that makes my heart sing.

The Bear was in the tub tonight and held up a rubber duck and told me, "Duck." He's so fun, every time I pick him up, he points to something and says, "U's at? (What's that?)" I love this stage, I've forgotten how much fun it is. And he's walking everywhere. The crab crawl is so fast that I have to literally jog after him to catch up, so it's a welcome respite from having to chase him everywhere, since his walking is still slow and he wobbles every few steps. It's absolutely hilarious that this tiny little guy is just walking everywhere. You just want to laugh and say, "Okay, for real, you're just a baby, get down and crawl!"

My sweet Sir H comes up with the most amazing things to say constantly. He and his G.D. were out getting some takeout last night to bring back to the hotel to eat and he told G.D. that the way to get to Chili's was to "go to 12 and then 24 and then over the railroad tracks. A'ter that you go north, because north is always good." I mean. Really. Today, in the car on the way home, he asked me what would happen if someone didn't like him. We took some time talking about why he asked that, and I pray that I left him with some words of wisdom that will help navigate these previously uncharted waters of peer rejection and societal pressure. I never knew how my heart could break when my precious, perfect, wonderful son brought up the idea of someone not liking him. Not because I give a fig what people think of him, but because rejection hurts. And as mothers, we all want to shield our children from rejection and the sting that accompanies it. Thank God that at this age, rejection is limited to "Lily wouldn't let me play with her toy at preschool," or "Chandler said he wanted to play by himself and not with me today." What happens when the girl turns him down for a date, or when he doesn't make this or that group or team? Moms of older children, how do you keep from administering a (much deserved, obviously) beat down to those who reject your child?

On to happier thoughts...my dear, dear friends who came this weekend. My heart cannot thank you enough for being there. Lizzy, the banana eating? I'm still laughing about it. And Tracy and Kelly, it was such a blessing to see your smiling faces and know that there were a few people there who could see past the smiles to the sadness inside and offer a few well-placed, encouraging words. I love you guys.