smacky and bucky

I imagine this happens with most parents (or people who experience emotions in general), but I am constantly blown away by how amazing our kids are. Si is standing constantly, and while H. was walking at Si's age, I know it's completely normal for the second child to develop these skills slower (his big brother is constantly in his face, so where's the motivation to move?)

We went to an open house at the preschool last night, and it was really comforting to basically get confirmation that your 3-year-old isn't warped from my f-ed up parenting... that he's as happy and normal as other 3-year-olds. There was a poster on the wall with the answers the kids gave to questions, including "favorite food, favorite activity" and so on, and one of them was "friend," without any designation, and our son's name was the answer given by four of the kids. Four of the 11 kids consider H. to be their best friend. Wow.

Through the years of uncertainty (H's open heart surgery in April 2012; Si wasn't supposed to go full-term) we are still here and we are grabbing moments of happiness and making memories for these kids, and that knowledge makes me tear up with joy.

Are you kidding me with this cuteness?!?