No, I've got more important things to do

As we exited the plane (last, see previous post) we peeked into the cockpit. The co-pilot was still there and she invited Hutch to sit in the pilot's seat!! He refused saying, "No, we have to see Daddy, we have to rescue him!". Oh well, this is as close as I could get him to the pilot's seat. Maybe next time.

Chi-town

Brave Mommy took both children on the plane to see Daddy and Auntie Clare in Chicago last weekend. It's taken a week to recover and finally download the pitiful few pictures I have to document the trip! I got to be the last passenger off the plane both times. The first stewardess radioed to the desk in the airport "Yes, we have our last one, she's got two kids, one on her back (Maggie in the backpack thingy) and one walking." What she said wasn't rude or anything, but you could tell by her tone she was feeling sorry for me. Traveling with Hutch and Maggie was actually quite easy, they were the perfect companions.

Hutch was only a little freaked out by security in Atlanta. The security guy on the other side of the metal detector was not encouraging in the least...matter of fact he looked a little like 50 Cent. Hutch didn't like having to take off his shoes and he certainly did not agree with having to put his Thomas backpack of treasures through the magic machine that's like Superman because it can see inside your bag and make sure your toys are safe. He ended up sitting on the floor in tears on the other side of the metal detector while they searched my carry-on and I reassembled the stroller which had to be emptied and folded and sent through the magic machine that's like Superman because it can see inside and make sure the stroller is safe.

Maggie is awake in this picture, she's just looking down, probably at the mountain of fruity Cheerios we spilled on the floor. Hutch reveled in raising and lowering the window shade. Thank goodness it was just the three of us in the two seats. I'm sure we would have annoyed the crap out of any other human being. More to follow soon...Lee's home now so my computer time is less frequently interrupted with requests for water, and tv, and games, and "wipe me", and etc.

The Face

So this is the face (actually this is a close copy, the original had much more glare and crinkled nose) Maggie unleashed on me at Target last Saturday when I wouldn't allow her to "push" the cart while I was carrying her. Imagine a Superman type hold with her arms locked out in front gripping the cart with white knuckles. I passed the cart to mom and Maggie shot me the evil eye with puckered lips!

Maggie's First Birthday

Although Maggie's actual birthDATE isn't until tomorrow - today, Saturday, is the day last year that brought us our perfect little girl. It's been an eyeblink since that day. Maggie is almost walking and Hutch is really growing into his role as a super big brother. Just the other morning he climbed in bed with Maggie and gently pulled the covers up on her and patted her tummy before curling up next to her.

We celebrated today by grilling steaks and indulging in yummy chocolate cake. We purchased a "Complete Big Brother in a Box" for Maggie (as seen in picture above). Although it is Fisher-Price, it is NOT part of the slew of toys recently recalled. We marked the day with a lovely family photo on the front porch. Out of about a dozen pictures this is the best....again with the herding cats metaphor! Maybe I'll post some of the ones that didn't make the cut- Hutch has a wide repetoire of goofy faces!

A good time was had by all. Happy Birthday, Maggie! :)

Who wants cupcakes?

I actually thought Maggie was going to jump out of the chair and rip the cupcake out of Jen's hands.......

The End

So I walked into the hotel lobby at 1 PM and grabbed the special Amazon box from the front desk. I sat down to read at 1:30. At 7:25, dipping the last bit of bread into the pasta sauce, I closed the book.

It's been almost seven years since I sat on a couch at a rental house on St. George Island and devoured Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in one day. Since then, I've reread each book at least three times, and have listened to the tales on audio CD more times than I can list.

I've looked forward to this final book since I read the first one, as has everyone gripped by JK Rowling's tale. But I've also dreaded it. Not because I was afraid that she would mess it up. Indeed, this is her tale, and if she chose to have Harry go join the Peace Corps and settle down in Namibia instead of facing Voldemort, that would be her choice (though one I would probably find less than satisfying).

I've dreaded the final book because it is just that: the final book. No one wants to see our loved ones to leave us, even if they are fictional. The emotions you pour into a story by reading it and turning the characters into living breathing beings in your mind can be just as powerful as those you attach to the people in your life.

So it was with slightly red eyes that I opened the book at 1:30. And I write this with red eyes now. But as sad as I am to close the book on Harry's last adventure (and I cannot see how it can be otherwise), I cannot wait to open the first one again, and begin to read it to our children. As they discover what worlds reading can take them to, it will remind me that our loved ones do not leave us ever, in the real or fictional world.

Thanks, JK, for a monumental achievement in storytelling, and one that will live through the ages. And thanks for reminding us, time and again, of the love that exists between a child and mother. If people remembered this love more often, I do believe our world would be a better place today.