[x] I just had to check my own blog to figure out when my last entry was posted. That alone says it's time for an update, no? Hi, guys. What's shakin'? :)

[x] Life has been both busy and interesting the past few weeks. Beauty turns FOUR on Monday. Four. I can't believe it. We are hosting a small get together tomorrow, and Beauty's stoked beyond belief. This is the first year she's really shown preemptive excitement for her birthday and coordinating celebrations (due to her developmental delays). Those who follow me elsewhere will see tons of pics of our birthday girl, no doubt about it. I love her enthusiasm. Being four is kind of a big deal. :)

Her birthday always makes me a little sad, though. I think of her first mom like crazy as it is, but even more so on Beauty's birthday. I just can't imagine that sense of loss she must feel (always), exemplified by the anniversary of her/our daughter's birth. Beauty's been more interested in talking about adoption, although she doesn't really "get" it. She knows she was born in M.'s tummy, as Bear was born in mine, and LF was born in R.'s. So it's a good step in the right direction. She can identify Guatemala on the globe and would recognize her first mom's picture anywhere. I wish I could update Beauty's first mom and tell her what an amazing little girl she has (well, we all have, really). She would be SO proud, no doubt about it. She's working on her understanding of adoption, and I'm really quite impressed with how far she's already come.

[x] My heart is heavy for Japan today. Bear and I watched CNN a bit this morning and talked briefly about world events. He's at such a curious age, but I want to be careful with his exposure to events like this. I don't want to shield him from life, but I also don't want him to grow up too quickly. I'd like very much to preserve the innocence of his youth as long as possible while encouraging his natural curiosity.  Every parent's dilemma, no? And so it goes...

[x] Five years ago today, I attended my own baby shower. Crazy how much has happened in half a decade. At that time, the predictions I had made for my life, the people in my life...not too much of it turned out as planned. Funny how that happens. Oh, life. You always keep it real. ;)

[x] I am showered, my hair is dried, I am moisturized and smelling rather delicious. This is a Very Good Thing. K. and I have been busy, busy, busy lately, so I'm looking forward to curling up with a good book and just relaxing tonight.

[x] We are contemplating the possibility of fostering (to adopt) a medically fragile (for lack of a better term) child. We'll know more on Thursday, but we are both open to the experience. If the initial meeting goes well, we'll host a weekend visit. If the weekend visit goes well, we'll make the decision as to whether we'd like to foster-to-adopt. We are not opposed to a change in our daily routine, but we are opposed to taking on anything or anyone who will dramatically impact the time we have for the three children we already have. Being fair to them is one of our main concerns. K. and I made a list of parameters--our "what we can take on and what we can't" list. So we shall see. We're hopeful but cautious and overall excited. Que sera, sera... (PS - To those who know me/us in real life, plz keep this on the down low. Until we take a definitive step in that direction (if we do, that is), we're not really making this public knowledge. Thanks. :)

[x] I made some pretty rock awesome cupcakes tonight (yes, cupcakes in addition to a birthday cake). They're cookies and cream (vegan) with cookies and cream buttercream (also vegan). Fantastic! Isa's recipes have never let me down, I tell you. Never.

[x] Okay, I'm ready to unplug, so it's time to disconnect from the online world--at least for now. I want to send out an email to a friend tonight, though, so perhaps I won't unplug just yet... ;)

<3