Oh man oh man. I can't believe my little man is turning two next weekend.

At the same time, I can absolutely believe it. Evidence:
"Go away, Mama, go away!"
"I don't like it! I don't like it!"
"I don't wanna put the pants on!"
"Mine!"
"Stop it Mama, stop it right now!"

Phrases of a two year old.

Also, leaving day care yesterday: "There's too much crap in there!"

I don't know where he picked up that one, but love the crap out of him anyway.

One of my most favorite pictures of the Tates to date, courtesy of my sister.

Things have been wonderful around here. Good God, how we all feel so much better when the weather turns sunny.

I've got projects. I spent over an hour in the garden tonight after Teo went to bed. I've signed up for a sewing class. We're taking a small family vacation to the coast, I'll get to see Fred and her future hubby, and everything is just golden.

I just can't seem to find time to update this site - we're too busy playing in the backyard and blowing bubbles. Isn't that how it should be?

From this:

To this:

I love it that T knows much of the words to the "Once" soundtrack. He's so hip.

It has been a month and a day since I last updated this blog. That is a record absence in the blog's six years of existence.

But, things are good. The weather is turning here, and the trees outside are blossoming. I am currently in a short-sleeved shirt with the windows open. Yesterday, we got locked out of our house, and I spent an hour wandering the still-new-to-us neighborhood with Teo. We met our neighbors and talked with more new people in one afternoon than I probably have in weeks. Maybe it's the sunshine making everyone more social, or maybe it's just that I live in a rockin' hood. I don't know, and I don't care. I am just happy to be here.

Some of my absence is due to having visitors come stay with us this past month. It's been lovely. L was out here for a few days and we had an awesome time (ate some amazing, amazing food) and then C was out for some crazy days early April. I love both of them dearly, and am honored they came out to Stumptown for a stint.

But perhaps the biggest drain on my time - in a good way - is that I've started seeing someone. I'm not going to discuss him here, at least not until I am ready, so don't even ask. However, the sudden addition of somebody new in my life is definitely at least partially responsible for my absence. It's been great, but free time is limited.

And of course, there's the Tates, who is going to be two so very, very soon. He is talking in mini sentences and becoming more and more grown-up every day. He helped me cook today, which is sort of mind-blowing. Granted, all he did was take the carrots and arrange them in different piles, but he participated and made commentary and acted like a little adult. He has started singing along to some songs on my iPod (with the words) and pretty much just amazes me more and more each day. I love that little monster.

1) He can sing Twinkle Twinkle

and

2) He loves his Mimi and Baba

Twinkle Twinkle from odessa on Vimeo.