I meant to post this to Adara's page!

How fast it all goes by. Adara answered a question for the first time yesterday. I asked her, "Do you want this?" as she was squirming and whining, and she stopped and said, "yeah".

I wish I could describe how beautiful the children are to me. It is impossible to really tell of the love that is inspired by one's children. And as fast as eveything is changing in our lives- the love only intensifies in its own recognition. I've found a daycare arrangement that will ensue on Tuesday- and I think it's the best possible arrangement, given the circumstances. It will really only be thirty-three hours a week. And I can walk to work from there (and look lovingly at the house from the fourth floor hallway of the school). Conceivably I could even hang out for a portion of my off-period, which further decreases the hours they're on their own in the daycare. The woman who runs it is just opening on the 2nd, the day I need to begin. And Aenaon and Adara will be the only toddlers. She will have her four month old daughter, and a three month old. She's only taking the four of them for now (but she's licensed to have six). I think everyone will do fine. Like everything, it will take some time to get used to, and to build strong relationships, but I feel confident it will happen.

The children fared pretty well on Christmas. It's wonderfully fun to watch them enjoy the whole process- the excitement of giving and receiving, of unwrapping surprises, of enjoying family and feasts, the anticipation of Santa Claus- and the fruits of their unwrapping labor. I think pretty much everything was a hit with them. (It's probably an easy age to please, of course.) So far they've done well spreading out their time playing with everything (and have not yet tired of anything) which is great! Aenaon got a train set he really loves, and a singing/dancing Pablo (the Backyardigan). They both enjoy the tent and tunnel which are now set up in our playroom (formerly a dining room). The portable desk and crayons and markers and coloring books, etc. have already gotten a lot of mileage. So it works out well for both parent and child- and we're all enjoying it.

Well, that's all I have time for now.

Happy New Year!!! (If you subscribe to that establishment (as opposed to the Spring equinox, for example...)