Seven Years and Two and a Half Rascals Later

Yes, May 13, 2000 is actually starting to seem like a long time ago. And then not so much. I still remember all the odd details of the day. How the photographer always had an urgent nature about him, fiddling, mumbling incoherent things about lighting, meters, to himself. I recall the bonfire the night before, surrounded by good friends and high mountains, wondering obliquely if snow would show up tomorrow at the outdoor wedding. Playing cards like old times with old pals, trying to make the once ready conversations flow like they used to; wondering how a year apart could make us strangers to each other's lives. Last minute curling, peeping out the windows at the guests arriving, marveling at my uncle's suit which seemed to have stepped out from a 70's prom wear ad. Looking up at Dustin at the altar, into laughing eyes; can't we even take this seriously?? The symbolic hilarity of lighting a unity candle in the wind. Being ravenously hungry during the reception but too embarrassed to go through the buffet line twice. My dad and my roommate singing beautifully. Lots of goodbyes.

That would become a trend. We're on our fourth country together. The States, Canada, Costa Rica, and now Chile. We've left a bit of ourselves in each place, and miss deeply those whom we grew to love far and wide. And now...we're a growing family; as we speak my little Edison looks up at me and tries to climb me, yelling "Mama!" for all he's worth, looking up at me with big blue eyes from a face that's shedding its baby-roundness. Sophia runs in and out bearing drawings freshly rendered and trying to hide from me how much marker actually ended up on her hands. Baby #3 gives me kicks now and then, as if to remind me to give up trying to fit into my jeans and give it some space. Funny to think I've only been a mother for just shy of four years now. Was there ever actually a time that I didn't mentally re-design sippy cups for easier cleaning? Or when the messes around the house were actually caused by me? Or when Dustin and I could leave our home without the comical routine of shoe-finding, coat zipping, diaper bag-packing, face-scrubbing, and car seat wrangling? When I didn't each night give kisses to little sleeping children with a feeling of wonder in my heart? What a great seven years...thank you Dustin, I love you.