already?

We learn from our children.

That's what everyone says. I think of this statement, and I think that it must be spoken from the mouths of old people, those who have children that have flourished into eloquent and productive adults, ripe with success and achievement.

But today, I learned from mine.

He is 18 months old, almost 19. We went to the zoo this afternoon, just to let him run around and play on his own terms with me just following him around, eager to point out the various animals that he would find himself face to face with.

It was hot. I mean, it's only February, and it was the kind of hot where you need to go seek out some ice cold water for your little guy to drink because you're actually worried about whether or not he could become dehydrated. Hot.

After our animal-gazing, we returned to the fountain, where we always begin and end our zoo adventures. He did his usual, walking around the fountain, pointing to the birds and expressing surprise that the music comes from the big speakers in the concrete pillars. And then there was a little girl who had hurt her little toe. She came to sit next to us with two ladies, one sitting next to her and the other kneeling in front of her, both tending to her little bleeding toe.

My NCS, such a careful observer, spotted their trouble from the speaker nearest them. He watched them all as he circled around them, moving closer to his Mommy... I'm sure he may have been slightly uncomfortable from the little girl's tears. My sweet NCS didn't know what to do, so he did the only thing he could think of: he kissed the lady nearest him, complete with an "mmmm...." lead-in. What a sweetheart!

I've thought about this several times today, and I am always touched by how cute my boy is and how sweet he is. But now I realize that I have finally joined the ranks of those who can state that they have learned from their children.

NCS has taught me that people always need hugs. And kisses. And it may not always be the most obvious of people. Sometimes the caregivers of the world need a little something extra from us.

Goodness knows he's already given it to me, a thousand times over.

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There is some silence in my life. Not much, but some. Like for two minutes after NCS falls asleep, before I leave him to go get a few things done while he naps. During those few moments of quiet, I think about what I would like to write in my blog or in my journal. Now that I am here in front of my keyboard, those thoughts have eluded me.

I just read Eat, Pray, Love (no underline tool here?). It was a fabulous book, and I plan on rereading it soon. Only a few pages into it, I called L. to ask if she had read it. "Twice," she said. "I'm trying to model my life after it." Puhleeze. My dear friend, L. has found her life in a mess of trouble, to put it extremely lightly. I think she has lost her marbles. Well, the ones she had left after her husband sucked all of the life out of her figurative bag of marbles.

NCS and I have been very busy. First there was Thanksgiving, then all the readying-for and the arrival of Christmas. And my dear husband had a cold for almost a month. Now we're back in the swing of things, and we are booked. We still have music class one day a week, at least two playdates a week. Where does all the time go? Oh yeah, that's right! A good chunk of it is spent with me trying to get him to sleep!

I'll try to be better about collecting my thoughts instead of just catching them in what closely resembles a butterfly net.

Things I think about:
trying to formulate a financial plan to be able to have another baby, not likely
trying to formulate a financial plan to be able to have another baby before I retire, not likely
trying to encourage NCS to speak instead of signing everything
will NCS be accepted to preschool for the summer session?
where will NCS go to preschool if he isn't accepted into our first choice school?
should I find a church to attend with NCS?
if so, what denomination?
when should I try to go back to school?
when I do, what should I major in? where would I attend? how will I find the time?
why is my business so slow?
if NCS gets into preschool, can I find a job to coincide with those hours?
won't I miss him so desperately when he goes to school? is that the beginning of the end of our baby time together? will he stop needing me as much?
if NCS goes to school, will he eat?
what color should I paint the garage?