houpley

Jackson: Mama, why are you sitting in here while we all take a bath? Is it cause we're all being a family? Amanda: Yes, of course. I mean, I did make this family. Eric: Well ...  I did ... I mean ... It was shake-n-bake and I helped!

In a few days, Eli will be a year old.  While there is always the bittersweet moments of realizing your baby is growing up, with Eli it is overshadowed by my joy for his achievements. Each month he gets stronger and healthier. Bit by bit he his shedding those NICU shadows. He is catching up to his adjusted age and slowly weaning off a few meds. Of course we are still cautious, especially as winter approaches. I'm sure all parents of young children feel the same when the chill in the air signals the return of flu shots and runny noses. Batten the hatches and break out the hoodies, the cold brings colds. Eli falls fast when it comes to the contagious. So we've primed the inhalers and refilled the scripts. I would love to go full mama-bear mode and hibernate away with the children for the winter, but instead I will dole out the Purell to anyone who will listen. Getting to watch a stronger, older Eli is something that brings tears to my eyes daily. We are so very lucky. He has...

Mama, on the back of my drawing I have made a list of who is good and who is bad. Ok. On the right are the people that are good. See? Here is you and daddy and I have to add Eli. Yes. On this side is the bad list. There is only one person on this side? Who got put on your bad list? That's John Wilkes Booth. I see. Cause he's a bad guy. Right.

I have called this family meeting to announce that we are going to take official family photos over spring break. So we will be looking for a photographer. We've got to find a great photographer to take our pics. Oh Mama! Why don't we get Jimmy Olson? (long pause) He'd be good, babe. He is an ace photographer with the Daily Planet.

Jackson: Mama, I am going to live with you until I am 99 years old! Amanda: Well, I am so glad we got that out of the way. Eric: Babe, you know that won't hold up in a court of law, right? They'll say he was under duress when he said it. Jackson: Elvis is under arrest!