these things, these changes

I pulled this piece of paper out of my jacket pocket recently.

one night not too long ago petra and I ran out to grab a pizza. after the pizza was paid for, they asked me to sign the receipt.

I scribbled my signature and as I handed them their copy, I saw petra's hand reach out for the pen. in her other little mitt was our copy of the receipt. she had snatched it off the counter. I handed her the pen and waited as she quickly scribbled her john hancock.

smiling to myself, I ignored the impatient sigh of the gentleman behind us. I let her hand it to the clerk, who slipped it back to me discreetly. pita walked away like it was business as usual.

:: :: ::

this morning I spent the precious minutes between finishing getting the kids fed, changed, brushed and dressed and rills' first nap of the day going through their closets and drawers. putting away clothes they have out grown, and getting out clothes that rilla would be ready to wear soon. (btw it was almost as good as a shopping trip, all those clothes in the next size up) seeing some of my favorite old clothes of petra's, soft from wash and wear, made for a tender moment or two. I could just about feel her little body, and what is was like to get her little hugs. remembering that stubborn one year old, with the curls just around nape of her neck. my buddy. when we moved here I found a lot of comfort in my little companion. I can't wait to see rill-bot sportin' some oldies but goodies... I wonder how many more youngens' they will last through?

:: :: ::

my babies are growing. petra is too tall and too observant. I need to be worthy of her copy-cat ways. and rilla... she is just my little love, anxious to follow in her sister's footsteps. I guess the ride has started already. I am a parent.