I'm so sorry, smonster. Grieve and heal as you can. We got you.

Trudy, that's so hard--wishing her and your family every good wish possible, and strength and endurance, besides.

Welcome, Ford! You've landed yourself in an awesome family! Don't worry though, you've got a fantastic older brother to show you the ropes. He can teach you how to get by on a grin and a snuggle, never fear. Be a stellar kid, though, and let your mamas sleep at night, 'kay?

I can't say it better than Beverly, so Ima point and nod.

I know there were good things about D...but not loving Frankie? I seriously don't get it. I've never even met the little dude and I'm enamored with him.

Some people are not pet people. Or dog people. I have maybe five dogs I've ever known that I truly liked. And that's being a pet person myself.

But a breakup is a breakup and they hurt.

Announcement: the era of counting Big Sleeps is over.

Analysis: Ryan is now a four year-old boy! Such a big boy. (Seriously. He weighs almost 20 kg. He's at the 90th percentile for both height and weight.) He received his major birthday present on the weekend, namely his very first bicycle (with training wheels, about which he is very excited). He also received his birthday cake on the weekend; he went to the shop with his grandparents and chose a mudcake.

His party is on the coming weekend. There'll be a couple of his old friends from childcare, who left to go to school at the start of the year. That'll be nice. Although we had a parent-teacher meeting last week, and the teacher told us that it had actually been quite good for Ryan to have his best friend go off to school. He used to be a bit clingy with that relationship; now he has a wider circle of friends, and I think they're more equal friendships too. But Ryan will still be happy to see him again. (Next year, he'll be at school himself, and I'm pretty sure he'll fill the guest list from current classmates.)

His other early present was a cough. That gave him (and consequently us) a bit of a troubled night, but he's showing no ill effects this morning. Very happy he is to be a big four year-old boy. (I suspect he'll be less thrilled when he discovers that it comes with a vaccination. Ah well.)

I'm sorry smonster, break ups suck, so be gentle with yourself, and go ahead on lean on us.

Happy birthday Ryan! Such a wonderful child.

Oh suckage, Smonster! I hate when my spider sense is right, because it makes it that much harder to ignore (and me more paranoid) the next time. Sigh. Good luck, be kind to yourself.

And on a very opposite note, welcome to the world baby Ford!

smonster,

hugs and tears and warm thoughts to you. I'm sorry.

bt,

happy big boy to your son!

Happy birthday, Ryan!

I'm sorry, smonster. That sucks.

I'm so sorry, smonster. I wish I lived closer by so I could help do something to distract/cheer you.

Happy birthday, Ryan!

Happy birthday, Ryan! Wow, four. Very impressive.

(My youngest niece is three tomorrow. Youngest. Time is running away.)

{{{smonster}}}

Thoughts for you, your family and your stepmom, Trudy.