My heart hurts just a little.

This day has been coming since I was in 1st grade holding my first pair of Pink Panther glasses. The sweet doctor in the picture is the same man that 30 years ago gave me the "good news" about my vision. Thankfully, Z-Man's vision is not as bad as mine when I was his age. I have a severe astigmatism and he does not. Yet.

We noticed Z's vision problems at his 7 year checkup with the pediatrician. He couldn't read the last two lines on the chart. That was in April and we put it off as long as possible. Since school started we have really noticed a discrepancy. In class, he walks right up to the board and reads a few words then goes to his desk to copy them down. Repeat until finished. Chapter books were becoming harder for him because the print is smaller and close together.

It was time

His first words..."WOW!! I thought I was seeing normal." Right after we left the doctor, he wanted to run back to school to show his teacher and look at his classroom. Mrs. B was so excited for him and I have never seen him so proud. All night long he was looking at things with glasses and without. He was in awe. Another bonus, he actually wanted to read. Let that soak in. He wanted to read. Everything.

Worth it to me.

My sweet boy, I am so proud of you. Now quit growing and changing so fast. My head is spinning and my heart is bursting. I pray that no one hurts your feelings. Trust me on this, there are people that will call you names. Four eyes for example. Stay strong, son, and know that you are loved.

What? A post already written for me? Sweet.

There's an awesome blogger, named Tara, who's fun and encouraging and a new mom of three. She had this sweet post on her blog yesterday and I just had to copy it. Partly because I thought it was a fun idea and the other part because the words in my head don't come out anymore.

It's a jumbled, swampy mess up there.

This one is easy and already written for whoever wants to play along. Here are the rules...

Just copy and paste the 200 statements then bold the ones you have done...the idea is to highlight the things you have done out of the 200 items on the list. If you see bold in this one, it's because I've done that. Okay, here we go...

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper (a lot of diapers!!)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula (over my dead body!)
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped (notsomuch)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run (not unless wiffle ball counts!)
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day (my personal favorite activity of all these!)
51. Gone scuba diving (sadly, those days are done. My ears can't take it!)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job (laid off, thankyouverymuch!)
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch (sewing)
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream (everyday)
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe.
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style (Pam!)
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in a historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one (just in mini-golf!)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Ran a marathon (just a 5K, but I'm claiming it!)
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class-
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo (yeah, right!)
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight (daily, my drivers license!)
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunch box
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a camp fire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter (since I don't know what this is....)

How To

Third.

Opinionated is the perfect word for this month. Wingman is awake and he lets us all know about it. Most moments are smiles and giggles, others are loud. Very loud. He has discovered the power of his voice this month. Also, he is perfecting the cutest pout ever. I wish I had a picture of that. It's precious!

Here is his famous smile that has me wrapped around his little finger.

Z-man and Loulabelle love to pose Wingman for funny pictures.

This time he didn't appreciate the joke.

Our little charmer. Everyday with him is more fun than the last. We are learning so many things about his blooming personality. For example, he is terrified of the dark. Absolutely goes bonkers if you walk through a dark room. As soon as the light turns on he stops. Like someone flips a switch on his tears.

His voice isn't the only thing getting stronger. His vision is perfect for his age. When he finds me across the room his face lights up with a smile. You know that tugs at my heart strings just a little.

Dear boy, we love you so.

Apology is in order.

Where are my manners? I am so sorry, faithful few. I am embarrassed beyond belief to realize that my "Aunt" post has been up for over 2 weeks. Those of you who have checked back on me have had to endure that ugly visual.

I am terribly rude.

It's just that there isn't much to say right now. Strike that. There is so much to say but getting it all down in the written form is stressful to me. It is just ONE MORE THING TO DO in a long list of things that never quite get done.

You know what I mean?

Plus, I am tired. Really, really to the bone tired. But in a good way.

I love this life and if I ever get un-tired I will tell you all about it.