67

So, I am officially in my 30s. I am not really sure how that happened. And, once again, I have to deal with the fact that I am officially an adult. I mean, I remember when my parents were 31. How is that?

Is this where I pictured myself at 31? Probably not ... but then yes too. I don't have much to wish for as of now.

A lot has happened in the last decade.

Graduation from college; 5 years of professional journalism; marriage; got a cat; bought first new car; bought first house; had first son; career jump to PR; bought a second new car; bought second house; had a second son. Not too shabby.

There are things that are still on my list. But there are a lot of huge things that have been crossed off. Could Brennan be my last baby? I am just not ready to think that chapter of my life is over.

I am constantly reminded of my growing age. Whether its listening to the radio and hearing "classic rock" as a description of a song from the late 90s, having a current college student say something about people who graduated 10 years ago (not quite there yet but will be in 09) being out of touch, or finding my first gray hair (it was quickly plucked), everyday "Fun Kate" of yesteryear is fading away.

Someday when Jack and B hear about my glory days, they'll surely raise an eyebrow, snicker and ignore me. And the more I try to convince them, the more they will think I am a L-O-S-E-R.

I know Husband and I will try to be the cool parents who tailgate with them in college, but will I really hang? I can't imagine my recovery time then. Or will they even want us there? I hope we're not the "glory days of the 90s" kind of people, that's just annoying.

Sometimes I just don't know how my life went from 4-5 nights out a week to maybe not falling asleep during a rental. I am not complaining ... I am just not sure how it happened.

As I sit here, Jack just told me he's stinky and Brennan is gnawing on my left hand forcing me to type one-handed. It's called multi-tasking. It's called being 30-something in suburban America. It's called a blessed life that seems to be blowing by.

Next thing I know, I am going to be 40.

***
For my birthday and Ga's birthday, Stina and Uncle came up to Okemos as did the 'rents. We went to Emil's, a Lansing gem. The food is insanely good and the portion size explains why Americans are fat. You think you'll have enough to take home but usually there's little left and you feel as though you could roll out of the dingy/charming restaurant.

We were wrapping it up when Stina shot me the look of death.

"Did you hear what your son just said?" she hissed at me. I looked at her new husband giggling behind her and I immediately prepared myself for her, "Can't you control your child?" lecture. (Once she told me I should watch "Nanny 911" on TV to get tips. And yes, I am excitedly anticipating the birth of her children if only to see how she reacts to daily life.)

"No, sorry. What did he say?"

"He said,'Mama! Did you see that tummy?! It's HUUUUGE!'" And when she told me, she re-enacted how he looked. (He tends to be dramatic.)

Crap, I thought to myself.

"Was the guy big?" I asked.

"Well, yes," she said.

"Well, then that's pretty smart, eh? Pretty observant." (And it was, really. The kid notices everything. Don't even ask me how he reacted to hearing waiters speaking Spanish at the local Mexican restaurant. So bad. So, so bad.)

"Katie! You need to say something. That's not OK."

So what did I say? It's pretty damn stupid and Jack called me out immediately.

"Jack! We don't talk about tummies! That's not OK."

He looked at me like I was insane. And I am sure it sounded insane.

"Tummy is bad? We don't say that?" He was completely confused. And truthfully, so was I. Hey, what was I supposed to say about this?

I looked at my dad for support. He was failing to squash his laughter.

"If a tummy is big, we don't talk about it."

"OK, Mama," Jack said, sighing.

I could tell what he was thinking. Great, another thing we can't say or talk about ... they cheer Brennan when he burbs, I burp the alphabet and get scolded. Growing up, stinks.

And the truth is, I wanted to agree with him.

66

Rice cereal is a hit!

It was a big night for us last night. Brennan tried rice cereal for the first time -- and was amazing at the spoon. Jack ate his first tuna sandwich with cheese, no crust. Whoo-hoo! And we even got the precious bites on camera to watch over and over.

Brennan also had his 4 month check up last Friday. He's "excellent" and our doctor said she'd like to "wrap him up and eat him, he's so cute!"And he is ... of course.

He came in at 26 3/4 inches long (96 percent); 17 lbs. 9.5 oz (91 percent); and head circumference is 43 1/4 cm (75 percent). It seems the boy has inherited his father's wee head.

Jack has always ranked in the high 90s when it came to head size.

We'll just have to wait and see if B's is made of cement like his big brother.

65

Brennan, Jack and Freddie Christmas morning