Heart of Gold*

As we have written here before, Our Hero is three. The dawning of this age has ushered in all kinds of delightful behavior, but also all kinds of maddening behavior. We began our morning with Joe's usual devolution into tears and wails over the fact that he wasn't having something for breakfast other than what was being offered. (This moning, we were having cereal and he wanted waffles.) He refused to tell Ted what cereals he wanted poured into his bowl. So Ted went off to take his shower, at which point Joe came up againt the reality of Julie pouring his cereal which was even more tragic than having to make do with cereal. At one point, Joe decided he needed to use the potty, but his crying continued unabated, and he may have stood for at least five minute on his little stool, underwear and pajama bottoms pooled aorund his ankles, screaming (we do not make this up), "I don't want to cry!" It makes you want to go back to bed and start over, laugh, and give him a hug if he'd let you all at the same time. We are pleased to report that even before Ted's shower had ended, Joe had clambered up into his chair and told Julie he was ready. (Chocolate Cheerios and Berry Berry Kixs--"from the lake house!"--were the ultimate selections.)

Oh but Fans. Then there we were, on the sidewalk in front of KinderCare, headed in. Since Birdie is in her big girl shoes now and will be going to the room where no one crawls so very soon, we've been having her walk as often as we can. So she was toddling forth, holding on to Julie's hand, when Joe raced up and caught up her other hand. This kid. This kid! What a heart. . .You can't make that up either.

*Ted snapped this picture with his cell phone and Julie arrived at work to find it in her e-mail in box. It made her day.