Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

Life has been tremendously busy this past month or so (but I guess everyone says that). The holidays were good, but seemed to speed up the time that was already going too fast. And now, there's only one week left in January. 3 weeks until I'm 29, the laslt year of this decade. Just a little over a month until Ethan's first birthday. Phew.

I'll share some of my favorite things from this month:

On Sunday, the day after we arrived home from Kansas, Halsey was playing in the hallway when he said:
"Hey Mom!"
Now, he's called me "mom" accidently before, sort of how I end up calling Ethan by Dillon's name, or Dillon by Jason's name, and we sort of ignore it and move on. But this was a different tone; he intentionally called me mom.
"Mom," he said again.
I just said, oh-so-nonchalantly, "yes, Halsey?"
"Sometimes, I like to call you mom. Is that okay?"
I grinned the biggest smile ever and said, "Absolutely."

It may sound silly, but he's always called me "Trina." And I know I'm his stepmom, but there's that "step" in front that makes it sound sort of inferior, like "lessermom." And yes, Ethan is my biological child and will one day call me mom, but this was the very first time that I was called, directly and intentionally, "Mom." It felt like putting on the softest, warmest sweater on the windiest, coldest day.

Ethan is now standing up on his own. As in ,from the middle of the floor, not using anything to pull himself up. Just standing there, looking very proud of himself. Walking is just around the corner. While I hate that he is growing up so quickly, I love watching him explore his world and get to know this place. Again, I may sound cheesey, but it really is like the world is new again as I get to see it through his eyes. It is the most amazing thing. He's also just gotten into music. He's always been fascinated when Jason plays his guitar, but now he "dances" and "sings" whenever he hears music. The way his little body just bounces, the way his eyes and smile light up whenever there's a good beat, it's just so... cute. It's achingly cute, the way the baby bunnies and puppies are cute. Anytime Halsey's guitar is in reach, it's the toy he makes a beeline for. He loves to make the music, and I guess it's in his blood. For over five generations, the Hill boys have been making music. It's only fitting that this next generation continue the tradition.

I love my job. I feel so disheartened when I hear other teachers talk about all of the negatives-- the hours, the pay, the parents, the paperwork, the hoops to jump through. I don't have to deal with much of that because I choose to work at a private school, but I do make a significantly less amount on my paychecks, but ya know, I CHOOSE that. Teaching shouldn't be something that you just sort of happen into; it is an honorable profession, despite the fact that teachers don't always get the respect they deserve. And I feel that despite all of the crappy parts of the job, teachers should love what they do and if they don't, then maybe they shouldn't be teaching. Or they're in it for the wrong reason (I mean, complaining about the pay? ReallY? Did you go into teaching to make money? It's certainly not the pay that teachers deserve, but how many of us get paid what we think we deserve?). But in the end, I feel fortunate to truly love my job. I have great students, sometimes great academically, sometimes just great souls and even the challenging ones are great in some ways. I learn from these kids just as much as I teach them. I make a lot less money than most people, and again, probably at least a third less than my friends who teach in public schools, but I get the benefit of loving my job and knowing that reasons I wanted to teach-- to share my love of books and writing with kids so that they might find that love for themselves-- those reasons are the reasons I am still there.

And while money is still tight, we're making due. Jason and I have both worked hard to cut ourselves down to really only taking what we need. We're both packing our lunches every day; we're turning off lights more often, keeping our heat down and I have given up buying magazines (well, mostly given it up). We know that we'll get by and it's been hard, but at least we have each other. It may not be able to pay the rent, but if I end up in a cardboard box, at least I'll have Jason.

And, and!! LOST is back. Huzzah! I only started watching last year, when I was home on maternity leave (the seasons on dvd was like a little bit of heaven) and am hooked. Last night left me a little confused, but excited.

AND AND AND!!!! The best thing about January?

President Obama. :)