our next big milestone

Life these days, viewed through a cracked kaleidoscope lens. If you move too fast the scene shifts into an exploding sunburst of colors.

Look--- here's Alice helping me organize our very own behind-the-coats, beyond-the-extra-pantry-space, under-the-stairs hidey hole storage we've dubbed The Harry Potter Closet.

And the time a few days ago when she grabbed my glasses off my face and ran around the room wearing them herself. She looked (even more) like a miniature version of me, and she laughed until she couldn't stand straight.

Then here's us setting up Alice's big girl bed. Her face is an array of excitement, of wonder, of anticipation.

And later that night, the darkened glow of lamplight in her eyes as we tucked her into that bed. Everything smelled like baby soap, and I thought to try to will myself to memorize every fiber of that moment, how small she seemed in that vast twin bed.