Tiny Bubbles

Tonight, Gabriel sang a goodnight song to Joseph. Gabriel pushed Joseph's guitar onto Joseph's bed and clambered up behind it. He sat facing Joseph (who sat expectantly, propped up against his Spongebob pillow and under his MLB comforter) with the guitar between them, like little hippies. Gabriel then strummed and plucked and sang:

"Goodnight, goodnight, and pleasant dreams to you.

Here's a wish, say a prayer, that every dream comes true

And so, until we meet again . . .

Adios, au revoir, auf weidersen. Good night!"

Straight out of the Lawrence Welk songbook. I melted. First at the sight of them being so delicate and loving with each other, then with the realization that Eddie surely taught them this song. What a happy ending to the day.

Summer in the City (and Thereabouts)

This is probably the last summer of Camp Mommy. Joseph is more interested than ever in being with friends, and playing outside All The Time. Gabriel is right there with him.

On days off from camp, we'll still get to places like the Zoo . . .

And out for ice cream . . .

And to the Franklin Institute . . .

And the Aquarium . . .

But the boys will no longer be all mine. (If ever they were.) They'll be diving deeper into friendships and sports and their various interests. Of course I have mixed feelings about this, and almost feel guilty for being happy about more "free" time (which I will turn into career time), but I know it is inevitable. It is also inevitable that I'll wish they were this big again. But isn't that what memories like these are for? (Famous last words, huh?)

The Baseball Life

I grew up learning baseball at my grandmother's knee. She was a big fan of the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1970s and 1980s -- the era of Schmidt, Shake&Bake McBride, The Tugger. Good thing. Eddie is the biggest baseball fan. I can follow the game and the teams with him, go to games, and thoroughly enjoy myself. Now that's a really good thing, because we have two little Phillie Phanatics of our own.

I lived in the shadow of Veterans Stadium as a child, and now my boys live walking distance from Citizens Bank Park. And, for World Series Championship parades, there's no place like home.

Gabriel's 3rd Birthday

I love birthdays. So does Gabriel.

He turned 3 on June 1. In some ways, I feel like my baby is a baby no more. But then he asks us to: "Hold me like a baby." Or I watch him sleeping in his crib, with his little hands splayed above his head, all innocence and trust. Or I hear him rustling around in his diaper, a sound that will soon quiet into little boy briefs.

As these days pass so quickly, I try to savor the chirp of his childish voice, the tuneless way he sings along with Dan Zanes ("Lawd, Lawd, Lawd!"), and the joyful way he chimes in on "Happy Birthday."

We celebrated Gabriel's 3rd birthday party at Celebre's Pizza (established in 1961). Our server Gloria claims she waitressed at the Last Supper. Surrounded by family and friends, in the warmth of a South Philadelphia pizzeria, Gabriel grew up just a little bit more.