second installment

on a cold morning in november

there's a mouse in my kitchen, 

 red chapstick dots my duvet cover, 

and my couch is splattered with mango puree.  

my back aches, i have a nasty cold, 

and the threat of pre-term labor has already resulted in one trip to labor and delivery.     

and yet, all i feel is gratitude.  here's why.

for the rest of my life, on bad days, 

i'll need do no more than glance at these beautiful photos, 

taken on a cold morning in november, 

when my boy was nearly two.  

and there's this

because it makes me happy.

boston, belated

a week ago today we were on an airplane, flying home to chicago from boston.  will got to spend a few fun-filled days with his cousins and grandparents while uncle andy and aunt erin were on vacation in mexico.  it was terribly exciting.  shuttle buses, airports, two cats, a trip to a jump zone at the mall, danny's trains, an ice cream cone, and dinner with uncle matt and aunti kaki in brookline (thanks again for the cars, uncle matt!).  here are some of the moments i captured amidst the chaos.

will loved spending time with danny and doing big boy things with him,

and patrick reminded me how wonderful it feels to hold a baby.

books at bedtime were not as peaceful as this picture may have you believe.

it took me about fifteen shots to get this photo of the boys sitting together

because danny spends most of his time like this.

our time out east reminded me of how lucky will is to have cousins close in age.  the latest generation of moynihan men has a lot to look forward to, not in the least the impending addition of

our little moynihan princess.

halloween 2012

colin thought i was mean for posting this photo on facebook of will on halloween,

but i think it would have been meaner to post this one

or this one

or this one.

i would have posted this one

but it was blurry.

don't worry, 

tooyah did end up having a great night, 

filled with special friends and yahyee-pops and chock-yit and punkins.  

let's hope we get some better shots next year.