The business of being and blogging

(Thrifted pair of pottery vases. Lately pottery seems to be finding me in pairs.) We all had a dentist appointment yesterday, and it was Jack's first real tooth cleaning. Previously they had just poked around in there, counted his teeth, checked his chipped tooth, etc. to get him used to going. The ladies in the office were all swooning over Jack from the minute he walked in the door and I not sure he knew what on earth all the fuss was about!

At first he was like a deer in the headlights, but he followed directions very well and he was so very proud of his new toothbrush. I had tried to explain to the very young hygienist when she was asking who brushed his teeth that Jack is 3, and 3 is all about independence, so getting him to let anyone help him brush is a battle. When she was finished showing him how to hold the brush and brush his beautiful little teeth she said to him, "Now Jack, you let mommy help you brush in the back." Uh huh, good luck to me there! LOL
(Over the moon cute vintage fabric from the flea market.) I was listening to NPR this morning after I dropped Jack off at school and I started thinking about my little blog here. One day last week I was driving down the highway and noticed that every overpass was filled with firetrucks and firemen who were all hanging American flags down over the highway. I had no clue what was going on, came home, turned on the news and discovered that body of a very young Marine was on it's way back to St Charles after he was killed in the war. He had just graduated high school in 2005, and a life that should have been so filled with promise was ended.

That stuff kills me. I start having a million thoughts about his mother. About how she must have watched her little boy take his first steps and play baseball and go on his first date and just recently graduate from high school.

And yet, I am pretty silent about the war and politics and religion here. It doesn't mean that those things aren't on our minds, but this morning I wondered what Jack will think of the absence of those things here when I am gone, and the books containing this blog are his to keep.
(Totally awesome vintage craft book.) Will he wish I had had more to say about what is like to live in the world right now? Or will he already know what I had to say about those things because I made it a point to tell him so?

He's so little that it is a non-issue right now, but I am acutely aware of his growing up, how much he is changing every day, and how his understanding of the world around him is changing. So far I have worked very hard to protect him from any type of guns, or violence, or even really any talk of death. But when he picked up a toy gun at another house a few weeks back and asked me very innocently what it was, I realized that very quickly I am going to have to flesh out how to deal with all that stuff. (Where we live every little boy plays with those kinds of toys.)
(Coasters from the coaster swap, from Danetta .)Also on my mind are few thoughts on the business of blogging. Jack and I both received a lot of very lovely gifts during Feb. I had photographed a few of them (lost the photos during the blue screen of death), but not all of them, and I just don't want the thank you's to get lost forever.

So, even though I am pictureless, thank you to: Tiff for the gorgeous little bird rug; Stephanie for the lovely collage (Jack enjoyed finding bits and pieces in it too!); Betty for the train pillow that Jack and I are assembling this afternoon; Jane for the sewing cards which Jack and I use several times a week; Jennifer for the wee bunny that has made it's way into Jack's bed; Vallen for the sweet nest ornament, and the pin that Jack's teacher adore on my coat; Mel for the gorgeous Bon Jovi Tag; Saucy for the gorgeous Valentine banner; and I really hope I haven't forgotten anyone!