He's four and a half. I think we're the only ones I know with a perfectly healthy child who still use the baby monitor. It's not that we're concerned about hearing something go wrong - - it's that he can be so blasted funny!

Nearly every night after being in bed a bit we hear the sing-songy "Can someone come up and snuggle with me?"

I know we should probably say no once in a while, but he's still so cute. When one of us goes up, he'll hand over 2 or 3 of his stuffed animals (NOT new bunny, mind you), and inform us which of the "guys" we have to snuggle that night. God forbid he wakes up in the morning and the guys are still there - then you're busted.

'New bunny' is a story unto himself. Not much time - daddy has extracted himself from the grip of the 4 year old - - without a story about Rocky and Merle the flying squirrels - - yet another story - - but we'll talk later about that.

Today was our first baseball game - - T Ball to be exact. I knew it would be funny, but never did I dream that tears would be rolling down my face.

It rained on us. Which made the fields just muddy enough that all the kids got a bit dirty - but no standing puddles, no one getting soaked. Nick informed the little girl next to him that they didn't need umbrellas, cuz they had hats.

Coach Dennis is pheee-nominal with these itty-bitty ones. I never knew how you would teach the basics - - but he did it. They kids worked on picking up grounders and throwing and hitting.... but, ooops - - forgot to teach them to run the bases. A kid standing on 1st base would run out into right field cuz he was being chased by the kid who just hit the ball. One just kept running back and forth between 2nd and 3rd base. Next practice: base running! I think we may have to devote one whole practice to running the bases while keeping the batting helmet from falling down over your eyes.

In the car, Nick told me he "Really, really, really, really, really (etc. etc.) likes baseball. His favorite part? Point, step, throw... (thank goodness - he needs the practice).

A Small World? No, NOT the annoying song, the annoying "culturally influential."

A new 'networking' group, A Small World, from their own website:
"... private international community of culturally influential people who are connected by three degrees. " From their 'Membership Information' link : "Membership to ASMALLWORLD is by invitation only, which is part of what makes this network unique, and the connections authentic. Trusted and loyal ASW members who meet certain criteria have the privilege of inviting a limited number of their friends to the network (emphasis mine)."

Is it just me, or is this screaming sorority rush all over again? At what point in one's adult life does one self-determine to be "culturally influential?"

Although it does make me giggle picturing a single cyber-geek starting this group just for the buzz, then laughing his ass off in his mom's basement as all the self-important ones clamor to get in!

How did I get here?

So here I am... fabulous working mom. MBA, corner office - fancy title - - would trade it all to be one of the ones I see walking by my office pulling their kids in the wagon.

Even now, he's older. Not quite 5. I have a year before he's off to school full time, and I see that as the most important year. Imagine what I could do with him in a year. The walks we could take, the concerts and museums (you have to know this kid).

He has been pestering me to go see the Edvard Munch exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. Of course - Munch - when the current position has me surrounded by Norwegians - - I try to avoid all things Nordic on my days off... but no - not my kid. Munch - and Griegg. All about the wedding day at Troll House. What's up with the Trolls?

Anyway - I started out just like anyone else - HS, then College - got a job - then married... a few years later a baby. I had no idea I was going to be one of "those" women who wanted only to be a mom. But there are surpirses in store for us in this life, aren't there?

So, I guess "How did I get here?" isn't the right question at all. Rather: Why on earth am I still here, and where to I go now?