The Buddy is five months old a week from tomorrow. Astounding. Obviously he's changed quite a bit: height, weight, milestones, all that. But more than milestones, he's so much more person-ish. He laughs at funny noises, his eyes light up when Daddy comes home, and he looks at me as if he expects me to do something extraordinary. I've never been happier in my life.

I'm surprised at just how much fun it is to be a mom. I know there will be parts ahead that plainly suck, but all the trouble in the future is worth it to see one huge morning grin.