And the beat goes on....

This was just yesterday.

Or so it feels.

This was actually yesterday.

Sunday, August 7th, 2011.

The morning my husband arises to proclaim that it is the end of an era.

The curls are coming off!

(Usually it's the mother who resists,

but i have been waiting and waiting and waiting

 for my husband to agree to it...and finally!).

 John, who had to watch Ray get it done, cried in anticipation and as the deed was done.

He, like his father, does not embrace change.

I just threw this in for a bonus. It makes me laugh. The older brother who wasn't getting any attention during the process took matters into his own hands and that's when I saw him taking his own pictures as he sports his dad's glasses, cracking himself up. I do not know WHERE he EVER got this need for attention!!! (ahem).

Within a matter of minutes, we had two new boys.

Not babies.

Not little boys.

Big boys.

We couldn't stop staring. Or chuckling. Or wondering whose identically dressed children were coming down our steps. We feed them and hugged them just like they were our own.

Change is the trademark of parenting. Just when you get used to them being at a certain point, they go and grow up on you! I do not say that lightly, for even in the constant adjusting, there is a tremendous gift of being able to be part of the gradual life and graduation of childhood...