Gentle Years

I got a couple of place mats at the store for Aidan to practice shapes and letters.  They're two sided and use dry-erase markers, so they can be wiped clean after each use.  I had no idea that Little Baby would enjoy using them too!

We've been learning, too; don't forget to check out our "Second Time Around" page.

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

Today, I got to stand up, raise my right hand, and take the oath of allegiance on Aidan's behalf.  We got his gold sealed certificate of citizenship.  He wanted to know why there was an eagle on everything and what that meant.  He got a little flag, which he loves.  The lady stamped her name on his hand, which he also loves.  We then went to social security and he got the other hand stamped with their stamp.  And on the way home I cried.  Not a lot, but when it hit me, it really hit me hard.  I wish my father were alive (1923-1993).  He used to lecture us on the value of citizenship, about how if you didn't use your vote you'd lost your vote, about how lucky we were to have the rights we do in this country.  The amazing thing is, Dad's family came here in 1630, so it's not like he was a first generation American, but he never forgot the value of citizenship.  And today I was, literally, flooded with the meaning of it.  Aidan--not so much so.  He fell asleep on the way home.

Golden Baby called a few minutes ago to say that he and his wife are expecting their second child in November.  Maybe this one will come a few days early and end up being born on the same day of the month as Aidan-a tradition in our family.  Golden Baby & Pretty Baby are born on the same day of different months; Little Baby and RB are born on the same day of different months; and BB and MB are born on the same day of different months.