Thanks for my mom.

Two posts in one day! (since I forgot yesterday's) I posted about my dad earlier today (scroll down to see).

I don't know why I just love this photo of me and my mom from 2008. Ida was about a week old--we were dropping my mom off at the airport after her postpartum visit to us, and I still had that New Mom/Zombie complexion. I probably cried my eyes out in the car on the way back home that day. But I just love it. I just love my mom. I just love talking to her and listening to her and learning from her. I feel like she "gets" me, which is a feat since I can be kind of a weirdo. She knows about my neuroses and fears and she takes them in stride. She loves my kids. She has helped me immeasurably with Theo and I love watching the two of them together. She "gets" him too.

I have inherited a few traits from her as well. Staring into space while I eat my cereal. (Is there any other way?) Puttering around the house putting things in an invisible order. (Invisible to everyone but me.) And I want to inherit her best traits--her enthusiasm for making connections. Her enthusiasm for others' successes. Her love and compassion for the downtrodden. Her eagerness to learn. Her eagerness to teach. Her amazing ability to walk into my house and know exactly what to do and how to help. Her feminism. Her faithfulness, loyalty, and humility, and her devotion to her children and grandchildren. So very thankful for my dear mother; I love you, Babs!