This year, the first in River’s life, has been a blessing. We’re getting by on almost no income due to the enormous generosity of my folks and a couple writing grants, but we’ve been able to do so much. We’ve been savoring River’s constant changes together, watching him open to the details of the world. He’s beginning to scoot and crawl and will walk all over the house if we hold his hands. He laughs a lot and likes to tell jokes in his own way.

Of course I have other obligations, but it’s been a great pleasure to toss certain tasks to the wayside, if only momentarily, so I might just indulge my love of spending time with the boy. Thesis-smeshis. Or, whatever.