We’re a family. When did that happen?

This sounds absolutely insane, but we’re actually a family now.  I know… Captain Obvious.

I mean, we’ve been a family on our own since our wedding day four years ago.  The thing is, for the first time since then, I don’t feel like we’re just playing house.  We have kids and family dynamics with roles we each play.

Want to know what prompted this crazy realization?  Ok, I’ll tell you: We were in the car on the way to my parents’ house.  Littlest One started crying and our border terrier, Rue, started crying along with him as she always does.  This drives me nuts.  I mean really, I have a hard enough time listening to the baby cry.  I yelled back at the dog and launched a plastic bottle cap over my shoulder towards the trunk.  LM started cracking up and then Hubby and I did, too.  I almost felt like we were in a National Lampoon vacation movie… almost.

Since that day, I notice little things everyday that remind me of what we’re becoming.  Yesterday, I put LO down on my nursing pillow on the couch.  I turned around to reach for my phone and when I turned back around, LM was curling up next to LO.  LM pulled a blanket over himself and stretched it out over LO.  Once my heart finished melting all over the place, I grabbed the camera.

LO’s reaction really struck me.  The visible happiness he showed in reaction to LM (which I had trouble capturing) really amazed me.  They’re brothers who already love each other.  As I watch them interact and their relationship mature, I know these moments will continue to amaze me.

I know this realization wasn’t profound or anything.  Life just never ceases to surprise me.  I’m so thankful for these little moments and surprises.

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