Hi, everyone! *waves*

I haven’t been here much since last year. In fact, I haven’t been here since I was pregnant.

It’s so tricky to say hello again after being gone so long that, well, I just kind of stayed away. But I missed it here, so I’d like to announce that I am back! Also, I would like to introduce you to my family, because now there are SIX of us:

I am not ashamed to say that I gave myself a little bit of a pick-me-up when I processed this photo. I might be tired all the time and have taken far fewer showers than I would like, but dadgummit, I am going to look NICE in our very first family photo together! (I gave myself a little eyeliner and lipstick, and I did not touch my skin blemishes at all – aren’t you proud of my self control?)

So, now we are six. Four kids. Four lovely little people who I would die for, each and every one of them. Four little people who are really quite well behaved, even though the two boys fall all over themselves – literally – trying to be quiet when the baby is sleeping. One oldest daughter whose place in the family is at once clear-cut and mysterious for her. One oldest boy who barely understands how fiercely the youngest boy idolizes him. One toddler who wants to be the only one Mommy pays attention to, but also the only one oldest sister pays attention to; and the only one brother pays attention to; the only one Daddy pays attention to; and the bulldog who protects the baby from the voices and advances of strangers. One tiny youngest girl with a serious face and a large appetite, and a deep and abiding need to be held constantly.

Add to that one fantastic husband who is also dead tired, and I am surprised that we get anything done at all, including get out of bed in the morning. The only reason everyone in this photo is relatively well-groomed is that the three oldest are capable of dressing themselves, and the two oldest can take their own showers and (usually) brush their own hair. And the baby gets a change of clothes more often than I do, so she always looks like a sweet little flower.

My six-week post-partum checkup is tomorrow. I can’t believe my infant is a month and a half old already. Where did the time go?!

See you around, unless the next six weeks go by in a flash also.