Ian and I were off on an errand just the two of us, and he asked me if we were going to be “just you and me, Mommy?”

Me: Yes, sweetie, just you and me! I like it when we do things just you and me.

Ian: You do?

Me: Yes, I do. I like it when we do things with Keeghan, too, but it was just you and me for a long time, and sometimes I miss it.

Ian: But I was wanting a baby brother, Mommy. I was wanting him for a long time and then we got him.

Me: Yes. And he’s awesome. But I like to do things with just you sometimes.

Ian: Give me a kiss, Mommy!

Whereupon he headbutted me right in the mouth. Hard. By great good fortune, I did not get a fat lip, but I wasn’t giving out any kisses for a while, either.

Also, here’s the big reveal.

Some kind of marigold? Ian is proud of himself for growing them. I WANT MORE. They smell good, too. I can’t get enough.

Also, the hedge has burst into flower in a way I don’t remember ever seeing before.