Happy St. Patrick's Day! In my early-mid twenties, I would have used this day as an excuse to skip class (or get someone to cover a shift) in order to down green beers at the local watering hole...sitting out in the beer garden, enjoying the (almost) spring sunshine as I enjoyed some laughs. This year, the laughs are of a different sort - the kind only a two-year old can bring you in his tiny green polo and frog socks. "Good boy, mommy," he says, patting my leg as I use the toilet. "Mary Gordon, no!" he yells at me as I peel him from his perch on the counter while I'm cooking dinner. It seems mommy and daddy are now called by their first names around our house. "Jason, what doin'?" he says to hubby. "Mary, Maaarrryyyyy, come get me," he hollers from the bottom of the stairs (apparently these days he is also unable to walk up the stairs on certain occasions). I have to hide my smile and politely remind him that I am mommy and daddy is daddy.

Last week, and actually until just yesterday the poor guy was struck with the stomach flu and just could not shake it. The good news is that he was very adamant about having his diapers changed and did not appreciate Rhea Perlman sliding down his leg. We did ok, except for one day when each diaper warranted a bath. I thought the stench would never leave my nostrils and only realized this morning that it had finally vacated. Thank goodness the throw up part only lasted a day and I have gotten the warning signs for that beast down to a science (Ok, well, except for the first one, which hubby cleaned up as I comforted our crying child. I am gagging just thinking of it), so the key is just to see how fast I can race him to the toilet - or in a couple of cases, the sink, where I promptly bonked his head on the cabinet. Mom of the year.

I wish you all a delightful St. Paddy's Day. I hope everyone is enjoying some delicious corned beef (I came thisclose to ditching the vegetarian diet today and purchasing a Reuben down the street) and a delicious Guiness on this beautiful almost spring day.