Today Nova turned 8. We had the grandparents, one uncle, and a friend (of Nova's choice, of course, I enjoyed them too) with their parents come over to spend our day with us. It was a nice and sunny day outside and Nova woke up with a burst of excited energy. He is so convinced that each year he will have grown a foot taller and he most impresses himself with the thought of soon being taller than his grandma Pam, who is a bit over 5 feet. Eight years ago today my life changed in the most monumental sense. I knew, as I sat up through the night alone in a rocking chair and crying in the room I had made for him, while having contractions, that my life would never be the same. I just didn't understand the complexity, the intensity, or the difficulty of the transition. He was, and still is, a bubbly, creative, and intense little boy. He believes in magic. He believes in compassion. He believes in forgiveness. But most of all he believes in me. Happy birthday to my boy who has grown, not only in size, but in spirit and heart!