Can I?

So if you talk with me on a somewhat regular basis you will know that I *love* the girls I nanny. And I  have quite a special bond with the 2 year old, seeing as how I have known her since two months of age. You would know that I love them because I talk about them constantly (thank you for listening! - especially you Wes who hears by far more than everyone else!). But my point here is that the internet hears little of this love. On a rare occasion I will share a story or two, but I am very cautious about respecting their privacy, etc. Anyway! my point here is that today my post is about my work. Rather, it is about Miss 2 year old who is changing faster than ever (seriously, today it felt like she got smarter with every passing hour). She has been putting sentences together for a while now, but only recently has she been asking questions, and building bigger sentences. This week her "favorite" phrase has been "Can I..(fill in the blank)..??" Can I RUN? Can I read-a-book? Can I EAT string CHEESE? and on occasion it will simply just be: "CAN I???"

Now prepare for me to get all cheesy on you but this is where I'm going with this. Today while we are eating lunch together instead of mindlessly spewing "Can I?" out of apparent habit, she appeared to be intensely thinking... She then looks at me and says "Can I?..... I can." With a head nod and then continues eating.

And the cheese in this is that I am sitting here all inspired. As I reflect on my day (which wasn't a great one) I'm exhausted, completely overwhelmed with school and life and my ongoing water-works about moving away (that for another day- though really does it need an explanation?) I am inspired by my little Miss. I mean really, I know I'm not alone in saying this... that's one of the beautiful things about having kids right? You see life through new eyes.... you remember the amazingness that lies in all of those little things....

So, I'll say it:

CAN I???? I can. I can finish up two more quarters of school. I will graduate in June. We will move to Europe for a hunk of time. And.... I'll just be.... crying.... every so often. As I think about saying goodbye to this family that I care about. Our apartment. Our walk to the grocery store. Our church. Portland.
hOKAY! Time for bed! ;) Nighty night. I'll be fine because...I can.