The clock reads 3:16 am. I’ve been awake, mind racing, for about an hour. Since I’m up, I might as well blog.

Later this morning, Jill leaves for Arizona for 12 days. She’s going to be working the SuperBowl.

The fact of her leaving for so long has made us both a little testy and stressed out over the last couple of days, which makes the situation all the harder.

Also, everyone in the house has a cold.

My mom is coming to visit and help out for the first few days — she arrives a few hours after Jill leaves, and will be here all weekend. I’m excited about that, and I think Noah will have a blast playing with Grandma.

Noah had a big week this week — he was promoted to the 2 year old room at school. We’re very happy about it, and he seems to be, too. Aside from some mild upset at the change in the dropoff routine on the first day, he has seemed much happier. Yesterday he ran over to the trucks, barely glancing up when I said goodbye.

Wednesday night at bedtime, he kept singing “muffin-man, muffin-man, muffin-man.” Since we have no recordings of that song, I can only assume that’s a new classroom activity.

The other excitement with Noah is the emergence of unambiguous sentences, like, “Noah put on Mommy’s shoes,” and “Noah tickle Mommy’s feet.”

Less thrilling experientially, although good news developmentally, is that we have firmly entered the “MINE” stage of toddlerhood. Toothbrush, book, blanket, fork, jacket, tv clicker, cups, car keys, and most entertainingly the gold brackets that secure the stair handrail to the wall, have all been declared “Noah’s XYZ” or “Mine. No, Mommy, mine!”

In absolute proof that Noah is Jill’s son, he also now pitches a fit in the morning because I won’t let him drive. (Not that Jill won’t let me drive — I refer to the passionate interest in the car. Whereas I view my car as a giant money-sucking purse that can also take me from point a to point b.)

Yesterday morning, he not only wanted to drive, he wanted to drive the “cool car! cool car!”

Last thing before I try to get back to sleep: We’re going to HAWAII in March!

I was invited to a very cool conference — the rescheduled version of the one that sent me to La Jolla while San Diego was on fire — for work, paid for by the folks who organize it.

That means that my trip and a few days of our hotel will be covered. We’re also just short of enough frequent flyer miles for a free plane ticket, but the cost of buying the extra miles will be less than $150. That leaves just one regular price ticket — not cheap, but very cheap for a trip to HAWAII.

And very conveniently, the deadline for confirming attendance and making travel arrangements with the conference organizers is the week after 2007 bonuses will be paid, making this all actually possible.

Anyone who wants to leave “what to do, especially with a toddler, in Hawaii” advice is welcome. Erin & Kevin have weighed in and promise further suggestions. The conference is at a resort on The Big Island, near Kona, but I assume that we’ll be doing our main flight there and back through Oahu. Realistically, I think that means those are the only two islands we’ll visit.

3:49 am. Still wide awake. I think I’m going to be napping later.