To Piper on her First Birthday
My last born turns 1 year old today.
The last year has been different than the other 2 children. With Ella we were helicopter parents, doing everything, being everywhere, taking all the photos and buying all the stuff. With Wells we were trying to basically reign in Ella while attending to Wells and trying to repeat the same level of experiences we had with Ella - this is impossible... but we tried.
Then Pickles showed up and we let were now so busy with all of Ella and 3/4 of Wells that you had to rough it on your own quite a bit. By the way you are called "pickles" because when you were born and through even to now - you are a big chubby baby - and I thought you looked a little like Don Rickles when you laughed - so I started calling you Donny PIckles and then just "PIckles" - people seem to like it.
Maybe some of that non-attention yields different kinds of children. Because while I love Ella more than anything in the world (equally to my other 2 children) she is a handful. She's willful, and needs attention, she's very smart and aware - but she can be tough. Wells is similar in some ways but easier and nicer to people - he's often very polite and is in touch with his feelings. You on the other hand are just the happiest creature I've ever seen. You laugh and laugh and laugh - you love to be held and picked up - but for the most part you never throw temper tantrums that can't be solved. You sleep through the night - you love to be held and hugged and snuggled - you are basically just a big ball of love and we couldn't have needed someone JUST like you more in our lives.
Your brother and sister love you very much. Your mama adores you with everything she has - and Me - well... I'll be getting to know you better as you get older - but I can tell you that your smile and your laugh when I come through the door and see you is the greatest part of my day. You are the best thing that's ever happened to our family and I look forward to seeing your spirit grow and shine in the years to come.
I love you Pickles!
Daddy
The greatest 15 minutes of my life
*typing on phone because I didn’t want to have this feeling fade
Walking home in the dusk
Mid baltimore spring
Our neighborhood
Trees - some kind of them
——- I don’t know too many tree names
So many trees
My oldest daughter and I walking home in the dusk
She just finished lacrosse practice
She tries so hard
I’m so proud of her
I love her heart and how big it is
The smell of spring
She’s on her scooter pedaling
She wants to race me
She always wants to race me
She picks up a daffodil and makes a wish
She won’t tell me what it is
I ask her - she still won’t tell me
She picks another and says I’ll tell you
“I want you to be nicer”
It makes me sad - but still proud
She tells me to find one
So that I can make a wish
We’re in our neighborhood
She uses a big word
She uses another big word
I find a dandelion
I make a wish
She asks what it was
I say “for mama and I to start together and be happy”
She says “that’s crazy”
She sees a friend from her neighborhood
We go inside
The 15 minutes are over
I’m very happy - it’s a great way to end the day
