Yes it is easy to see that I haven't blogged in nearly a year. I don't recognize the format of the website that hosts this at all. I finally gave in and signed up for facebook when I moved to BC at the beginning of the year and wrote a couple of lengthy thoughts there. Jim Wilson said he missed my deep thoughts ('deep thoughts' always reminds me of Jack Handy), when visiting today so I decided to blog in dedication to him. Except that I just feel like writing about my daughter. So it will look more like this is dedicated to Amara.
Dear Amara, you make me smile when I am driving home from work and think of you, just like your Mom. Today, like many other days, you climbed right into my lap. Then we shared a couple of slices of banana bread I made which you apparently thought was better than I did. You practiced sucking your fingers clean which I told you is the best way to compliment a chef. Then you helped me sweep up the abundance of crumbs you had distributed on the floor. I love making you laugh. I can tickle your knees, or blow on your tummy, or just be silly with you, especially if you're overtired. I love seeing vivid pictures of human nature in you. You HATE being forced to do something. If you want to stand up and I want you to sit down, I cannot hold you down. I need to persuade you, or distract you, or love you and let you stand up sometimes. Yesterday I got frustrated having to learn how to use a new tool, but felt very satisfied after using it. You sit down in your bumbo chair, and get stuck, and get frustrated, and ask for help, and are so happy to receive it and get out of your bumbo chair, and also happy to sit right back in it. When you are shy you trust me and lean back into my legs until you've warmed up to the group of new people. You're very smart. I took you raspberry picking yesterday. You very quickly realized that fresh raspberries are delicious. You then learned how to pick them, and you even picked up how important it is to pick and save some for your Mom. You say hi adorably when you hold a phone, even if the phone is backwards and upside down. You yell if people are out of sight, or even just a little far away. You peek around corners. If you are getting cranky, sometimes you just need me to pick you up and let you tag along with whatever I'm doing while I tell you about it. You like to bounce, even if the surface you're standing on is solid. You love raisins. You will snack on them oh so peacefully if we're out for a walk. You love playing in water. You would march right into the middle of the Bow River if I would let you. You're brave and you explore, and just expect me to follow you and make sure you're ok. You're good at being cautious and adjusting to uneven ground when you're walking although if you're excited you might try to just run right off the bed. I love you.
