Happy Mother's Day...

For a stretch of several years, this day made me want to close my eyes and count the moments until midnight – I sought to bury myself and hide from the ache that exists when you can no longer be soothed by your mother’s embrace… however, this year, this day is different.  

I look at my daughter’s face and see my mother in her smile.  I see her again in the way that my wife has so elegantly taken to the role of mother herself...  So today I stand, eyes open, ready to scale a mountain so as to sing my gratitude for all of you who play the role of motherhood – as if one day to do so were even enough. 

To my most amazing wife – you are a constant for not only your daughter, but also for me - a reminder of everything worth celebrating… you sustain us, lift us, and carry us both.  I watch in amazement every single day as you care for her with delicacy and protect her with ferocity.  You love her with grace and strength insurmountable.  You strive on, no matter what, and inspire us as you do. 

Though she can’t express it this year, and may as well struggle to show it in years to come, I see our daughter’s indescribable admiration in her gorgeous eyes, and I hear it in her every giggle.  I don’t believe I can find the words myself to describe the eternal gratitude that I have for you and what you do for us both… but I do know that my heaven is hearing to the two of you laugh together for the rest of my life.  

Mirror, mirror...

My wife teases me about the fact that our child looks exactly like a mini-Jeremy in drag.  As for myself, I think I would (and will) make a lovely looking lady... all kidding aside, it's pretty sweet to have a little being that looks like you and loves you to bits and pieces...  I can only hope we grow into other similarities, whether it be an affinity for shiny things in the distance...

...completely irrational fits of rage...

....or just the little things in life...

...Wait... no... I can't lie - I'm kinda grossed out just by the thought of putting my own thumb in my own mouth. This was not an easy picture for me.  Who really enjoys that?  Seriously.  Babies are gross.

This is my serious face...

A few weeks ago, we took a family trip to the grocery store and we were once again reminded as to how much more amazing the mundane can be with some baby love in tow...

Apparently though, Loreli did not feel the same ardor. Within 5 minutes of being in the store, two strangers had commented on the seriousness of her face.

I considered that maybe she thought we had found some sort of infinite food paradise and got into strict business mode once she realized that how many people already knew about this place...

Then, this past weekend, we took a family trip to the New Britain Museum of American Art, and we got the same thing from our usually sweet, giggly girl - just straight up StoneFace McBabyPants.

There was even one old lady who awkwardly failed in trying to play peekaboo with her, using my shoulders as a blockade. After a solid few minutes of me squirming on the inside while this poor old woman popped up behind me like a meerkat, Loreli eventually made it clear to her she was not going to be amused.

I've considered whether our daughter has inherited my inclination to always remain guarded among others, or if perhaps this old lady was just the worst peekabooer in the history of mankind... but either way - it's apparent my little girl has a lengthy vetting process for anyone attempting to gain her approval.

Long story short, this might very well be the last, and perhaps only good news I ever receive with regards to her future love life.

If you think that's a serious face, just wait my dear...

My type...

It's not easy being a fantastic mother. The type of mother who will make monkey sounds and dance around in public just to raise her baby's smile. The type of mother who raids every drawer to find that Punky Brewster meets Audrey Hepburn style.

It's not easy being an amazing wife. The type of wife who seduces the word flexible with the word versatile. The type of wife who can slap on a clown nose and still take it to eleven on the sexy dial.

It's not easy to find someone to run away with, mile after mile... someone to holds hands with, to breathe deeply with, as you walk down the aisle.

But somehow, I found her... and somehow, she does it... Every single day she does it all.

Here's to the happiest of birthdays for the most fantastic mother, the most amazing wife, and the best person I've ever known...

Refresher course...

Promises, promises... and another month flies by. Here's to another deep breath, raise of the glass, and old-fashioned try to jump back in.

There just don't seem to be enough moments in these days - but when she curls into all I love and when she looks up to smile - there are more than enough moments to remind me...
Life is good.

January Jones...

I know I have much more in me than one paltry post a month (here's to even more resolutions!), but there should be no excuses for my lack of presence here... however, as busy as we've been, I believe it's more a result of a hard comedown from the insanity of this past holiday season more than anything that's been keeping me currently... anyway, it's time to strap on my cape and smack this blog in the ass once again.

A brief update: Our little one won't stop growing, and though her days of fitting into her superbabygirl outfit may be long gone, her superbabyblues still remain...

Merry Christmas!