“And I find chopsticks frankly distressing. Am I alone in thinking it odd that a people ingenious enough to invent paper, gunpowder, kites and any number of other useful objects, and who have a noble history extending back 3,000 years haven’t yet worked out that a pair of knitting needles is no way to capture food?” —Bill Bryson
“I doubt whether the world holds for any one a more soul-stirring surprise than the first adventure with ice cream.” —Heywood C. Broun
Check out this belated birthday present I got from Grandma and Grandpa! On it my name—Sophie Olivia—is a puzzle. And it’s a stool!
Look, Mom! No hands!
“There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.” —Deepak Chopra
Sophie, Nini and I took advantage of a beautiful spring day to walk around Dudley Memorial Park. Days like these remind me of how lucky I am to be able to stay home, to take advantage of good weather, to spend time with my mom and my daughter. And although I sometimes struggle with my decision to stay home, yes, thinking back to days like these, I am grateful.
“When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing—just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?” —Ralph Marston
Our dinners with Marty and Angel are getting bigger.
“Condiments are like old friends—highly thought of, but often taken for granted.” —Marilyn Kaytor
“Growth itself contains the germ of happiness.” —Pearl S. Buck
“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. ‘Pooh,’ he whispered. ‘Yes, Piglet?’ ‘Nothing,’ said Piglet, taking Pooh’s paw. ‘I just wanted to be sure of you.'” —A. A. Milne
Often, I find myself bouncing Sophie on my hip, standing beside a restaurant table or booth, trying to keep her happy and calm as I point out other babies and toddlers to her in the restaurant, quietly sitting in their high chairs eating their food. Although Sophie struggled a few times at her birthday party (which is only to be expected), she was, truly, a perfect baby that night at Ferrari’s. It was past her bedtime. Her nap had been short. Her dinner was late. But throughout our meal she scribbled with her crayons instead of just chewing them. She ate pasta—so much pasta. She didn’t cry. She didn’t whine. She didn’t try to squirm out of her high chair. It was wonderful.
“The age of your children is a key factor in how quickly you are served in a restaurant. We once had a waiter in Canada who said, ‘Could I get you your check?’ and we answered, ‘How about the menu first?'” —Erma Bombeck
“Cat-hi! Here I am, in the pond. Come and get the kiss. ‘Oogh!’ said cat. But he came and got the kiss.” —Maurice Sendak
Dear Sophie,
For your first birthday, Dad and I made a double-layer yellow cake with homemade chocolate icing. Dad tried to convince me to etch out “Happy Birthday Sophie” with a toothpick first—as you can see here, I probably should have listened.
You are so lucky. You celebrated your first birthday with all your grandparents.
It’s a birthday tradition that you get to choose your favorite meal. Because you can’t talk yet—at least in a language that we can understand—we guessed.
Dad made you his delicious homemade macaroni cheese. I think we guessed right because you loved it.
We sang “Happy Birthday” to you and I helped you blow out the candle on your cake.
Then, you opened your presents!
You got your cake and ice cream in the red bowl—another family tradition.
You liked it.
You let me put your birthday hat on.
But you liked when I wore it better.
You played with your toys, although you’re still a little unsure about your Radio Flyer—we’ll give it time.
It was such a good day. I wish you a hundred more of these days and I can’t wait to celebrate so many more of them with you.
All my love,
Your mama
“The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.” —Frank Lloyd Wright
