We invoke the Deep Magic.

“Hail Queen of Heaven, the ocean star, Guide of the wand’rer here below: Thrown on life’s surge, we claim thy care- Save us from peril and from woe. Mother of Christ, Star of the Sea, Pray for the wanderer, Pray for me.”

Today is my daughter’s second birthday. In the words of parent’s everywhere, it goes by fast. Very fast.

For two years I’ve watched her create herself from the ground up. My wife and I provide food, shelter, and of course lots of love, but Madeleine has done the hard bits herself: sitting up, crawling, [...]]]>

Today is my daughter’s second birthday. In the words of parent’s everywhere, it goes by fast. Very fast.

For two years I’ve watched her create herself from the ground up. My wife and I provide food, shelter, and of course lots of love, but Madeleine has done the hard bits herself: sitting up, crawling, standing up, walking. Talking. It’s been amazing to watch. She is, in my extremely biased opinion, amazing.

Seemingly overnight Madeleine has morphed from milk-demanding bundle of limbs with a shrill cry, to her own little person. She busts out the complete sentences, difficulties with pronouns and prepositions aside, and enjoys carrying on conversations.  Anything she likes is described as ‘perfect’ and the next step up from that is ‘love.’ She loves Mommy and Daddy, Nana, Gramma, both Papas, and her Aunties and Uncles. She also loves her hands and squash soup so we try not to get too flattered.

One of my favorite things to do watch her play. I have no idea how imagination fits into the developmental schema, but Madeleine’s is in full force. It is very entertaining to observe what I call the ‘Horse and Cow Dialogues’ as she plays with her Fisher Price toys. It is like having a front-row seat at a very avant-garde play.

One night this past week Madeleine woke in the small hours from a bad dream.  When it became obvious she wasn’t going to settle herself back to sleep, I went in and picked her up out of the crib. I wrapped her in her blanket and together we sat and rocked in the chair. Madeleine’s default mode these days is ‘busy-too-busy-to-cuddle’ and she has never been overly mushy, so increasingly I treasure these moments to simply STOP and hold her and drink in the moment.

Happy birthday mo chuisle mo chroí.

Happy Birthday Madeleine Ailidh. You are the joy and the delight, and I love you very very much.

PS – don’t feel like you have to wake up at the exact one [...]]]> In a few short hours it will be exactly one year since my daughter entered the world, and changed my life forever.

Happy Birthday Madeleine Ailidh. You are the joy and the delight, and I love you very very much.

PS – don’t feel like you have to wake up at the exact one year mark.

Meanwhile, the Rocket has been practicing her walking around skills – video here.

This was my first trip ever to New York where I a) was in bed by 11 PM both nights and b) did not [...]]]> Last weekend Herself, the Rocket and I took ourselves down to New York.  Photos can be found here.

Meanwhile, the Rocket has been practicing her walking around skills – video here.

This was my first trip ever to New York where I a) was in bed by 11 PM both nights and b) did not consume all the beer purchased. Madeleine loves her FAO Schwartz stuffed dog though, and Herself and I enjoyed yummy cocktails at Bubby’s. The Bees Knees was just that, although next time I’m getting a Calvados Sidecar.

“Oh I’m afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive.”

And that picture and quote combination is probably the nerdiest thing I will do this year.  I’m not even going to explain it – either you’ll get it or you won’t.

Year in review, 2009: married in January, baby arrived in October.

Went to Paris for the first time. Still struggling to write and express my feelings about that city.

Did I mention we had a baby?  I’m not going to even try and write about the tsunami of emotions involved with my daughter. Too [...]]]>

Year in review, 2009: married in January, baby arrived in October.

Went to Paris for the first time. Still struggling to write and express my feelings about that city.

Did I mention we had a baby?  I’m not going to even try and write about the tsunami of emotions involved with my daughter. Too much. Too humbling.

Many other folks, dear to us, had babies. So far we are all of us muddling along in a pretty fair manner and in good health.

Can’t ask for much more. See you around in 2010.

When she is happy she sings her Madeleine song, an assortment of chirps, burbles, and hoots. At moments of extreme joy she erupts with a yell of delight, often emphasized by a wave of the arm. This is most likely [...]]]> My daughter has started smiling over the past week or so. Mundane but amazing.

When she is happy she sings her Madeleine song, an assortment of chirps, burbles, and hoots. At moments of extreme joy she erupts with a yell of delight, often emphasized by a wave of the arm. This is most likely to happen after bath time, which she loves. A list of Madeleine’s favorite things would include:
-baths
-hanging out on the changing table in a fresh diaper
-being held
UPDATE: She also enjoys the Clancy Brothers, Handel’s Messiah, and white noise (preferably ocean waves).