Monthly Archives: January 2008

The motion of the ocean

Twice a week, Jen comes to our house in the wee dark hours just before dawn. She takes Nate to day care, so that I can catch the early train.

We just started this a couple of weeks ago. When I picked Nate up from day care after the first day, he was very excited. “Daddy! Jen bought me a doughnut this morning! And she says if I behave and don’t dawdle, she’ll buy me a doughnut every day!”

Now, this sounded a little fishy to me. I asked, “Is that really what she said? Two doughnuts a week is a lot, even for a big guy like me.”

“Well, Jen can decide.”

“No, actually. I will decide what you eat, because I am your father.”

He didn’t like that very much, but he promised to talk to her and get more details about the plan.

Last night, when I picked him up from day care, he pulled me down so we were face to face. “Daddy. I talked to Jen about the doughnuts. She said she would get me a doughnut on the first or the second day of the first.”

I was baffled. “I don’t know what that means, Nate. I think I’m going to have to talk to Jen myself.”

“Dad,” he said, very seriously. “You can’t stop the doughnuts.”

Hung one more year on the line

Yesterday would have been Sarah’s birthday. In her honor, we had dinner at the Hous of Grous. I picked up a chocolate cake (with chocolate frosting) at Stop & Shop. I asked the baker to pipe Sarah’s name on top, in purple frosting. “No happy birthday? Just Sarah?” Just Sarah, thanks.

Nate and Jennifer helped blow out the single candle.

And just like last year, I got to snuggle Jennifer’s little sister (and Sarah’s namesake), Caroline Sarah. She is just over a year old, and walking like a pro. I kissed her on her sticky cheeks, and nibbled on the nape of her neck. She is the most beautiful little girl in the world, and I told her so. I think she believed me.

It was a pretty good day. Happy birthday, Sarah.