::On Being Thankful::

Chocolate ringlets bounce with excitement.
Your sweet voice rings through the house,
And trills of giggly laughter ricochet off the walls.
You flash a broad smile and squint your eyes,
Knowing I cannot resist.

Delighted squeals and jumps meet your Papa
Whenever you see him.
You suck in air with thrilled fear
As you fly spread-eagle over his head.

My stomach fills with tingling joy
When you throw your arms around my neck
in a tight hug.
Knowing how easily I could break your circle
Makes me protect it even more.

I leave the wetness of your small peck on my cheek,
As I dare not erase the trace of love.

Running away from me,
Your little legs reveal a hint of the toddling
Slowly being replaced by the confidence of an older child.
And I hold my breath ever-so-slightly,
Still thinking you might stumble any minute.

The times you do, you stand up slowly and turn around
and look for my reaction.
I suppress the urge to pick you up
To make sure you didn't break.
Instead, a reassuring smile sends you back to your game.

In the quiet of the night, I take you in.
Squeezed against your pillow,
Your spongy cheeks squish your mouth open
Into an exaggerated cherubic bow.
Kneeling beside you, I inhale
Your tiny, sleepy puffs of breath.
I bury my face in your unruly mane of tangles and
Relish the smell of warmth and vanilla.
Gently, so as to not wake you,
I kiss the inside of your soft palms with their sugary scent,
Before I rise and retreat to the doorway,
Where I crane my neck behind the closing door
For one last peek at you.