Daddy Tree: Tiny Footsteps

My mom bought Willow a romper with a quote from William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night Dream" stamped across the front, dark pink lettering on a light pink shirt. "Though she be but little, she is fierce!" The line comes during a fight between a woman and her smaller opponent. The smaller fighter uses her fierceness to compensate for the size disadvantage. Willow isn't a small girl in her toddler world. Not by a long shot. She's as big as tots six months older than she. But she is shy of them in understanding the world around her. And when you observe Willow in the larger scope, the one that includes me and you and billions of other grown-ups on the world's stage, she is quite small. But this disparity in size, and in understanding, means little to Miss Willow. She is fierce. Fiercely determined to do, to learn, to be. Much of this fierceness earns Willow the admiration of Mommy and Daddy, and of grandfathers and grandmothers, aunts a...

I've been working with Willow on sign language for months (on a VERY leisurely pace). The fruits of that labor finally paid off on Monday. Willow can sign! Cherish went into Willow's room Monday morning after our little girl woke up, and Willow greeted Mommy with a clear sign, "milk." The sign for milk is like this: Imagine milking a cow with your right hand, opening and squeezing shut your hand as if you were squeezing a cow's teat. Willow was doing that. And she did it this morning too. I've also been working with her on "eat," "all done," "all gone" and "more" in addition to the signs every baby makes, such as "bye, bye" and clapping. When she picks up on one of those others, we'll start some more signs. But now we're happy she's mastered the one. Got milk? Willow wants to know. ### Here are other things Willow is up to: - She can stand for minutes at a time and creep along furniture...

Dear Willow, As is usual on almost any day of the week, news is happening. Among the latest tidbits is news a team of investigators has evidence of where Amelia Earhart's plane went down over the Pacific Ocean in 1937. (I'm sure by now you know who Amelia Earhart is, so I won't bore you with her part in history.) I don't know if the investigators will find Earhart's plane; I hope they do, but I suspect they won't. I also suspect her plane will never be found, but I am confident of one thing ... I know that YOU will find Amelia Earhart. How do I know this? Well, I know you, even if you're only 10 months old right now. I know how pioneering you are, how you like to go exploring and find new things. I know how you like to keep challenging yourself until you can do the unthinkable. I know how strong you are, how determined you are to never quit (even if it aggravates Mommy and Daddy). I know how independent you are, how you like to do things on your own ...

Need to lose a few pounds to fit into that swimsuit before the big vacation? Want to tone up those flabby arms*? Want to make your core as solid as a rock? Then I have the workout for you! And it's guaranteed to work ... OR YOUR MONEY BACK!!! Introducing a revolution in exercise and weight loss ... Friends, welcome to "CHANGE WILLOW DAILY," the plan that's sure to work for you. Got a double chin? It will be gone in days! GUARANTEED!!! Got a spare tire? GONE! In no time!!! "CHANGE WILLOW DAILY" is a break-through toning plan created by a stay-at-home dad and former Navy SEAL**, Brian Dunn, an expert in the ancient art of baby-changing fitness. And don't worry that you won't be able to keep up with the system. "CHANGE WILLOW DAILY" is much simpler than those complex systems that boggle your mind! No rubber bands! No racks! No pills! No! This system is as simple as strapping on Velcro shoes! EASY! BREEZY! And catch this, FRIENDS! ...