Daddy Tree: Tiny Footsteps

On weekday mornings, Willow likes to venture into the master bathroom to watch Mommy get ready for work. She watches with astonishment as Mommy brushes her teeth and fixes her hair. But mostly Willow sits in the floor and plays with her bath toys. She was doing just that this morning as Mommy stood at the mirror prepping and Daddy sat in the kitchen eating breakfast. All was peaceful and routine. Then the screams started. They were the screams of a panic-stricken Mommy, not of a hurt baby. I have to deliver full disclosure here. In the flurry of excitement, I don't recall exactly what was said, but it was something like, "Brian! Oh, my God! Brian! Come here! Oh, my God! Clean her hands! "And CLEAN HER TONGUE!!!" < OK, in a sense of obligation to the dramatic pause, I'm going to pause dramatically here. > Tick. Tick. Tick. Let it sink in. Tick. Tick. There. Good? OK, I will continue. I dropped my fork and rushed, no, walked very briskly into t...

Last night. Ungh. Last night. I don't want to relive too many details, but it involves the words "after midnight." That's all I'll say. She knows what she did.

Willow had a fitful night of sleep last night, staying up WAY past her bedtime (until 11:30 p.m.!). Her sleep has been off since Friday, but she seems to be catching up today, logging 2 1/2 hours of napping so far. Mommy and I will be working hard to get her back on schedule tonight. We can't blame her much; she had a few painful shots yesterday morning, and that followed an exciting weekend of guests and Christmastime (yeah, we're early) fun. It's a lot for a little girl to handle, so we're slowing down today and during the next few days.

Willow had tons of fun with her grandmother and great-grandmother, so much so that she was wired throughout the night. It took every ounce of energy Mommy and Daddy had to get her to sleep, then it was restless after that, requiring frequent visits to her cribside. Yawn.