Daddy Tree: Tiny Footsteps

Because I had the crud last week, I had to "call in sick" to a day at Gymbo's. Sad for Willow, I know, but I couldn't take my illness to a play room filled with tots. But a silver lining exists. Willow and I get to go to Gymbo's TWICE this week, once this afternoon and once Wednesday afternoon. Willow is going to have so much fun! And starting in June, Willow and I will be able to go to Gymbo's three or four times a week if we want; it's some sort of summer celebration they're having that we can go to unlimited classes. I doubt we'll go that many times because it is a bit a haul to get there, but we might pop in and see Gymbo an extra time or two each week.

 Willow models next to her Cozy Coup, and she shows how she likes to get in backward. Willow has a new set of wheels. Her grandparents, Granny and Pop, couldn't wait for her 16th birthday to set her up with this sweet ride. Behold the Cozy Coupe, brought to you by automaker giant Little Tikes, the company that also happened to make the swing we have hanging in the backyard. This, folks, is the car of the future, a one-seater that can really get around, and it's a gas-sipper (given that Daddy sips any gas on any of the days he pushes it around the house time and time again). And let's not forget about safety; this little car is so safe a "little tike" can take the driver's seat. Then there's these little factoids about the Coupe: The iconic Cozy Coupe has been inducted in Cleveland's Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum. More than 10 million Cozy Coupes have sold in the past three decades. Last year's sales reached 457,000 Coupes, besting th...

For the first time in the Willow-Cherish-Brian household, somebody caught a cold. And it wasn't the little one. I first noticed the cold overcoming me on Monday. That's when I knew it was a real cold. I had problems sniffling and sneezing Saturday and Sunday nights, but I attributed those to allergies, which all allergy sufferers do, even if they have bronchitis ("Bronchitis? Nah, it's just allergies ... HACKHACKHACKHACK!!!"). As with most colds (for me anyway), once I noticed it was coming, it really bull-rushed me, pummeling over me and knocking me to the floor, where I seemingly stayed plastered for the better part of two days. The cold, really, was quite minor. It's Wednesday afternoon, and I'm practically recovered, just enduring an odd cough here and there. And as far as I can tell, Willow hasn't caught the cold. At least she's showing no symptoms yet. Neither is Cherish. So here's hoping that cold has exited the household for good. ...

Willow and I ventured to the doctor's office this morning for her annual checkup (I suppose this is her first one, officially). Everything checked out. Our girl is in tip-top shape. So here we are, one year later, counting our blessings that Willow never got sick in her first year, except for a one-day bout with diarrhea (nasty stuff that was). Willow measured in at 30 3/4 inches tall, 22 pounds and with a head 18 inches around. For those of you keeping score at home, she is very tall, measuring in the 95th percentile; bigger than most kids her age, weighing in at the 75th percentile and has a normal-sized head (I think she's kind of big-headed, but maybe that's just me). Doc also was happy with all of Willow's development, her walking and talking and pointing and smiling and all that stuff. Willow got three shots and a prick on the finger. She cried a little for the first two shots, which I honestly don't recall what they were for. She really cried out for the...

My daughter turns 1 today. She's been in my life for a year, and as I've shared with many of you already, this has been the best year of my life (just ahead of the five years of marriage I've shared with my wife, she likes to remind me, and the 37 years of life I owe to my angel mother; I can never forget the women in my life because they have forged who I am and who I will be). And in the year I've been graced with Willow, I've learned a tremendous amount from my daughter. Without Willow I wouldn't know: That I should light up with joy whenever I see a dog or horse or bird. Such creatures are a marvel, and I owe them my good mood and admiration. That I should point at something and tell others to look. That I should shake with excitement when I see something that excites me. This is worth celebrating, folks. That I should celebrate my happiness with the world. That I should rejoice when a stranger approaches me (especially an ugly old man) because ever...

Willow and I will be off to see Gymbo this morning. This is my most exciting day of the week because I know Willow has so much fun at Gymbo's. Today, we'll head to the park after seeing Gymbo. I've packed a picnic and snack for our jaunt to the park. I'm going to let Willow walk around the gym for a while today then walk around in the field at Centennial Park. I'm sure she see some Dougs, ducks and dogs along the way.

Willow got a kick out of having her very own sandwich for lunch today. We're only five days from Willow's first birthday, and oh what she has learned in the last couple of weeks. She's starting to look and act like a 1-year-old. Willow's biggest accomplishment is she's taken off walking. I mean "taken off" as in a rocket ship heading to space. In a matter of weeks (it really seems like days), she's gone from creeping around furniture to almost running through the house (she's not running yet, but I bet it won't be long). She never crawls anymore, and I don't think she's crawled at all today. She and I even walked, hand in hand, a bit on the greenway (Willow kept wanting to veer off into the rough part off the path while sourpuss Daddy wanted to stay on the path). Here's some other things she's been up to (Warning: Cherish is in denial about Willow growing up, so tread lightly when you're around her; keep reminding yo...