I’m watching you as you play with your blanket. You are attempting to lay your pink blanket over Mommy’s aerobic step like you are making a bed. You are oblivious to me and it is a rare moment where I can be a fly on the wall of your world.

I look at your face and I am struck by your beauty. You are such a beautiful girl. The curls of your wispy brown hair fall lightly on your face, accenting your dark eyes against your light complexion. I don’t always get to really look at you in such a calm state. I look at you and I am in awe that I helped make something so wonderful.

You continue to straighten out your blanket, making sure the corners are evenly distributed. I can see you thinking about what to do next. Your eyes are focused as you contemplate your next move. As you move back and forth between corners of blanket I notice that you are swaying back and forth in rhythm to some unheard music. This movement is so you as you seem to move with a whimsical grace that I hope you never lose.

You are finally done with your blanket. It perfectly covers all sides of the step. You finally pause to look up at me. As we make eye contact you realize that I have been watching and you offer a bashful smile. I smile back, hoping that my smile conveys the love that is built up inside.

I finally speak. “Are you making a bed, Swee’Pea?” I ask.

“Yah.” you reply succinctly but firmly. You smile as you say this as if you are letting me in on your little secret – a secret only you and I share. You are kneeling as you say this and your swaying becomes quicker and more pronounced as you wiggle your little hips back and forth. Your spirit is captured in this little move. You are so complex. You are often shy among others but downright assertive with us. You will be bashful in front of a crowd but you will often boogie to music or even no music at all. I am reminded of all of this as you play before me.

Suddenly, you are done making your bed and you jump up to pursue another activity. You run away with your head swaying side to side in an exaggerated movement, your arms swaying wildly. You leave the room, but your spirit stays.

I smile at this notion of your spirit being so large that it overcomes time and space. May you always carry that spirit my little girl who I love so much. And may you always find rhythm in all things that you do.

Love Daddy.