i think a lot

about how madeline

helped get me through 

those first horrible

days/weeks/months, 

and almost three

years later, 

she’s still doing it.

i’d be nowhere

without her,

still stuck in

the moment that happened

the day after

she was born. 

without consciously 

doing so, 

she has convinced

me of the need

to slow

down and enjoy

the little things

in life. 

like vacations…

my vacations used

to be all about adventure

and exploration, 

but with madeline

i find myself mixing

adventure with time

spent sitting

on the beach

 

or at the pool, listening

to her laugh, 

watching my everything

enjoy her life.

and that’s more fun than

i imagined it would be.

and i enjoy it

more than i ever 

thought i would

or could.