Monday, January 27, 2014

I Am A Proud Daddy Hawk

M&M made her daddy proud tonight. Please allow me to explain.

The Queen had a doctor's appointment this afternoon. We planned on meeting up afterward for dinner and whatever else struck our fancy. Of course, M&M goes where The Queen goes, and that is as it should be. So, we had a nice family "date" night starting with some yummy barbeque at Rudy's (where they serve what you ask for in the amount you ask for on a sheet of butcher paper...the way it should be). 

Any lip smackin'...with full bellys and time to burn in subfreezing temps, we headed for the mall. 

The main reason for going to the mall was to walk around and give M&M some play time in the mall's play area with other rugrats. This is the scene of daddy's proudest moment to date. 

M&M was having great fun running around and climbing on the assorted soft padded objects available for use by midget house monkeys. Among the midget monkeys was a little boy somewhere between 18 and 24 months who took a particular fancy to MY DAUGHTER (you need to read that in the vein of Terry Pratchett's Discworld Death character...if you are not familiar with Discworld, you are missing out...hugely).

Any DEATH, mini midget monkey decided that he MUST become one with M&M and proceeded to propel himself at breakneck speed towards M&M with arms outstretched with the apparent intent to tackle M&M. 

Now...here is where my Daddy Hawk heart just swelled with pride. 

M&M saw the midget monkey missle headed her way, caught him mid tackle, PIVOTED around mid collision and landed comfortably on TOP of her would be tackler who sorta whacked his head on the generously padded floor stunned that his carefully crafted plan went horribly awry. She did this without prior training or benefit of learning from psychotic older siblings. 

She's a natural. 

What more could a daddy ask for?

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Too Funny Not To Share

I don't remember mentioning this before, but M&M has some Cherokee blood in her ancestry. We joke about from time to time; but last night, the joke was on The Queen.

The Queen was changing shirts to get ready for bed with M&M in the room. M&M looked up and gave The Queen her new Indian name: Mommy Two Boobies. 

We are still laughing about that one. 

Friday, January 24, 2014

Gotcha Day

One year ago today, The Queen and I stood before a judge in the Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown Fort Worth to swear under oath that we were going to be M&M's parents forever, to hug her and squeeze her and spoil her rotten (for real...it's on the record). The past year has been an amazing ride. One that has passed by too quickly. I can honestly say that I can not imagine loving another human being more completely and unconditionally than the way I love my wife and daughter. It really does give me a deeper understanding of God's love for us.

I stole the title of this post from my co-worker who adopted two little girls from China. Instead of celebrating birthdays (since they really had no idea when their birthdays actually were), he and his wife decided to celebrate "Gotcha Day"...the day they were able to take the girls home with them. I thought it was a cool idea, and promptly stole it.

Having been through the foster care and adoption process now myself, I can truthfully say that Gotcha Day has a whole lot more meaning for The Queen and I than either the day of M&M's birth or the day she was first placed with us. So, it made sense for us to celebrate that instead of the other two. We have a nice family get together planned for tomorrow. There will be food and fun.

In the meantime, here are some recent photos of The Cutest Little Girl in the World (TM).

She almost always asks for her puppy and bear when going to sleep.

Okay, so this really isn't TCLGITW. It IS what happens when mommy and daddy get bored and start messing with the toys.

The Queen snapped this of M&M and I enjoying a midday nap together.

TCLGITW bundled up and ready to brave the cold.

Why, yes, that is your heart I just stole. You weren't using it were you?