My daughter was born with winter in swing,
all done with fall and midway to spring.
Two chocolate drop eyes and a cherubic nose
just above blushing cheeks that were lit like a rose.
She rewrote our life with an edit of wonder,
took all our targets and tore them asunder.
No matter how much you know, or how much you care,
no mother or father can ever prepare
For the razor thin line that’s drawn after birth
between sacrifices needed and what they are worth.
For two and a half years, she shared with no other,
just Mommy and Daddy; no sign of a brother.
We soaked 29 months like light from the sun,
with learning and laughter and fistfuls of fun.
Then her brother was born and to our surprise,
the two of them met when she stared in his eyes.
“I love you, Max Michael,” our little girl said.
She first kissed his cheek and then patted his head.
The four of us frolicked through several new stages,
chewing our challenges and varying changes.
We opened our school and told her we’d need her
to set an example and be a good leader.
She stepped right up and shined like a star,
beaming a broadcast about how lucky we are.
Like lightning our years quickly fell from the sky.
First preschool then kinder, both flew right on by.
Now she’s in 1st grade, our sweet little lass -
caring, creative, and top of her class.
I love her smile, her humor and mind.
I love that she’s tender. I love that she’s kind.
My little Mia, like an apple and tree,
is a little bit Mommy and a little bit me.





















Cute poem and pics! Thanks for sharing this week with us.
I LOVE the picture of the three of you reading in bed! That is awesome. I was trying to figure out what you and Cindy were reading.
Cute poem and pics! Thanks for sharing this week with us.
I LOVE the picture of the three of you reading in bed! That is awesome. I was trying to figure out what you and Cindy were reading.
Oh Sean, she is beautiful! She looks like a young Sandra Bullock… I think it’s the eyes! My favourite is the photo with the yellow dress. And you’re quite a poet!
Oh Sean, she is beautiful! She looks like a young Sandra Bullock… I think it’s the eyes! My favourite is the photo with the yellow dress. And you’re quite a poet!
The cute little nose on the rose pic is my fav. Another enjoyable journey as you shared more of your family.
The cute little nose on the rose pic is my fav. Another enjoyable journey as you shared more of your family.
Thank you for sharing these photos. We know you didn’t do it without great thought and we’re glad you did. Beautiful, beautiful family! You have somewhere to visit in Scotland if you ever do a WD world tour.
Thank you for sharing these photos. We know you didn’t do it without great thought and we’re glad you did. Beautiful, beautiful family! You have somewhere to visit in Scotland if you ever do a WD world tour.
Too cute! Your family is very blessed.
This line is so true about having kids: “She rewrote our life with an edit of wonder/took all our targets and tore them asunder.”
Too cute! Your family is very blessed.
This line is so true about having kids: “She rewrote our life with an edit of wonder/took all our targets and tore them asunder.”
so beautiful – both your words and the photos!
so beautiful – both your words and the photos!
Wow, it’s not often that I’ll check out a blog and find poetry. Love it!
Also love the headline graphic and tagline “Life’s better with the right words”.
Wow, it’s not often that I’ll check out a blog and find poetry. Love it!
Also love the headline graphic and tagline “Life’s better with the right words”.
A beautiful poem for a beautiful little girl. What a treasure!
A beautiful poem for a beautiful little girl. What a treasure!
Dave: My pleasure, it was a lot of fun for all of us. The books are a DK board book for Mia, a Lemony Snickett book for Cindy, and I am reading John Irving’s, “The Cider House Rules,” which, surprisingly, I did not care for as much as the movie.
Daphne: After I read your comment to Mia this morning, I showed her who Sandra Bullock was. She says, “thank you, she’s pretty.”
Trina: Cindy LOVES that photo. I have a different version of it as well, but the file was slightly too large. Thanks for being such a constant round these here parts.
Janice: Thanks, Janice. I showed Mia where Scotland was on the map, along with some pictures. She thinks it is very pretty.
Lori: Isn’t it? My goodness. Torn asunder in a good way, but torn asunder nonetheless.
Tabitha: Thank you on both counts.
Sterling: Thanks, thanks, and thanks! I hope to see you around.
Dave: My pleasure, it was a lot of fun for all of us. The books are a DK board book for Mia, a Lemony Snickett book for Cindy, and I am reading John Irving’s, “The Cider House Rules,” which, surprisingly, I did not care for as much as the movie.
Daphne: After I read your comment to Mia this morning, I showed her who Sandra Bullock was. She says, “thank you, she’s pretty.”
Trina: Cindy LOVES that photo. I have a different version of it as well, but the file was slightly too large. Thanks for being such a constant round these here parts.
Janice: Thanks, Janice. I showed Mia where Scotland was on the map, along with some pictures. She thinks it is very pretty.
Lori: Isn’t it? My goodness. Torn asunder in a good way, but torn asunder nonetheless.
Tabitha: Thank you on both counts.
Sterling: Thanks, thanks, and thanks! I hope to see you around.
I was trying to think who Mia looks like and Daphne hit it on the head–it IS Sandra Bullock.
I think my favorite photo is the one where Mia as an infant is holding onto Daddy’s arm and laughing. That moment when a newborn daughter looks into your eyes and smiles back for the first time, causes you to reflect, “Wow. She loves me back.”
My other two favorites are Mia and Daddy in formal wear, and Mia and Mommy as outdoor girls in the greenery.
Thanks for sharing with us. (I’m a scrapbooker at heart so I love looking at other people’s photos–the arrangement, the lighting, the spontaneity, the momentous event, the mundane…) You’ve done a good job of journaling your life with words and photos.
I was trying to think who Mia looks like and Daphne hit it on the head–it IS Sandra Bullock.
I think my favorite photo is the one where Mia as an infant is holding onto Daddy’s arm and laughing. That moment when a newborn daughter looks into your eyes and smiles back for the first time, causes you to reflect, “Wow. She loves me back.”
My other two favorites are Mia and Daddy in formal wear, and Mia and Mommy as outdoor girls in the greenery.
Thanks for sharing with us. (I’m a scrapbooker at heart so I love looking at other people’s photos–the arrangement, the lighting, the spontaneity, the momentous event, the mundane…) You’ve done a good job of journaling your life with words and photos.
Awesome poem and post!
I just had a new puppy added to my family, and her name is Mia too :)
Awesome poem and post!
I just had a new puppy added to my family, and her name is Mia too :)
Just lovely! I really appreciate your sharing.
Just lovely! I really appreciate your sharing.
I love how you let your authentic self and your authentic life shine through your posts. I have been keeping my children away from the computer. But you are making me rethink this.
I love how you let your authentic self and your authentic life shine through your posts. I have been keeping my children away from the computer. But you are making me rethink this.
Beautiful poem…
This is the kind of poetry that should be taught in school!
I’ll use this for inspiration to write about my children and the people I cherish…
Thanks for sharing, and I look forward to many more great poems from you!
Beautiful poem…
This is the kind of poetry that should be taught in school!
I’ll use this for inspiration to write about my children and the people I cherish…
Thanks for sharing, and I look forward to many more great poems from you!
Such beautiful words fittingly describe such a beautiful girl you have in your life!!
Such beautiful words fittingly describe such a beautiful girl you have in your life!!
Chocolate drop eyes, YES! Um, I know this sounds kind of random, but is your family Chicano?
Chocolate drop eyes, YES! Um, I know this sounds kind of random, but is your family Chicano?
Randi: It was unbelievably hard picking just 16 photos. I had no idea which ones to choose. It was my pleasure to share. Thank you so much for enjoying what I have to offer.
Mike: Congratulations on your Mia! I hope she makes less of a mess than mine. : > )
Patricia: My absolute pleasure.
Stacey: Thanks, Stacey. I have to admit, I made them stay away for a really long time, but now I think things have shifted a bit. This is officially what I do for a living, and I want them to understand it and be a part of it as much as possible. I will try to insulate them and protect them as much as possible, but I do want them to start having exposure in small doses.
Haider: Thanks! Yeah, I don’t know why they don’t teach meter in school. I guess it’s because there’s no test on it. I look forward to writing more.
LyN: Thanks so much@
Hayden: I’m half Spanish with a bit of English, Irish, and French. Cindy is half Filipino and half Caucasian. Our children are Heinz 57 and, yes, a whole lotta pretty.
Randi: It was unbelievably hard picking just 16 photos. I had no idea which ones to choose. It was my pleasure to share. Thank you so much for enjoying what I have to offer.
Mike: Congratulations on your Mia! I hope she makes less of a mess than mine. : > )
Patricia: My absolute pleasure.
Stacey: Thanks, Stacey. I have to admit, I made them stay away for a really long time, but now I think things have shifted a bit. This is officially what I do for a living, and I want them to understand it and be a part of it as much as possible. I will try to insulate them and protect them as much as possible, but I do want them to start having exposure in small doses.
Haider: Thanks! Yeah, I don’t know why they don’t teach meter in school. I guess it’s because there’s no test on it. I look forward to writing more.
LyN: Thanks so much@
Hayden: I’m half Spanish with a bit of English, Irish, and French. Cindy is half Filipino and half Caucasian. Our children are Heinz 57 and, yes, a whole lotta pretty.
AHH! These are so amazing! These are words that she will treasure her whole life through! There is just something about special words from a Daddy’s heart!
AHH! These are so amazing! These are words that she will treasure her whole life through! There is just something about special words from a Daddy’s heart!