Momma Joy

Little Riv, it took you a while to realize that walking could be used as a method of transportation; at first, mostly it was a way of having fun!  You loved to toddle back and forth between Momma and Daddy and fling yourself in our arms for big hugs and tickles.  Even now, when you can climb and run and jump, you still like to play this game sometimes, and it makes us very happy.

Little Riv, the first time you walked by yourself was on Christmas Day, just two months after your first birthday.  You were sitting on my lap and your Dad was opening the little gifts in your Christmas stocking.  The first one was a cat puppet he had bought you (now known as “peek-a-boo kitten”) that popped in and out of a cone with a stick.  He popped it up and said “Peek-a-boo!”  You were so excited that you stood up and walked right over to Daddy to get the kitty — we were so excited that we just smiled and cried.

Riv, from the time you were just a tiny baby, you’ve loved to smile.   When you were just a couple of weeks old, we would put you on your playmat.  It was decorated with pictures of smiling babies and you would reach out to them and coo and sing and smile, as if to a familiar friend.  You have always been so full of joy.

Little Riv, when you were a tiny baby, I could lay you full length along my lap.  I would prop my feet up on the coffee table so we could look eye to eye.  We would rub noses and I would kiss your tiny face.  You would giggle when I tickled you, and you would copy me when I stuck out my tongue, even when you were very little.  You’ve always had the best laugh!

It’s hard to believe now that it was just a year or so ago you could barely sit up!  Little Riv, I have a beautiful picture of you as a baby smiling so proudly the first time you balanced and sat up on your own.  Of course you fell over the next moment and you were really annoyed with me for taking your picture instead of being there to catch you, but you were so pleased with yourself while it lasted.

Little Riv, when you were a tiny baby, your dad would comfort you by reading you The Economist (no kidding!).  You loved sitting in his lap and listening to the sound of his voice, as he would read the articles in a very animated way, making faces and asking you questions.  It always worked when you were feeling fussy, and you still like him to read it to you.