my girl

My daughter turned 1 year yesterday. her two older brothers, her mother and I are all very infatuated with our beautiful princess at home. She will control us all so easily with her beautiful smile and curiosity. The night before her birthday she and I went for a little walk up the hill behind our house. She sat buckled into the carrier strapped to my back and I huffed it up the steep incline and up the narrow trail pounded into the ground. As i worked to get us both up the hill safely and trying not to slip on the loose dirt under my worn shoe soles, Avery was enjoying the ride and singing. We got to the top and looked around and she was impressed, as was i, at the view of our neighborhood and the many dwellings and lives that are represented there. As we took the horizontal path that took us around the hill and down the other side Avery continued to sing with enjoyment of the ride and laugh at the view of our dog sniffing and frolicking in the weeds and sage of the hillside. Such peace at such a simple thing of riding on dad's back and walking. No worries, no cares, no stresses, just confidence that "Dad will take care of me and, wow look at the dog." Not knowing or caring that the next day will be her first birthday. What a reminder for us to just slow down and enjoy the ride with our father, our dad. He will take care of us and wow, look at the dog.