Poem for Magnolia

 

Coming to us on a full moon night

On your sister’s birthday

Born in our bed

Surrounded by love from the first moment

Smiling before your first month ended

Focusing intently on Delphinium when she engages you

Traveling all over the city

Snuggled so tightly against our bodies

Generous smiles and eye-to-eye connections

Charming everyone you meet

So flexible and steady

As we take you from place to place

Kicking with enthusiasm when you’re held

Grinning at yourself in the mirror

Grabbing your toes and just holding on for awhile

Laughing along with your sister

Creating your first jokes

By presenting objects and then not letting us take them

A great set up

Laughing because you get that it’s funny

Ravenously eating

From mushy foods on forward

Loving anything that’s offered

Chipmunking food into your big cheeks

Discovering the stairs

They entertain you for months

As you climb and descend

And grin at anyone nearby

Wonderfully slow days with Mama

Crawling around your house

Swinging contentedly at the playground

The world following your rhythms

You claim the kitchen as a workshop

Stacking bowls and transferring objects

Moving magnets around the refrigerator

Climbing up onto the dishwasher door when given the chance

Further comedy

As you lean to the side and get everyone around to do it too

Or rock back and forth manically

Soaking up the appreciation of your audience

You approach learning to walk

As with so many developments

Happily and without frustration

Hurtling about the house joyfully

You fill our summer at Grandma and Uncle Jim’s house

With handing people their shoes

Exploring the outside

Insistently wearing a bicycle helmet through hours of play

Sister time in your crib

Delphinium joins you in the mornings

Leaves us sleeping while she reads and sings to you

Creates a private space for just you two

Coming into our bed

You climb all over us and explore clocks and glasses

Pause for a quick cuddle

Before getting back to work

Each day winds down with books and songs

We sing you “Hey Soul Sister” every night of your life

As you lift your butt in the air and fondle your blanket

Settling in for a night’s sleep

Learning the power of words

You yell “Dogdog!” at every passing canine

Learn “backpack” and “shoes” and “bath”

Use them to guide your loving adults

Transitioning to new routines

You embrace your days at day care

Welcoming Altagracia’s arms in the morning

Turning to say, “Bye bye!” and blow a kiss on each step as you leave

One block’s walk back home

Can turn into a 20 minute adventure

Commenting on every house, car, and light

Giving orders to sit on stoops as we slowly make our way

Arriving at Granny and Grandpapa’s apartment each time

You grin at them as you march straight to your toys

Hours of work to be done with bowls

Little stones and rubber bands

Sister baths filled with merriment

Lots of splashing and hijinks

You learn to soap up your hands

To wash Delphinium’s back

Energy and ambitious adventurousness

Amazing us by scaling your high chair independently

Zooming back and forth repeatedly in our back room

Walking off the couch onto the pillows below

Reading becomes more interactive

As you show your preferences clearly

Talking to us about “Gossie” or “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”

Repeating words and turning pages to make connections

Words become phrases

As you narrate our life for us:

“Mama socks” “Papa tired?” “Duhdoo sleeping”

“Upstairs!” “Noyo do it!”

Beginning to follow your sister’s creative lead

So decisive with your marks on paper

Gleefully creating your first painting

Narrating it all

Dress up suits you perfectly

Hats and shoes to parade around in

An armored breast plate across your chest

Grinning through outfit after outfit

Developing such independence

You want to spend your time brushing your teeth

Moving chairs around to suit your purposes

Making the world work for you

You led your whole life

So joyfully and so fully

Embracing everything it had to offer

Welcoming us all to join you for the ride