Dear Daddy, while you've been in Haiti. . .

Dear Daddy,

While you've been in Haiti studying post-earthquake liquefaction, Mom and I have been doing okay. I've missed playing with you, and Mom has missed having you around. We've hoped that your water filter has worked well and have been praying that you are safe. Mom's excited that maybe you'll think she's a really good cook after a week of eating MREs.

I am trying to be extra good for Mom. I've been helping her with the laundry, which I think is pretty fun. For some reason, though, it takes longer when I help.

I've also been really good for her when we go out. Even when the strap from my hat fell over my eyes--I didn't complain. (Mom eventually realized it and fixed it.)

I've been trying to play the guitar like you. I pull myself up onto it, and I've actually been strumming the strings. Mom thinks I sound pretty good for using one hand. Can't wait until you can play for us again.

I want to be like you and play the drums too. Your

drums are in the closet, though, so usually I

just try to drum on anything else I can find--tables, chairs,

cereal boxes, the door, your guitar, etc. The toilet is my favorite, but Mom always freaks out when I get to it. And then she makes me wash my hands, and sometimes inside my mouth. I've notice she's been keeping the toilet really clean, though.

Mom says I'm a climbing, crawling, standing, exploring, destroying, eating machine, and I can do even more than before you left.

See you really soon!

Love, your son,

Kedrik

How did that happen?

One day I suddenly realized that Ked had grown up.

(And he was done with the photo shoot. His cry these days most frequently means, "Help, I'm standing and I can't get down!)

4/12/2010; 7 1/2 months old

in a simple smile

I've always loved how you can get a baby or toddler to smile just by smiling at him--even when the kid doesn't know you. And once Ked was just so many weeks old and able to give any type of response to anything besides hunger, it was the smile when I'd smile at him that amazed me. So simple, yet so phenomenally, inexplicably exhilarating. I'm sure it probably can be explained by some scientific, physiological, neurological response, but to me it is clear evidence of the divinity within. I've always believed (known, really) that we are children of a Heavenly Father, but this has confirmed it to me that much more.

This probably doesn't make sense to anyone else (blame it on my lack of eloquence), but it makes sense to me!