Limping to 2015

Dear Adeline and River,

Here we are, limping into the new year. This is not how it is supposed to be. December is meant to be full of life, expectation, family, celebration, and fun. Gifts, little kids, pajamas, and late nights culminate on Christmas day. We drink a little too much, laugh a little too much, and raise our glasses to one heck of a year.

But here we are, hanging on by a thread. You see, River, you won’t sleep through the night and for some reason, bottles are little contraptions of Satan. Adeline, you have been sick for a month, along with your mother. Last night, I celebrated 2014 by examining the inside of our toilet bowl.

We are not refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to ride off into 2015 to plunder and conquer our challenges.

This has been a Christmas disaster.

Yet, despite the retching and aching, I am grateful. I am grateful for the two of you. Adeline, you light up my day and challenge me to grow. River, I can’t describe what your four-month-old smiles do to my heart. I am also supremely grateful for your mom. She is a warrior who loves with all her heart.

I hold these years close. You both grow up too quickly. I don’t know what 2015 has in store for us, but I wouldn’t want to face its challenges and joys with anybody else.

There isn’t a big lesson in this letter, I just want you two to know that 2014 was a complete joy and I can’t wait to spend another year with you girls.

I love you both,

-Dad