Our littlest Valentine is almost one year old! She’s fully engaged with growing up and her participation is absolutely endearing. She surprised us with the cut of a new tooth on the bottom left, after nary a fuss. She’s cruising around proficiently. She converses back and forth with you using the prettiest little grunts. She giggles and shares.

Most of all, Lady Kitty loves to smile and wave! One hand or two, her joyous waving of hello, goodbye, and all those moments in between is gorgeous and totally heart-melting.

Big brother Lake is melting hearts and growing up, as well. Tonight he popped into the kitchen to proudly show us that he had successfully gained his pajamas. I was washing up and drinking hot chocolate while Madeline dried and made herself a coffee. We pleasantly chatted. There must have been a slight scent of sweetness in the air as we performed our tasks and pleasantly chatted. Lake burst into the scene, instantly catching the mood, and dared himself a brief glimmered hope among his heavy wager of doubt.

“Is there dessert?” Lake said.

A pregnant pause ensued as my internal struggle with prudence and compassion duke it out. Into that space Lake’s matter of fact reason swelled. His hopes were dashed back from whence they had come as quickly as they were born.

“The answer is probably no, right?” I let my breath out, and with it evaporated the half formed words of a little hot chocolate with his name on it. He had let me off the hook, and handily parented himself. “That’s right, honey, no dessert. It’s bedtime.” I couldn’t help feeling proud of my sensible child, as he went on his merry, if not slightly resigned, way.

We hope you enjoyed a lovely Valentine’s. We love love! A perfect day—I’m glad I spent it with you!