welcome

a bracelet, made from
daddy’s old, worn-out tee shirt
a comfort from fear.

a reminder that
he is loved, deeply known, and
always protected.

families of three
form a tight unit, a strand
of three cords won’t break

preparing the house,
and probably their hearts, too
a baby’s coming!

new schedules, routines
new clothes, new furniture, but
the same love exists.

On September 24th, I will have been married for five whole years. I think this is sort-of hilarious as I feel like an 18-year-old most days. I remember my first day of high school and my 10th birthday party and my first college soccer game the same way I remember my wedding day: I was young. I was equal parts confident and nervous. And I was about to make some mistakes.

I was driving last night with my windows down and the music up, a little wind in my hair and I had the most vivid flashback. 

It was my senior year of high school. I was driving down Lincoln Highway in my mom’s Subaru that somehow became mine, caramel frappucino in hand. The windows were down and I was blasting some Jack Johnson and singing along, probably off-key.

sticky fingers and
dirty knees. baseball bats and
soon, climbing the trees.

brothers growing up,
partners in crime from day one—
some trouble and fun.

two weeks overdue
an eventful, grand entrance
the last day of june.

“it’s a girl!” they yelled.
nora madeline grace, you
were loved from the start.