There was a time when I could throw Amy high into the air. I’d swoop my arms under her and fling her skywards, her body so small and light that she’d escape gravity’s notice for one brief moment. Then her giggling and squealing would alerted its attention to her once more and she’d be returned to my arms.
These days she is too big for me to casually sweep off her feet. She sees me throwing her brother up and down and she always asks “Do it to me Daddy”, but there is a bittersweet melancholy to the request. Both she and I know that, while I’ll gamely try, I don’t have the strength required to propel her to any significant altitude anymore. She no longer flies through the air with the greatest of ease. Our lift offs are heavy and the landings ungainly. She’s just too big.
Today Amy turned four years old. Our baby is no longer a baby. And it’s true I miss being able to effortlessly throw her into the air, or fastening up her zips for her, or holding her hand so she doesn’t stumble as she walks. But where there have been goodbyes said, we have also said hellos. Hello to the articulate, compassionate, and fun loving girl she has grown to be. Hello to the sweet little girl ever eager to talk, explore, and laugh. And while we look back with fondness, we look forward with hope, joy, and pride that we are her parents.
Because while we may not be able to throw her in the air anymore, we’ll always be there to catch her should she fall.
on Nov 23rd, 2007 at 11:54 pm
that was a beautiful post.
on Nov 24th, 2007 at 12:05 am
Happy Birthday Amy - stay a child as long as possible, it’s more beautiful there.
on Nov 24th, 2007 at 12:11 am
Well then! Happy birthday Amy!
May your dad never throw you up over a stone wall and narrowly miss cracking your skull open again!
on Nov 24th, 2007 at 12:14 am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMY!
on Nov 24th, 2007 at 12:29 am
Happy birthday!
on Nov 24th, 2007 at 2:13 am
That was really nice. Happy Birthday Amy
on Nov 24th, 2007 at 5:09 am
Well said, Dan. I can relate to everything you wrote; my son turned four last summer, and his sister turned two a month later.
Happy Birthday to your daughter.
on Nov 24th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Happy Birthday Amy !!!
You don’t know how true that last sentence of yours is - you will be there to catch them when they fall until the day you fall off your perch, parenting is a lifelong task - but its fun and sooooo fulfilling.
Prepare yourself now for the next step along the way - the day she doesn’t need you to push her on a swing anymore.
on Nov 24th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Have you thought about exercising?
Alas, Lourdes is weighing in at 46lbs (or 3.3 stone roughly) and I’m finding it hard to toss her in the air more than one or two times.
Happy Birthday Amy!!
And well said Dan!
on Nov 24th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Happy Birthday little one.
I feel your pain when it comes to the child toss. I miss the “good air” with my Zoe.
on Nov 24th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Happy Birthday, Amy!
on Nov 24th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Happy Birthday Amy!!!!!!!!
I remember feeling sad when I got too big to sit on my Dad’s knee and I had to settle for a grown up hug instead. It was good but sad too.
on Nov 24th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
4 is such a lovely age… still sweet and innocent, but old enough to do more activities.
My youngest is now 19, 4 seems a lifetime ago… enjoy every moment :)
on Nov 24th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Happy birthday, Amy!
on Nov 25th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Very nice. It is truly bittersweet.
Happy birthday, Amy!
on Nov 26th, 2007 at 5:27 am
a lovely image to have of a memorable day.
:o)
on Nov 28th, 2007 at 2:47 am
Excellent post. Happy belated birthday to Amy.
on Nov 28th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
What a great picture…and a wonderful post!