118

Paige is jumping off the board

and swimming to the ledge.

How brave she is to stand up there

and leap from Board's high edge.

She saw the older kids do this,

dive straight into the pool.

She asked if she could jump off too,

because it looked so cool.

I tightened up her safety coat,

ensured it safe and snug.

Then sent her on to higher ground,

my bravest little Bug.

Before she went, she said to me,

"You sure about this Mom?"

I said, "It's up to you. I know you can.

Just walk out nice and calm."

She stood in line, but let them go,

the others standing 'round.

Until I told her, "You can, too.

Get your feet up off the ground."

She climbed the steps and walked on out,

onto that wobbly board.

Then jumped right off with, "One. Two. Three."

Our proud hearts, they just soared.

She swam to us with smile so big,

nearly bursting as she beamed.

That growing little Paige of ours

is braver than we dreamed.

117

Puppies, puppies everywhere.

Come and get one. I will share!

Black and white ones, brown ones, too.

Some with spots, there's one for you.

They love to play and nip and roam,

But most of all they want a home.

So come on by and see them please,

and take one home; they don't have fleas!

116

It's turtle season once again.

I see them as I drive.

Small and round and big and flat

and some are still alive!

Turtles can't help that they must cross

that paved great divide.

And shells are no protection

if from autos they must hide.

So be mindful mother nature,

she dictates where they go.

Don't aim for them as you drive by,

or may your murderous tire blow!

115

I'm up way too early,

to see what can be done.

If creative juice is flowin'

with the risin' of the sun.

The girls are lightly sleepin'.

I'd best keep noises down,

if Mama wants to write some lines

'fore little ones abound.

114.

A dyke without my Birkenstocks,

I'm not sure what to wear.

I've had a pair since '93.

They've always been right there.

Those loyal guardians of my soles

have somehow been misplaced.

The memory of their resting spot

has surely been erased.

Until I find those leathered corks,

no other thing will do.

My feet, they long to tread again

in this lesbian's favorite shoe!

113.

Our littlest one, she throws such fits;
it's a wonder to behold.
With reddened face, she wails so long,
her temper ne'er grows old.

Those scrunched-up eyes, no tears they shed
while she's writhing on the floor.
And when you think she's slowing down
she's gearing up for more.

And then she'll peek through squinted lids
to see if we're still there.
And throws herself right to the ground,
if we don't show we care.

The straightest face we have to keep
while watching Polly's tricks.
A drama queen, we've come to learn,
is living in our midst!

112.

Phoebe likes dog food,

of this I'm quite sure.

Thank goodness it's Iams,

the quality's pure.

Fistfuls of brown chunks

she's trying to eat.

With crumbs on her face,

she thinks it's a treat.

Baby food companies

need soon be aware:

that babies can't tell

between dog's and their fare!

111.

Packing, moving ain't no fun.

But we've gotta get it done.

Cleaning, painting left to do.

Sands of time are slipping through.

Whining, crying, all are stressed.

None of us can act our best.

Two more weeks to settle in.

Then, at last, we're home again!

110.

It's been a trying last few days.

I don't know where to start.

I'm jumping through the many hoops

because they are my heart.

Discouraged that my barren womb

could never bring forth life,

my tears were turned from grief to joy

by my hero, by my wife.

I knew the minute she conceived,

I know that sounds so queer.

A child's voice right next to me

said, "Mama I'm right here.

"I'll soon be nestled in your arms,

but after Mommy's nursed.

We heard your prayers, so crystal clear.

I wanted to be first."

With each new bundle, little joy,

I can't believe my eyes.

They all have given more to me

than I ever could surmise.

I know it doesn't change a thing

while living daily life.

The girls, they're mine from birth on up,

my genes or of my wife.

But laws are laws, not made by hearts,

nor sometimes fairer heads.

So every footpath laid before

I'll forward on to tread.

My girls won't know till later on

they didn't grow from me.

And Love won't care it's recognized

in this, the land of free.

I'm grateful more than I can say,

this barely just begins.

My happiness belongs with them:

Susan, Paige and twins.

109.

Mama is a working girl.
She leaves near ev'ry day.
But always back to home she comes.
Three girls are there to play.

They meet her at the door, all three,
one running, two at crawls.
And each will squeal or laugh or clap
til she can hold them all.

No matter how the day drags on,
from morn to early night,
the precious smiles from those dear three
will always set things right.

108.

Polly started up the stairs.

She got to number two.

Our little tow-head started up.

To where, she had no clue.

A quiet girl is often-times

a girl to be checked on.

And Polly was just crying, so,

I knew there was a con.

Sure enough I headed where

her cries, the last, were heard.

Just in time to stop that girl

'fore climbing up the third.

And reaching for my little one,

I caught her backward fall.

My nerves have never been as shook

as now that they can crawl.

107.

I have a keyboard, now, it seems.

I've had to write these in my dreams.

A lot of time has since elapsed

since last I penned. My brain collapsed!

106.

Polly's surfing channels

till she finds the perfect one.

She pushes all the buttons,

while laughing at the fun.

She passes up the news,

the soaps, commercials, too,

until she finds the one she wants,

and sits right down to view.

I must admit my jaw sagged down

when she first learned this trick.

But no one seemed at all surprised

when cartoons were the pick.

105.

It's dangerous to have two teeth

when you're so new to it.

The fingers you've been gnawing on

can now be badly bit.

For someone little, just like you,

you've got to be awares:

there's things a'growin in your mouth

that often come in pairs.

The lesson learned by Phoebe dear

on this momentous day:

Fingers don't go in the mouth.

'Cause teeth aren't meant for play.

104.

Penelope, we named our girl

and a nickname wouldn't fit.

Penny didn't seem quite right

for her, our Little Bit.

We scratched our heads and finally said,

tradition's out, by golly.

Even though it's ne'er been done,

we're gonna call her Polly!

103.

Polly pulled herself right up

and stood up on the ground.

She used a little toy-filled box

to stand and look around.

Mommy noticed right away

how big and tall she stood,

and Polly played with all the toys

as steady as she could.

We're proud of all she's learned so far

in these few months, now nine.

Our little premie at four pounds,

she's growing up just fine.

102.

We have a little chatterbox

talking all the time.

She talks and talks and talks and talks.

She'd make an awful mime!

She makes up little stories

about her toys and all her friends.

The rest she fills with questions.

The noise, it never ends.

But listening quite closely

to the little things she says,

I hear those clever sayings

from my darling little PEZ.

101.

Polly is a stepping stone.

That's what Phoebe thinks.

Polly'll be sitting upright,

till fast as she just blinks,

Phoebe waves a sturdy arm

and Polly's on her face.

Then Phoebe crawls right on over

like a little leap-frog race.

I'm not so sure why Phoebe thinks

she needs her sister's back.

She'd better plan another route

'fore Polly learns to smack.

100.

Playing together means taking one toy

and passing it back to each other.

Wait til I hand it; don't grab or I'll cry,

and then we'll get scolded by Mother.

From your hand to mine with detours to mouths,

it's all about tasting and feeling.

But be patient and kind while I'm taking my turn.

Playing's 'bout sharing, not stealing.

99.

Inspiration isn't easy
when my eyes are looking down.
My soul is turning inward
and it needs to turn around.

Stress is weighing down
and I'm putting up some walls.
The fight is quite an effort
when the inner demon calls.

Cognizant each choice,
whether positive or not,
impacts my daily living:
Time to fight with all I've got.

98.

Sticky faces. Sticky hands.

Sticky bibs, trays too.

Eating food is a great big mess,

but so much fun to do.

We love to pick up little chunks

of carrots, apples, peas.

If we want more we will fuss

because we can't say, "Please."

The sign for "eat" we're learning fast.

It's not that hard to do.

But we're not sure yet how to sign,

"Mama, now we're through."

97.

Blowing raspberries with oatmeal.

A big ol' pppllbbtthh to you.

Better clean us quick, Mama.

That stuff turns to glue.

Bellies full, wearing great big grins.

Let us down to play.

Crawling all around the floor.

Learning more each day!

96.

It's not that I've been lazy.

Life has been so crazy.

Ok, so maybe some.
So that excuse is dumb

and ever quite so hazy.

95.

Phoebe's favorite toy

is a tiny little giraffe.

She played with it for quite some time,

nearly an hour and a half.

Polly loves to play with spoons,

just like sister Paige.

She too would crawl around with spoons

when she was Polly's age.

It's fun to see which toys they pick

to play with every day.

And mostly it's a box or bag

with which they want to play.

94.

IDK

what to say.

Fuh reals man I am stuck.

I'm finna write

this neways

and then say WTF!

93.

Phoebe sits with one leg forward,

one leg facing back.

She moves just like a Weeble Wobble

on a silly little track.

She lays right down on all her fours,

belly on the ground,

then she pushes up to sit

while twisting 'round and 'round.

This laying down and sitting up

is a clever way to move.

The way she travels here to there,

we call Phoebe's Little Groove.

92.

Phoebe's got a tooth.
It seemed to sneak right in.
She bit down on my finger
and then looked up with a grin.

No fussy, crying nights.
No drooling on the chin.
She just sat right there
with a great big smile
while her toofer came right in!