They spent the day together on Saturday, walking hand in hand through the neighborhood, losing hours perusing the offerings of a bookstore, sharing a lemonade and reading about the Loch Ness Monster while wrapped up in a blanket.

In spite of all of the distractions and stressors that tend to close in and oppress these days, Satie’s natural playfulness, inquisitiveness and joy always serve to soften the weariness of the evening, and give clear purpose to her daddy’s life.

Grew the cutest, curliest hair in the whole world…

Learned the names of almost everything…

Became an expert at walking and running…

…and wrote the first chapter of the story of her independent, amazing little life…

Throughout the night, he thought of his own parents, how they had happily traversed the same gauntlet of commercial holiday madness for him when he was young, and he was thankful. The experience of parenthood is all of the things that he thought it would be, and much much more. It is just as life-altering, and more. It is just as difficult, and more. It is just as joyful, and more! Above all else this season of thanksgiving, Satie’s dad is thankful that being a father was part of the plan for his life.

Satie and her family wish you the happiest Thanksgiving season, and hope that you take time to reflect on the blessings of your own parents and children.

This week she discovered the wonder of nesting dolls. The first set she encountered was a set of five. She smiled and studied the odd-looking wooden doll, but was not prepared for the surprise inside.

When the first doll was opened to reveal the smaller doll within, she gasped and looked at her mum in absolute amazement. The revelation of each subsequent doll elicited a giggle, combined with a handclap, and an exclamation of “Yay!!”

Watching her with the set of ten dolls was even more amusing, as they are both larger and subsequently smaller than the set of five.

With the larger set, she knew what to expect, and yet was completely taken aback by smallest doll and its one inch stature. This whole set earned a hearty “yay!” and handclap after each doll was opened.

Each day her parents are allowed the privilege of seeing and learning about the world through her point of view and it truly is a delightful place to be.

When Satie’s dad had to leave her behind to go on a 4-day business trip, it was quickly discovered that many parts of daily life felt awfully different without him around. From the face she saw first in the morning, to the arms that carried her to bed at night, Satie struggled to cope with her new routine. While ecstatic to have so much uninterrupted attention from her mom, Satie felt that something was wrong, and would frequently roam around the house looking in all of the normal places for “Diggy” to be. Often, she could be found resting her head against the door to the garage, intermittently slapping at the door and saying “DAA DAA DAAAAA!”

Though they kept in touch through daily phone calls and pictures sent by text message, Satie spiraled deeper into despondency as the days went on, and even lost her ability to sleep at night. Satie’s mom tried everything to distract and comfort her distraught little girl, and they had fun swimming, reading, dancing, laughing and visiting family, but it wasn’t until the night of reunion with Satie’s dad that all three of them slept through the night and found their happiness again.

The next evening, Satie and her dad sang and jumped and played and high-fived so frequently and so fervently that Satie was giggling herself right off her feet. Little Satie and her entire happy family agree that being together as a unit just makes life more fun.