“A baby’s smile is a dancing flower of twinkling stars.”
—Apollo M.
Experts say that a baby’s voluntary smile indicates a social activity to express warmth. During crazy times like these, you need to see a baby’s smile as a reminder that there is good in this world. The photos included in this post were mostly taken recently while babysitting
Emmy.
The exception was a photo and a short video clip I took of Emmy socializing—or shall I say engaging in parallel play—with a baby named Hana in the shallow side of a kids swimming pool at the Maui Marriott Resort on Kaanapali Beach this past December during our annual family vacation. Emmy was wearing a pink sunhat that Cecile and I bought her and Hana who was wearing a long-sleeved flower print top were splashing the water in front of them with their hands. They were smiling and staring at each other as if they had known each other from a previous time.
They were supervised of course. Hana’s dad was holding her arm on one side, while Nonnie Cecile was watching Emmy on the other side. Behind Emmy sat her protective big sister Lyla. According to her parents, a Persian couple who reside and teach college-level engineering in San Diego, Hana was named after the East side section of Maui known to be home of Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools), the Hotel Hana Resort and huge stretches of lush coastline, waterfalls, and vast rainforest. But the most amazing discovery was that Emma and Hana were not only one year olds but by the magic of coincidence happened to be born on the same day and the same year (February 27, 2022,). So, Cecile and I would like to extend our birthday wishes to Hana and greetings to her parents in San Diego. We look forward to celebrating Emmy’s Birthday with the rest of the family.
Dearest Emmy:
Your heart-melting smile is so divine
Everything you do makes our lives worthwhile
Your untouched innocence is so sweet
Your magical charms can’t be beat
Your eyes are blue as the sky above
That look at us with trusting love.
Your chubby cheeks and rosy lips
And dainty little finger tips
Every unfathomable word you say
Touches our lives in a heartfelt way.
Your actions are beyond being cute
They lift our spirts like a parachute
It’s hard to believe how time has flown,
You started so small, but how quickly you’ve grown.
From rolling to sitting and a quick little crawl.
To your first little steps and standing up in your crib,
You’ve conquered it all.
We wish you a very Happy First Birthday
Papa and Nonnie
