What surprises me:

1. No matter how little sleep I’ve gotten the night before, Violet’s face and fingers, peeking over the crib railing with a look that says, “I’m up. Let’s play,” wipes away my dark, sleep-hungry mood and makes it possible to rise, smiling, and fulfill her unspoken request.

2. Bringing a third person into a relationship that I’ve shared so long with just one, brings me closer to my partner.

3. The word “family” feels like a new word when I say it in refernece to Violet, Linda, and me, like I’ve just discovered a new meaning for it. This also holds true for the words “daughter”, “father”, “child”, and “nipple”. And “blowout”.

287 days old