New Year's Resolutions

Alleke and Cousin Josie
Photo by kellyandapril.

"Good to see you're carrying through on your New Year's Resolutions," Jeff said to Josie.

Josie slid a plate full of nachos onto the table and climbed into Grandma's lap. She picked up a tortilla chip and put it in her mouth.

"What was her New Year's Resolution?" Grandma asked.

"You'll have to ask her," Jeff said, nodding at Josie.

Josie giggled.

"I'm gonna eat more snacks," she said.

"I've got one too," DJ said from across the table. The football helmet he had been wearing most of the day was now sitting next to him on the table.

"I'm going to watch the Vikings and Packers play football," he said, smiling at his dad.

Jeff asked the kids if they could think of any more New Year's Resolutions they had made, and with a little help, they remembered them all.

Josie resolved to...

• play all the time every day


• go swimming more (to get stronger)


• go to the park and climb more (to get stronger)

DJ resolved to...

• do more math


• eat more meat


• listen better and do things the first time


• share more love

Emma (the youngest) resolved to...

• do whatever Josie said

I think Alleke may be a little small for New Year's Resolutions. I tried asking her later that evening while we were downstairs watching a football game, but she just licked her fists and blew bubbles.

In her own way, however, Alleke had already made a statement about the coming year. That morning, after I had been up reading emails, I went back in the bedroom to check on mom and baby. I got enlisted for diaper duty, so April lifted Alleke into my arms, and we walked to the bathroom.

Out of habit, I ran my finger down the bottom of Alleke's foot to see if I could get a smile out of her. Instead of smiling or making happy baby noises (like she usually does), she did something else, something she had never done before, and something very grown-up.

She giggled.

My little girl let me know in her own way that she would be the joy of my life in 2007.