get up, stand up

Nearly, 3.2 million years ago, the first hominids changed the path of the species by lifting themselves to stand. Here, in Hamilton Parish, Bermuda, our littlest cub has managed the same. Wobbling around on gargantuan legs that look more suited to being the main course at a barbecue, little Charlie drew himself to stand. And, he really can't get enough. Every milestone is bittersweet for parents who are pretty darn sure they are stopping the baby making process here. Every time Charlie says "Dadadadada" or stands up for the first time, we also know in our hearts that this is the last time we will see one of our kids do it for the first time. The milestones in their lives are also etched in ours, marking the beginnings of a real family. Kids, in all truth, adults may look different to you but is soooo many ways we are just like you: We get cranky when we are tired or haven't eaten. We want things we can't have. We don't like it when other people have things we want but don't quite see it the same way when we have things other people want. We can giggle at really silly things. We want to be included in whatever's happening and we don't like it when we are not. We like drawing just for the fun of it (but we never seem to do it as often as we should). We like music and singing and dancing and wish we could still do it in the uninhibited way you do. We still feel young. We still feel like, on some level, we don't quite know what we are doing. But, just like we tell you, we just try to do our best and aim to be kind and good to people. And that is all we ask of you and all we hope you ask of us.