OLIVIA

Liv, we have been hanging out with your mom for 15 hours, and I have taken what seems like a million pictures of our new family.

We are a cool little trio. I have learned so much about you very quickly: you don’t mind noise, you like being held, you like milk.

I don’t often meet anyone who wants to eat as much as I do – but I did today. You and I are definitely going to be friends. I promise that we are going to have many meals together.

I guess there are many other things we are going to do together. I know we will study for school, play the imagination game, listen to music, go to museums, etc.

Sadly, I also know we are going to watch the Gators and Dolphins repeatedly and consistently break daddy’s heart, and make him scream at the TV. I’ll teach you how to do that too.

I am looking forward to being your daddy.

Your mom is a bit tired right now. The past 48 hours have been a lot of effort for her, and I think that is only the start of the effort she will put into loving you.

I know she is going to work hard at teaching things to you that I can’t, she is going to take you for long walks, and she will talk with you about anything big or small.

As a fair warning, your mom is going give us a funny look when those dumb referees on TV need some screamin’ (she will still love us. It will pass).

Your mom is looking forward to being your mother.

Liv, your mom and I are glad you joined our cool little trio. It feels natural. It is like we have all known each other an entire lifetime.