January 20

It was Jen's birthday yesterday and I had intended to wake up and hack her blog and write something nice--but I chose to do other things, including french toast; and by the time the baby and I got knee-deep into the football games, while Jen was at some movie about dresses, all hope was lost.

We ended up at some pizza joint for the 2nd half of the Giants upset over the Packers, but Jen's friends gathered around and we had a nice evening.

Honestly, most of life these days is dominated by Jen's obsession with her fitness, eating habits and gym routine. It's admirable, and one of her favorite things to say is: "You need to support me on this, Ryan." So, everyone, please support her as she attempts to lose 20 pounds over the new few months.

Anyway, Jen's 31 years old now, and Lilly's going to be a 1-year-old in two months--and we're so completely "those parents," that it's difficult to believe.

Memorable story and then I'll call it quits... When Jen got back from London in 2003, it was around Christmas and I vowed to friends that I'd never see her again. I'm not sure what was going on, but I had written her off. Then came January and our birthday season, and somehow I ended up at her house and the ice thawed and I turned out to be no good at vows of silence. The next week we were going to lunch again--like every day--and we'd go to this movie theater 40 miles away from Sacramento. There was no reason to go to this movie theater. It wasn't independently owned. It didn't specialize in a certain artsy kind of film. It was just 40 miles away. Jen dubbed it: "Theater Far Far Away." And I'd get text messages about TFFA. "Let's go." And I'd go. It was pretty fun--the driving. Because we usually took her jetta which was like a go-cart.

Anyway, those were good days.
But these days are better.

Lilly, yesterday, she crawls real deliberately, you know; and she made her way over to me, grabbed the remote and changed the channel to the shopping network--QVC--without any guidance. I swear this. It's a true story. She has her mom in her. And that's about the best thing anyone can ever get on their birthday--and the best thing anyone can ever accomplish in life. To leave a bit of yourself in a baby. Granted, this was the shopping network, but she also has Jen's happy disposition, and, really, you can't find that in just anyone. It's special.


-Ry