Baby #1

Baby #1

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Stroll

You sit there

quietly

as I roll you down the long sidewalks.

Allowing your eyes to land on whatever interests you.

You reach your chubby little hands out of the stroller,

grasping at the plants we pass,

reaching for Dolce’s leash that hovers just out of your reach.

You lean the top half of your body out the side of the stroller

, studying the ground passing beneath you.

You stare at Dolce trotting

content

along side you.

She makes you smile

laugh

that makes me smile

laugh

I do my best to shield you from Florida’s relentless sun.

I have the stroller’s canopy over you,

(not long enough)

your sun hat

( you snatch it  off,  throw it on the ground)

your sunglasses

(in your mouth instead of  on your face)

your blanket

draped off the side, seems to do the job

I walk with you in the mornings

weekdays

kids at school

adults at work

Nobody else on these sidewalks but us

and Dolce

Squirrels

sprint from tree to tree

Birds

drop in to sing their songs

Ducks

Thelma and Louise lounge in the shade

Gnats engulf my face

I look to you making sure you’re ok

you’re ok

A stray cat

blocks our path

I’m afraid to go past him

I envision him lunging at you

you scratched up and in tears

I won’t take that chance

We wait for him to leave

you’ve never seen a cat before

your bouncing in your seat

excited

He retreats back into the woods

We continue on our way.

Through the neighborhood

pass the lakes

across streets

up and down and back again

I walk you for as long as I can

sometimes dropping Dolce at home

She’s fearful

uncomfortable with walking in new directions

I run in and let her inside

I run back to you

We continue on our way.

We go over the same paths

Once

twice

on cool days

three times

Your company is all I need
You sit there
quietly