Be careful what you wish for

These words of wisdom are meant for Hero. Shortly after Hero came to live with us a few years ago, he was introduced to our next door neighbors. Two young boys - Sam and Jackson - became playmates and, before too long, the objects of his infatuation. Hero would watch out the window for them to come home from school. If Sam and Jackson were in their backyward, Hero was in ours - running alongside the fence barking and whimpering. When he was invited over to play, it was the highlight of his week.

So sometimes when Hero would stare at me dolefully, I imagined he was asking me for kids of his own.

Well, now he's got one and I sense it's not exactly like he was fantasizing it would be. Instead of Hero being infatuated with Piper, Piper is infatuated with Hero. She loves to watch him, throw food down from her highchair for him, and most of all chase him everywhere he goes. And she can be relentless. She'll spot him, and then start to crawl: thump...thump... go her hands and feet on the carpet. And then he'll begin to move away, eyeing her warily. And she'll pursue: thump...thump...thumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthump! Poor Hero. He always manages to evade her, but she just doesn't stop coming. You'd think she'd get frustrated and give up or cry. But she doesn't. She just laughs, turns around, and thumpthumpthumpthumpthump!

The thing is Hero, someday she'll be like Sam and Jackson. She'll run, and scream, and play in the backyard. You'll follow her around, instead of her always being hot on your tail. I did get you what you asked for, she just needs to grow into it a bit. You'll have to wait it out. And sleep with one eye open in the meantime.