how did we top
we surrounded ourselves
with friends
(both new and old)
and some family.
aj and i
started the day
by
continuing our 2 men
and a baby routine.
until some friends arrived
to help us eat and drink
some of the food and beer reserves
that never seem
to diminish
(despite everyone’s best attempts).
adam and ivette
arrived with
a shitload of
clothes, blankets and more
collected by their friends
(thanks to you, the friends of adam and ivette).
they joined us
in our attempt to
empty the refrigerator.
(we failed).
and then more
food arrived
(thanks, haley).
after all of this
we decided
to bring out the
no one understood
their fortune
(no hindi or kannada speakers in the group)
yet everyone laughed.
as some visitors left,
others arrived.
gina took some photos
(actually, a lot of photos).
while aj and i
took photos of her
taking photos.
she did the whole
session
free of charge
(how awesome is she?
(she’ll be sending me her shots sometime soon and i’ll share them with everyone).
aunties anya and aislinn
stopped by.
so did elizabeth and family.
cousin leslie came with
home-made chocolate.
cousin sarah came with
a cake.
(i should be gaining some weight any day now).
grandpa tom g.
and
grandma candee
arrived from the sf.
and promptly took turns
holding madeline.
rhonda entered at 10:30.
to watch madeline eat.
we all talked awhile.
everyone but
aj, madeline and i left.
then we went to sleep.
(aj and madeline did).
it’s past 3:00am.
i should probably
join madeline
as she dreams
of liz.
10 Comments
as i read this, tears roll down, i can only think of the toast given at your wedding about you and liz and surviving the long distance relationship routine, by liz’s dad – and the funny retelling about the video camera on your computer. i am so sad i can’t believe it. what a loss. unbelievable. what a darling girl with her mom’s smile.
so sad.
Maddy is such a precious treasure.
I love love love that last picture.
Matt, you have no idea who I am. I am one of those strangers who should be minding her own business… I got a link to your blog from an acquaintance, and became riveted to your story that made me cry and laugh and cry some more. You are an extraordinary person. Truly. And although you may not be very good at accessorizing, or home ec (but neither am I, and I am a mom of a 4-year old girl), you are excellent at things infinitely more important. I hope you don’t mind my intrusion. And, to be perfectly frank, I can’t promise that I won’t be back to “check” on you and Madeleine sometime in the future. Take care.
With warm thoughts –
Olga (a stranger from Chicago)
Matt, I am an online friend of Olga’s (Olga from the post directly preceeding this one) and I too am a stranger who found my way here to your blog via the same acquaintance. I am so sorry for the sudden, tragic loss of your beloved wife Liz, but I wanted you to know from a mom that you are without a doubt THE greatest daddy on the planet. Truly. I mean it. I hope you don’t mind if I, along with my bud Olga, pop back in now and again to read about your family.
You are a very good man, sir. May god bless you and your sweet little girl too.
Sincerely,
Martha Garcia (another stranger, this one from the SF Bay Area)
I’m thinking brownies with cute decorations for her 5th week birthday. More chocolate that way. Thank you for letting me come by yesterday and spend time with you and everyone else!
Happy 4-week Birthday Maddy!
Happy 4th week Birthday, Madeline and Matt! The pictures are so wonderful! I love the L on the sidewalk picture. She is rockin’ it in your creative world, Logelin style!
your story, your life-or these past few months of it that I am reading-have been touching, sad, and beautiful. I’m sorry. so sorry. Im 24 and a mom of an almost 6 month old baby boy. Reading this has suddenly made me put MY life into perspective. Thank you. All frustrations I encounter on a daily basis are trivial.They are. Plain and simple. I am so damn blessed. No more feeling poor me. No more. Your wife was a gorgeous women. Your baby is the spitting image of her….with some of you added in there Im sure;) I will now continue reading some more.I’m not even sure if I can post this here. I just wanted to say what an amazing father you are. Hold strong. Don’t feel bad for making people cry. You are actually making their life better by sharing your story.
Much love to you, Maddie, and Liz. Your blog is an amazing tribute to Liz and your daughter. I love it all – the beer, the swearing, the authenticity of your expression, and the tremendous love. You’ll be in my reader….and I’ll be looking forward to hearing about you both.