If I could bottle it ...

Of course, time cannot be bottled. But if I could bottle it, here are some of the things I'd try to bottle:

When John nurses, he also smooths my skin with a wide, dimpled hand. The palm is impossibly warm and soft. He'll search all around to find any square of skin - my chin, my finger, my side. His loves to run his hand back and forth along my arm as far as he can reach.

Naomi asked me to rock her to sleep the other day. Her head lay heavily on me, with her soft, smooth cheek pressed firmly into my upper arm. Her fingers rested gently on the Curious George hard-cover that was tucked under the entire length of her arm. Her body curled just enough that we still fit together, despite her ever-lengthening limbs and the narrow chair.

Adam retains an endearing wide-eyed eagerness. His face lights up when he sees me. He is generous with hugs and "I love you"s. The other day, he performed a spontaneous, lively, and skillful telling of The Three Little Pigs and he directed Dion as he improvised an accompaniment on the guitar.

Johnny!

Oooh. Uncle Yan is gooooood. very good.