Daddy's Little Wonder Woman

Giuliana has taken to running around the house with her arms stretched out behind her, fingers spread wide. She can't tell me what's on her mind, but I image it's something like this: "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, I'm FLYING! Look at me go!"

I remember that feeling as a little kid. Do you? I would run around in circles, arms out wide, sure if I ran fast enough I would Take Off! I had a little thing for Wonder Woman at the time, too. I vividly recall putting on a leotard and some bracelets, sure that they would stop bullets. I may have considered jumping off the garage roof with my gold lasso....

This must have been about the time I was also learning how to climb down from the treetops. When I was three or four I would climb to the very top branches, and then have no idea how to get down. "DAAAAAAAADDDYYY! SHOULD I JUST JUMP DOWN???" His answer was always no. He would make his way up the tree and then help me climb down by telling me where to put my feet. I remember it was like one of those exercises in trust, where you free fall backward hoping someone will catch you. I was always scared he would let me fall if I missed a branch. When I got closer to the bottom he would often tell me to jump into his arms, and I was afraid he wouldn't catch me. He never missed, though. He was always there.

G appears already to have my penchant for climbing EVERYTHING REMOTELY CLIMBABLE. She hasn't started to scale door frames yet (one of my defining childhood accomplishments) but that's probably just 'cause her legs are still too short. We better make sure her bedroom windows are locked, this kid is headed for the roof someday, I'm sure of it. Luckily, she's got a Daddy who will always catch her when she jumps, too.