13.

Dear Claire,
We're still recovering from our weekend in Denver, and I am still a little amazed at how well you did on very little sleep. We tried to stick to your usual nap routine, but a 2 PM nap proved impossible when we had a 2 PM wedding to attend. You survived multiple delayed flights, multiple in-flight meals and multiple missed naps. At one point on our trip, I ate the most lovely tuna sandwich of my life while sitting on the bathroom floor, so that you could get a nap in our hotel room. It didn't even seem weird.

You even survived sleeping in the same room as your mama and dad, which is not easy. Each night, you made it clear that you weren't thrilled with the arrangement. We'd lie very still and you'd launch items in our direction: teddy, a binkie, whatever you had on hand. On our last night in Denver, we lulled you to sleep, covered your crib with a blanket and watched very, very quiet cable TV while eating a wonderful room service meal. The evening was so different than how it might have gone a few years ago. We had to whisper, so as to not disturb you. We watched shows with the captions on and stifled laughter.

I can tell you with certainty, that the trip wouldn't have been half as fun without you, Clairegirl. Your enthusiastic, full-body waves at the flight attendants, your cuddles in the morning, your willingness to sacrifice teddy for your parents' attention. I have traveled lots of places in my life with lots of people, and there's no one quite like you.

Love,
Mama