One of my absolute favorite things to do, even nowadays, is to relax by my garden. It doesn't matter to me that the sun hits me with its hottest rays, because I have a cool drink for that. The blinding rays of the sun matter little as well, for I always remember my sunglasses. Sunburn is no issue whatsoever because of sunscreen. With the ice-cold glass of water in my hand, shades over my eyes, and lotion smothered over my skin, I feel no pain as I relax.

My absolute, number one favorite thing to do, however, is to see little Alex grow. My, what a big boy he has become! He's almost ten now, I believe. It seems, to me, like it was only yesterday when I was holding him for the first time. I even remember holding the squirming young boy in my arms. Almost as soon as the nurses handed him to me, the fear awakened, as if that moment was the first time I had realized that I was to be a mother.

I looked towards my eager husband. He had on a beaming grin. This countenance of joy quickly turned to one of concern as his eyes darted towards my teary ones. "What's wrong?" he asked, kneeling next to the hospital bed and putting a protective arm around my back.

I wanted to pour everything to him. Instead, I just sat there, erupting into a frenzy of uncontrolled tears.

Dave, for the first time in a very long time, ripped his trademark shades from his face, tossing them as if they were nothing to him in order to look me in the eyes. His scarlet eyes, overflowing with love, looked down at the baby before fixating into my own. "Listen, Jade." He put his other hand under Alex's head, supporting it. "You and I are going to be the best parents to this kid. You don't have anything to worry about. I'm not going to just act like every new father and tell you that it's going to be easy, because it's not. I'm going to be there every step of the way. I promise."

Dave has kept that promise, that's for sure. He takes Alex outside to play with him. Even though he steps on my pumpkins sometimes, I can't get mad at him. It's just too challenging. Why would I want to be angry with him? He is the one who replenishes my heart of hope when doubt has sucked it dry. He protects Alex and me from any adversary, be it from bugs in my garden to someone picking on Alex. Most of all, he accepts me, which is too much of me to ask. He accepts Alex. He even loves us. When others stare at the two snow-white ears on the heads of my son and I, Dave simply embraces us more. Part of me wants to think it's out of his never-ending quest for irony or something, maybe it is really love.