1994
April 1
Evelyn is a year old. Where did the time fly?
I'm watching her sleep right now. Sam insisted on throwing her a party. Bobby and Dean helped him make a cake, and Sam stuffed some candles on top of it. I watched Sam help her blow them out then wait for Bobby to cut her a piece.
I started to go back and keep working on this hunt when I heard Evelyn calling me. She had a handful of birthday cake in one hand and was begging me to pick her up with the other. When I did, she tried a little too eagerly to feed me the cake and ended up shoving the cake into my beard. I'm surprised at my own patience; I just started laughing and gave her a kiss. She did something then she'd never done before. She grabbed my beard, kissed it, and told me she loved me.
I gave her quite the birthday present. I showed her what it looks like when her Daddy cries.
May 14
Evelyn started walking today.
Sam's been trying to get her to do it for weeks now. She can stand up on her own, and she can walk around if she's holding on to something. But today, she did it. She let go of the coffee table in the rental house and stood there for a minute, Sam goading her and Dean standing behind him encouraging her. I had a small disposable camera in my pocket, and I pulled it out and snapped a picture of it.
We were all holding our breath, I think. She took one step, then another, then another. Eight steps later, she made it to Sam, who scooped her up and held her.
I remember what it's like now. To feel like a proud dad.