I love her red-gold hair.

I love her coy smile, reminding me of my Great-Aunt Biz.

I love her wild abandon as she plays with a dog three times her size.

I love the caution she shows around the little dog she has learned to be wary of.

I love the way she looks at her books as she “reads” the pages to herself.

I love her games of “Peek-a-boo” and the gurgling laughter they provoke.

I love the way she says “No, no, no, no, no” as she reminds herself not to bang on the glass-front bookcase.

I love the way she says “shoe.”

I love how she lights up at the sight of her Uncle Conor.

I love how she embraces me when her Mama brings her in the morning.

I love how she hates me to wash her face.

I love how she tells us what she wants. I love how she knows.

I love to watch her climb in the playground and slide down the slide.

I love how she says “Mama.”

I love how she marches into daycare now as if she owns the place.

I love how she signs “more.”

I love how she disengages herself from the car seat like a little pro.

I love how she goes down for a nap. Sometimes she needs me to stay near but mostly she just cuddles her blanket and falls asleep in her crib.

I love to watch her wake up and remember where she is.

I love to watch her run down the driveway, her arms and her torso swinging in opposition, her little feet moving so fast.

I love her side-eye glance.

I love how she dances to Taylor.

I love how she sits on the toy piano to make it play.

I love how she learned to climb the stairs safely.

I love how she sits on the hearth.

I love how she studies her Grandpa with love.

I love how she offers us food from her plate.

I love how she wants to cook with us,

I love how she hands me my jacket when she wants to go outside.

I love how she made her uncle realize what life is about.

She is only one little girl and we love her so much. What about all the children who are dying and dead in all the stupid wars in the world? Where does all that love go?