Yoshi's Tiramisu

While sentimentality is par for the course for Valentine’s Day, there are indeed genuinely touching reasons in the case of the picture below:

Probably the most significant is the slice of tiramisu.  On the evening that we found that Tess was pregnant with Gabe - in S&Js’ Banff - apartment we celebrated this life changing news by having a slice of tiramisu at the Second Cup in Cascade Mall.  The funny thing I realized is that we have not had a slice since.

I willingly confess that she does way more than I do to take care of my son.  It is no easy task especially in light of the fact that her body took a beating during his birth. For almost a week she battled the effects of spiking high blood pressure due to pre-eclampsia before braving a caesarian birth to give our son the gift of his first breath. Her body still has not fully recovered and there are challenges ahead for her.  But she soldiers on.  I am humbled by her.

For now the drama of last summer has since subsided and we have healthy, happy, and talkative boy who makes each day an exciting challenge filled with hugs and slobbery kisses. I never truly understood the power of a child’s smile till my son. Each smile makes the struggle worth it.

The Green Yoshi, like its Super Mario brother counterpart is much like my son, just beginning.  Just getting started. Vulnerable yet with so much potential.  The amazing thing is that Gabe was not that much bigger than this stuffed toy when he was born. That is why Yoshi is here.

I am lucky to have them in my life and I'll be damned if I don't work my ass off to make sure they are taken care of. I guess this is what being a Dad is all about...