Notes

Bernadette Ruth Friedrichs of an opera or epic poem, sung into life by her mother,Marian, whose vocalizations during labor captured lifetimes, sadness, joy, pain, euphoria. Up and down with pauses, rests, choruses.

• Morning referendum on how I'm doing as a dad: Isaiah is willing to trade me for an ice cream soda (and he's never even had one).

• ‎"There was no soot." The funniest line ever, according to the 2-year-old in our house. Who knew Beatrix Potter was a comic genius?

• Yellow slime diaper. Everywhere. Now cleaned up.