love;

It was a once in a lifetime trip, that’s for sure. Ya’ll probably would’ve somehow came home with three new kids just because. 

Huh? Oh, we’re just - I dunno. She doesn’t want anything to really do with me I think. I’m too much trouble…her words, not mine. 

We want more. Just one, we think. We had such a good experience with our surrogate for Graham that we think we could do it again.

Oh yeah, parsley and salt and pepper ‘cause Daddy says salt and pepper goes on everything, except the sweet things. 

He’s so excited to have a baby brother. I can already see their bond so much, you know. Gosh, I don’t even want to think of either of them growing up and getting older, but can you imagine them as teenagers? Absolute chaos. 

I know it’s gotta be weird for you seeing me and Stone have more kids, but if you ever have any more kids, I’ll love ‘em just as much as I do my own. ‘Cause I have a child who is half you, and your other children will be half you and they will always be connected to our child. And I love you and Chandler, so... of course I’ll love them too. 

I’m convinced I just made Layla myself, honestly, but yeah, it’s just something about Coll’s features. I think it’s her eyes that remind me ‘a Ruthie the most. 

We missed ya’ll in Hawaii, by the way. I’m alright, just looking for a better job and stuff like that. And yeah, we’re okay. Same old, same old. You know how it is. 

We really wanted to be there. There’s just so many of us, there was no way we’d be able to keep our normal schedule in a different state, a complete ocean away. Jade and Jojo were so pissed when they found out where everyone was. I got the, “Daddy, I cannot believe you did this,” every day y’all were gone.

I hope I feel that feeling again, y’know, the just knowing. I don’t even think I felt it totally with Maria. That was a first love sort of thing, and I miss her so fucking much, but I don’t know if it would’ve been a forever deal if that makes sense.

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Now listen, I don’t get to spend a ton of time people watching while I’m here, but I think Taylor’s been putting the feels out for you. If I’m reading that situation correctly. She’s pretty cute, dude. 

Aw, wow, yeah. That’s so sweet. You know there’s not a day that goes by where I don’t think of my little girl. She’d be almost three now. S’just crazy to think about. 

The boys have definitely breathed new life into me though with calling me “Dad” and everything. They keep me busy too, that’s for sure. I love ‘em to death. You hear about any other kids who need fostering lately? It seemed like for a while there Nora was bringing home new photos and files every other day for us to check out. 

I mean, Nora’s been doing social work for decades, now. She got us in contact with the social worker on all our kids’ cases. It’s how we got Jaden and Jolie, and if it weren’t for Nor, we wouldn’t have been able to adopt them. 

Man, having a good sleeper is half the battle. You’re lucky. I remember when Iris was really little she had colic and Maria and I were so young - it was some hard shit to deal with. I wasn’t even there for half of it either. Next time around, I’m doing that leg thing you see them do to babies on Tiktok - you know where you like run, run, run with their legs and then they fart? No gassy babies on my watch. 

If it was up to just me I’d have them on just water for a while! I swear the only things they drank in Hawaii were virgin strawberry daiquiris and Shirley Temples. Ramona had three Shirley Temples one night with dinner and was bouncing off the walls for a couple hours straight. Trav okayed the entire thing, of course, so I made him stay up and play with her. 

Yeah, my kids just keep getting older. It’s really weird to think about. I don’t like thinking about it if I’m being honest. 

Mhm, there’s no denying him. He really is your twin. I low-key miss Stone. Maybe I’ll stop by one day and visit him and all your kids. How many you got now? Thirty-nine?

Layla looks just like you, it’s scary. And I still think Collie looks like Ruthie. Don’t you think?

I bet! I didn’t know how long - if ever - it’d take ‘em to say it, so, you know, just feels good. Feel like I’m doing something right. 

He may look like me, but he’s all you personality-wise. We cooked some great recipes while we had the kitchen to ourselves…chocolate chip pancakes, banana muffins, taco soup. You know, I bet Graham’s going to be your opposite personality-wise because he’s your twin. It’ll be fun to see. I hope he turns out acting like a mini Stone.

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Did he insist on using parsley on everything? I use parsley all the time, and when I don’t he’s like, “Daddy, where’s the green stuff?”