Thanks for Being You, Sunshine

Monday

May292017

Three years and one day ago, there was a lot of discussion about names. Right up until the paperwork for her birth certificate was signed, the debate continued. We didn't know until she made her appearance that Mila would be a she, and it's a good thing that worked out the way it did. We didn't have a boy name. In fact, we were so far from having a boy name that we would likely still be debating the issue if it had come to that.

Girl names, on the other hand, were a better situation. We were pretty sure Mila would be "Mila," although the spelling wasn't decided until she was hours old. Her middle name, though. We didn't have a clue.

There were a few rules decided. She was to have a middle name that started with "J" so she could be "MJ." It couldn't end with an "a." Two names that end in "a" are just awkward together. With those few rules in mind, Alexis is the one who picked Mila's middle name. She did so when Mila was three days old and we were officially out of time to debate it unless we wanted to deal with her birth certificate the hard way.

While "Joliette" is the lovely choice that Alexis made, it's always bothered me that it's not quite right. It just doesn't suit Miss Mila. "Mila" does, by the way. It's a wonderful coincidence that the tiny creature who didn't have a name ended up with the exact right first name for her -- except for that middle name business. I've never known what it should have been; I've just known I didn't like what we finally picked.

I figured it out today. In the midst of giggles and glee, Miss Mila turned to me and grinned in the exact right way for me to figure out what she is and how we could have selected her name.

I don't know exactly which name would have been best, but sunshine. She should have been named for the sunshine. No matter the situation, when Mila bursts into a room (and she always BURSTS into a room), she brings rays of sunshine and light with her. Her personality explodes to fill every dark corner as she boldly asserts herself into everything. Even when she decides to play it cool and pretend to be shy, she can take total control of a crowd.

As with the actual sun, with all of that warmth and brightness, there comes a need to proceed with caution. While Mila is joy embodied, you have to handle her with a bit of care. She will burn you so hard if you don't keep up, but it's worth it. For every challenge that she issues, there's a reward.

Survive a "quick" run to get groceries with Mila in tow, and she'll reward you with a smile at the register for no reason whatsoever. Drag her down from the high shelves seventeen eleventy bajillion times, and you'll get a little hug. Argue with her about most anything, and she'll repay you with a random, "I just wuv you" later in the day. She knows how to pepper in sweetness and warmth at the exact right times.

And that's why she has everyone in the palm of her hand. Mila has earned the right to be the boss of everything. We're just glad she is here because everything is better with a little sunshine.

Happy birthday, Mila. Thanks for making our days brighter.