Love is...

Love is not punching stupid people in the face at the aquarium because they stand there for five minutes staring at a fish and won't move on, because you don't want to get kicked out thereby ruining your daughter's first visit.

Love is dealing with the crowds, claustrophobia and excessive heat during said visit to the aquarium because Munchkin's enjoying the turtles and that's all that's important.

Love is buying Munchkin an expensive stuffed turtle since we learned she likes turtles so much ... along with a squeaky shark and a pincher frog because she wouldn't put them down.

Love is running upstairs after Munchkin is in bed because she wakes up crying a cry you've never heard before, even though you just took Tylenol PM and it was starting to kick in.

Love is suppressing the gag reflex when you see/smell puke because you have to calm down a little girl who just got sick and has no idea what just happened to her.

Daddy love is cleaning up the mess in the bed while Mommy sits with a freaked-out Munchkin in her lap and doesn't give her grief about not helping.

Love is letting that poor little girl puke on you and not even caring.

Love is, despite your inherent modesty, taking off the shirt the little girl just puked on so hubby can throw it in the wash, and not rushing to get another one because the Munchkin just wants to lay on her Mommy until she feels better.

Love is laying Munchkin down in your bed so you can make her more comfortable - and not getting mad when she pukes on your 1000-thread count sheets.

Love is going upstairs to check on her every ten minutes after she finally lays down ... just in case.

Love is never going back to the McDonald's on Buttermilk Pike in Florence. (We're thinking food poisoning since she had no fever and was fine after she finally got everything off her belly ... and that was the last thing she ate.)

Love is not going to sleep because there's too much adrenaline pumping through your veins because of this whole thing. And so I can listen for the slightest sound on the monitor.

Ain't love grand?