The UPS truck pulled up in front of our house.  I ran down the steps and pretty much snatched the package out of the driver’s hand.  “Big Moment” I called over my shoulder.  I couldn’t stop a smile from spreading over my face.  It was just shy of one year that this crazy fun frustrating exhilarating journey began.

Inside the padded envelope lay five advance copies of What I Love About You.  Hmmmm, what to do, what to do.  IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION. That’s the ticket.  I pulled out a pair of scissors and got ready to cut.  Then I put down the scissors and called my husband John.  “The books are here.” 

“I’ll be home in 15 minutes.  Wait for me,” he said.Â
“Of course!” I replied. “I wouldn’t THINK of opening them without you.”

I wandered over to the kitchen and started chopping some onions and celery for the spaghetti I was making for dinner.  One minute I was chopping and the next I found myself holding the package. I don’t know how that happened but as long I was there I picked it up and shook it.  I heard the door open so I quickly put the package down and decided to act casual about the whole thing.  “HURRY UP, you were gone 18 minutes!”

I will never forget the thrill I felt pulling the first book out into the light.  It was so smooth and shiny and…perfect!  I hugged it.  I hugged it for all the stops and starts and rewrites and endless hours of production research.  I hugged it for living up to all that I thought, all that I hoped it could be.  I hugged it because of how I feel about the baby on the cover.

What I Love About You was written about one particular baby but the message it contains is universal.  It is a privilege to witness a brand new soul learning about the world.  And it isn’t the huge milestones that make us fall in love with these new little beings.  It’s the small ordinary moments that give us little glimpses of their personality and character.

It’s been a few short weeks since those advance copies arrived but a lot is happening very quickly. I invite you to check back every now and then for updates.

Oh.   And don’t worry.  I hugged John, too.