K, you absolutely love Ernie.

The Ernie from Bert and Ernie, on Sesame Street.

You fell in love with him as a bathtub toy.

He is a bathtub toy.

Out of the 50 other toys floating around you always reach for him.

Not long after that, you began softly saying his name when you got him.

Somewhere along the line, he made it into my car.

I am not sure how he got there.

But whenever I take you and H to school, finding him in the backseat is a pleasant surprise.

I usually give him to you to play with while I buckle you into your seat.

Of course you happily hold him, but usually still squawk while I am strapping you in.

Your favorite part of getting in and out of the car is usually stopping to look at yourself in the headrest mirror attached to the seat.

You laugh and point to yourself and say “Baby.”

My lovely girl and her little Ernie.

I love you.

–Dad