This morning, my husband, Carter, was awakened by our daughter's laughter.  It was lovely, truly lovely.  You see, this was 4-month-old Lilah's first real cause & effect chain of laughter.  I would tickle her, and she would laugh.  I'd play peek-a-boo and she would laugh.  It was so cute and contagious.  Next thing I know Carter is bounding down the stairs with messy hair and sleepy eyes and a big smile.  "Let's record it!  How can we record it?!  That's the best alarm clock I've ever heard." he said as he bent in to make eye contact and rub the belly of our cheerful baby.

There is folklore and fact around laughter.  Gosh, the more I think of it, the more I am intrigued by it.  It's like we have the power within us to change our own happiness level (even by forcing a laugh).  And then to think that it affects others, too, WOW!  It's simply lovely!!  Actually, a girlfriend and I were talking about laughter last night, and how disarming it can be in a "touchy" discussion with your spouse.  Many times, it can bring you back to common ground with someone (especially if you are able to poke fun at yourself).

Laughing feels good from the core out:  for me, I feel it in my stomach and ribs, then in my head and around my ears.  It's completely organic, created from who-knows-where.  Magical, like a butterfly or a rainbow or a snowflake.  Thank you, baby Lilah, for reminding your dad and I of the delightful power of laughter.