I stood by the counter in my yellow apron, holding a white ceramic mixing bowl against my hip.

I stirred thick blueberry pancake batter with a wooden spoon and watched dark purple streaks curl through it.

Emma dragged a little wooden stool across the yellow linoleum, its legs scraping softly on the floor.

She set the stool right next to my feet and climbed up until her chin was above the edge of the counter.

“Can I help you pour the batter in the pan, Mommy?” she asked, leaning over to peer into the mixing bowl.

She held Barnaby by his left ear in one hand, resting the plush rabbit against the edge of the counter.