Getting to the Fun Part

I won't sugarcoat it: The first few months of new stay-at-home mommyhood offered infrequent moments of great reward. It's a challenge to entertain a baby who can't yet crawl or communicate, and I was reminded by one of my trusty baby books that those who ask moms of newborns, "Isn't being a mom just the best?" and "Aren't you loving it?" aren't, in fact, in it. Yes, I love my baby (and her father), but days expand and contract in curious ways, and slotting in weekly chores between changing the baby, feeding the baby, washing the baby and walking the baby does not necessarily make for a glorious sense of fulfillment. (Isolation is another issue, and in that experience, I know I am not alone.)

At four and a half months, however, things changed. We experienced a return on investment in the form of greater interaction, new vocalizations, stronger eye contact, willfulness and enhanced fine motor skills. The shift was notable for me in the day-to-day caretaking, and of that time, I said, "This is when the fun begins."

It's a full month later and Taylor is ever more interactive. On Easter Sunday, April 8th, 2012, she held herself up on all fours for the first time. Over the few days that followed, she began launching herself forward from this position, engaging in a somewhat laborious form of locomotion that has ushered in a new era of care and vigilance for us, her parents. Taylor is possessed of a positive disposition, preferring more stimulation to less, and displaying a strong sense of determination. She seeks out objects she wants and will advance on them as her skills allow, reaching out and drawing them to her mouth (my phone) or raking and grasping with a tight-fisted grip (the dog); dear John Henry has been highly tolerant of Taylor's new skills.

The six-month benchmark is nearly upon us and this little baby who, through the wonders of nature, has subsisted on breastmilk alone, will soon be sampling sweet potato and her first bites of banana. We expect she'll be walking before the year is out, and we're likely to hear her first words, too. The ROI just increases from here, and being in it is becoming a very rewarding place to be.

This Is A Cute Baby

Meals We Have Made

Between birthday and Christmas celebrations, I was the lucky recipient of both a slow-cooker and a Le Creuset Dutch oven. Both kitchen appliances have seen their fair share of activity thus far, and I thought it wise to keep a running list of some of the meal highlights and standbys I've cooked over the course of Taylor's early days—the meals that have indirectly fed her and, to date, resulted in a 25.5-inch, 15 lb., 2.5 oz. four-month-old little girl.

Coq au vin
Indian eggplant curry (bharta) and lamb chops with balsamic reduction
Baked salmon and slow-roasted sweet potatoes
Rotisserie chicken and leek soup with homemade stock
Braised pork ribs
Italian-style spiced beef stew
Indian minced lamb with peas
Pureed spinach soup (a standby)
Beef fajitas with roasted parsnips and pineapple salsa
Rosemary-garlic roast beef and potatoes with horseradish sauce

What's In A Name?

Muffin. Muffelin. Muffet. Tuffet. Nuppet. Button. Buttons. Bug. Bear. Little Bear. T. Ellie. Ellie-Bear. Button-Bear. Taylor. Chubs. Chubbles.

I have called you each of these names. What, I wonder, will you call me?

Of Festivals and Cook-Offs

Clay and Taylor at the Zilker kite festival

We've been making a point of getting out and about over these lengthening winter days, recently attending the fourth annual "Pair It With Claret Chili Cook-Off" at Spicewood Vineyards and the 2012 Zilker Park Kite Festival. Taylor spent most of the day pack-forward at the cook-off, admiring the color and body of the wines we sampled (in our commemorative glasses) and fielding compliments throughout a perfect breezy, blue sky Hill Country afternoon. The kite festival had similarly ideal weather and our first family flyer, a squat little frog, joined hundreds of other kites in the skies above the city.

During the weekdays, we've been attending the bilingual story time at the local library branch  along with a Friday morning "Spanish for babies" meet-up group gathering at the home of a second generation Argentinian American mom (sometimes attended by a Cuban American, a Columbian and a Mexican American or two, along with other Spanish-language beginners). Tuesdays is our baby love massage class at the birthing center, and between these various scheduled events we enjoy a daily constitutional with John Henry, weather permitting, and oftentimes an afternoon stroll through the neighborhood across the way, sometimes stopping off in Garrison Park to take a turn on the swings.

Taylor assessing the wine at Spicewood

Rollin' On Over

Morning-faced nugget

Taylor has begun rolling over with regularity. Last Friday (2/17), she surprised both us and herself by rolling over onto her stomach throughout the night—and waking us up to correct her position. Saturday night was similarly restless, but by Sunday, she'd begun to appreciate the new perspective a stomach-down view affords her. The more usual route is to first turn the other way—from front-lying to back—and life will be all the grander when Taylor figures out how to reverse her position.

Out and About in ATX

Clay out back at 4502 Balcones

We ventured out on the Austin Modern Homes Tour earlier this month, visiting five of the 16 tour sites and saving the best for last: the personal home of architects Elizabeth Alford and Dason Whitsett of Pollen Architecture and Design at 4502 Balcones Drive. The Alford home was notable for its sense of warmth—attained through the use of wood paneling on ceiling, wall and floor surfaces—within a wholly modern framework of glass and angled spaces. Taylor readily tolerated being transferred back and forth from car seat to pack carrier throughout the day, and, as is her way, seemed to prefer a day of stimulating environments to a too-quiet day spent at home.


The following crisp and sunny Saturday, we took our first hike together in the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve after lunching at Rudy's BBQ—my first experience at this landmark Austin eatery and Clay's first in the preserve. Taylor fretted for the first 20 minutes of our walk, then settled down and eventually fell asleep beneath her sun hat, waking again later to take in the views down into the canyon. She made no fuss about using the great outdoors for her personal needs, and we successfully EC'd her trail-side.