Austin City Limits for Infants

Nursing outside on the balcony at the Moody Theater

Taylor was twelve weeks old yesterday. She graduated to the forward-facing position of her pack carrier just in time to enjoy the rhythms of South Africa at her first concert: Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The band performed at the new Austin City Limits Moody Theater in downtown Austin, touring in promotion of their Grammy-nominated album "Songs from a Zulu Farm." I had included the album on my birthing playlist, and while Taylor's birth was wholly quiet, save for my heavy breathing and the encouraging words of our midwife, she had already heard Old McDonald in Zulu before last Saturday night. Taylor caught the first four songs of the first set, took a snooze, then stayed awake for the entirety of the second set, only offering up protestations toward the end of the show to let us know it was time to eat. We exited without incident to nurse her in the cool night air on the theater's outdoor balcony while facing the lights of Second Street and the ever-expanding Austin city skyline.

What's Different About This Picture?

This afternoon, as is often her custom, Taylor fell asleep on my lap after nursing. I eased her over my shoulder and tiptoed down the hall to her big-girl crib, placing her down on her big-girl mattress and pulling a light blanket over her legs. She thankfully stayed asleep during the transition and I went about my daily chores. As I vacuumed my way into the bedroom, I peeked over the edge of the crib and panicked, realizing something was different about her. I felt a burst of adrenaline as I instinctively reached into the crib to pick her up. Eyes still closed, she protested mildly, annoyed that I had disturbed her sleep. Relieved, I laid her gently back down, just as I'd found her, the panic subsiding. There was nothing wrong at all, of course, just a new milestone in her development, but it had taken me a minute to realize what it was. Can you see it, here in this picture? The baby, she rolls over.

Twelve Pounds, Eight Hours

Taylor was born weighing 6 lbs., 3.5 oz. Due to her relatively small size, she breastfed frequently for the first eight weeks—every hour and a half or so—with cluster feedings in the evenings. She fed well and gained: At her one week appointment, Taylor weighed 6 lbs., 10 oz.. At five weeks, 9 lbs., 6.5 oz. One month, 10 lbs., 1.5 oz.

I instinctively suspected that 12 pounds would be Taylor's magic number. Last week, at her two-month check-up, she weighed in at 12 lbs., 2.5 oz. She had just begun sucking her hand, and, more importantly, granting us the gift of her endearing smile. We had also seen her display a "self-pleasing smile"—smiling to herself while alone in her crib and looking up at a toy or the animal pattern sewn into the bumper—smiling because something she saw or felt made her happy. And then just a mere three days ago, she discovered the self-soothing delights of her left thumb. Time between feeding sessions has started to stretch out and she has finally taken to napping.

But last night, last night was special: Taylor slept for eight and a half hours in one stretch. And she woke up with a dry diaper.

We've been practicing elimination communication (EC) with Taylor. We listen and look for cues that she needs to go to the bathroom, then we undress her and hold her over the toilet while making a "pssssss" sound. We get it right a lot of the time, and when we don't, we make the associative sound anyway so that she gets the right idea. There were three nights during the last week when she slept for five and a half hours at a stretch, woke up fussy and dry, and was successfully EC'd. But eight and a half hours—eight and a half hours of sleep and bladder control! You have to admit that's impressive.

Twelve pounds, eight hours. That's really worth smiling about.

Taylor at 10 Weeks

Taylor is 10 weeks old today, succeeding her father's 40th by one day. I spent yesterday cooking Suzanne Goin's recipe for braised beef short ribs with potato puree, Swiss chard and horseradish cream, christening my ocean-colored Le Creuset Dutch oven for the affair. John and Clay were kindly complimentary, and Taylor joined us at the table to lend her commentary. We sipped on Consilience, a Californian Petite Syrah, and salivated over an Old Fashioned cake by Sweetish Hill.

On Saturday, we celebrated here at the house with a party catered by Alex Gates of Latasca Austin. As I sat talking with Joni on the couch, Taylor proceeded to play her first game of hide and seek: Joni smiles, Taylor smiles back. Joni smiles harder, saying "Hiiii." Taylor buries her face in my chest. Taylor slowly turns her head toward Joni, a smile expanding across her cheeks. Joni smiles in response. Taylor buries her face in my chest. Repeat. She kept this up for five minutes and has been inculcating her dad and uncle into the cult of cuteness ever since.

And just now, whilst the wee one slept, I snuck in a workout: 150 sit-ups, 100 walking lunges, 75 push-ups, 50 jump squats in 15:59. Part of the Strength and Beauty Challenge and my first foray back into Crossfit.