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.