Cuddle Time

Just for the record I must say that there is nothing more beautiful than peaceful, cuddle time with Adara (or any infant, I'm sure). They are such beautiful treasures. I love to steal what moments I can and cuddle with her, just the two of us (unfortunately, those times are few and far between), but some days their nap schedules work out to our "cuddle advantage". I can't believe she's eight months already! The time really passes so quickly (especially in comparison with the first baby- and in consideration of how much energy and attention gets directed to him). What wonderful children, though. Regardless of the tensions that arise, or the lack of extra hands that can be isolating or exhausting, it is such a privilege to raise my children. There is no greater gift in life to me, and there is nothing more absolute and solid that I've known than my love for my children. (That doesn't mean I don't get frustrated (particularly with the toddler phase, for example) but it truly is an unconditional love that overrules all else.)
Here's Adara waving to the camera. She gets so pumped up when she sees the computer, or herself on the screen. I let her play this shapes game the other day (which essentially presents a shape, letter, or number for every key on the keyboard), and she was so excitedly banging away on it that she somehow shut the whole machine down.

A New Day

Every day's a new day for me! I am getting ever more excited about exploring the world on my own. I am just beginning to attempt this new means of self-transportation called crawling! Before now I was content to roll and wriggle, etc. to get to desired destination. But now I'm trying REALLY, REALLY hard to crawl by the book. (Well, let's be honest, the book says a baby doesn't even NEED to crawl...but it's still temping to me). Unlike my brother, who started out with a "crippled" crawl (and had Papi worrying about his having some disability-- good thing mom was there, she'd always step in and say "you're going to give the kid a complex, he's fine" because Papi always feared the worst any time something wasn't 100% normal- looking (e.g., Aenaon's first crawl, his bloated belly, little marks on his body or face...). Anyway, for the first two months of crawling Aenaon would pull himself along the floor- well, it's more like he would push himself up and forward, and then come down hardest on one leg (hence, the crippled analogy); from the other room it would sound like someone with
a thumping limp was approaching. (Sorry, this isn't too P.C. Mom's going to have to teach me about that soon!)

I, on the other hand, enjoy sitting, and then rocking forward, it almost looks as though I'm going to stand up, or scoot on my bottom to mom. Then I'll push myself onto my hands (and at times my hand and knees, too) and push a little forward or backward. It's not as easy as it looks, mind you. And please, don't forget that seventeen mere months ago I was one miniscule cell. Try that wonder on!

Mom will post a picture of me soon. So stay tuned!

More Notes

Adara likes to sit and bounce up and down on her own. Lately she will then launch herself forward (like a diver), face first into the ground. I think she's typically trying to reach something, or just very excited, but that's her latest idiosyncracy. She is incredibly observant, and directs her watchful eye at her brother at all times. She absolutely loves him (even though he gets aggressive with her at times (yesterday he threw a book on her when she was in his crib (I placed her there to get her out of his way) and it hit her right in the eye. It was very upsetting for all involved).

She is such a sweet baby, and sometimes I wish I could just slow down the time a little (or have a little more one on one time with her) so I can just love her up as the sweet, little baby she is (it passes so quickly!).

Well, that's the latest for now.

Papi Comparison

After looking over this blog (having just posted it) I can't resist the urge to publish a picture of Papi once again. This time I'll juxtapose it to the one of Adara (just to see if my imagination is right, and they really are twins...)

Is it my imagination?













Or?











(When I see this picture I see my husband, sans beard, minus thirty years, but the rest... the smile, the positioning of the shoulders and head, the features... it's him, reborn as a girl!)

Brief Update

Adara, our beautiful, sweet Adara! As always, mom has sat down LAST to handle Adara's blog. But that last- is always certainly NOT LEAST. Of course, it is late, I am drained, and ready to rest myself, so let me just briefly post a picture or two, and maybe a little note on this little one.

Adara has been very vocal of late. She is saying lots of ba's and va's, etc. and sounds like she's really talking at times. She is not yet crawling (and quite frankly, I should probably be letting her spend more time on her tummy- but with her brother (who can't resist a good pounce when the other person's positioned for it) it is rather hard to get adequate time.

She seems to love to eat as much as her brother did (but I am not overfeeding her the way I fear I did him. I had him eating adult-sized portions of food (at what feels like such a young age in hindsight, but maybe I am mis-remembering). Anyway, I am giving her oat bran, and she is eating some breads and fruits on her own (she will be eight months a week from tomorrow), as well as pureed baby fare. I feel I don't prepare as many fresh meals for her as I did for Aenaon at this age, but maybe that's because back then we were still going to Haymarket (or is that my imagination too? I can't even remember now. See, that's why it's good to keep notes as I do on this blog...). She definitely knows what she wants (Scorpio rising, like her brother), and any time anyone eats around her, she wants some, too, and you'll hear about it!
Here is Adara eating her first strawberry on her own. As you can see it's a hands-on process, and she's loving it! (She also loved hamming it up for the computer camera!)










Here's Adara's first real doll (from Japan) given by Granny and Opie. She immediately took to the doll, smiling and bouncing, and touching her hair...(The doll looks a little freaky in the computer screen glow, but she is just a sweet little thing...)


Apple, peaches, pumpkin pie, who's ever not ready, hollar...



"I!"