Hair, and other developments

Our little bear is growing up. He has more hair, more determinate desires and projects (like walking, crawling, and stealing spectacles). He is also, happily, sleeping much better. We get 5-7 hours stretches at night now. So, nice. Still, he is pretty much against eating. He will snack on some toast (teething toast or snackbread), which he can hold himself, but rejects purees, or anything that is (a) slimy (fruit, avocado, steamed veggies) or (b) comes on a spoon. He will put anything other than food in his mouth, of course. So, 95-99% of his calories are just breastmilk and he is closing in on 8 months. He remains a willful child, but he is also a happy one. He is so very social. Smiling at strangers and even grabbing at them. People on the street are taken with him. Just yesterday someone insisted on buying our jalpenos for us.

Trying to Crawl

Emmett is working really hard on crawling. This is very frustrating for him. Still, there are rewards. He can now scoot his way to the cat food. I suppose this is a universal baby desire. It goes along with the at least two words he definitely understands: "Emmett" and "kitty."

Emmett and Jamie

It's been a few weeks now--time's flying--but I thought I'd put up this picture of Emmett and Jamie from our visit to WashPA. I wouldn't say they're fast friends yet--whatever that would mean at this age anyway--but I like to imagine these boys growing up and going on roadtrips together.

Nuala

Stacey, one of my very best friends from high school, had her first baby two months before I did. Her birth story was an inspiration for me, since she was her characteristically bad-ass self. It is exciting to think of sharing parenthood with her and other friends I have known since we were kids. I think Emmett and Nuala, Stacey's little one, already get along. Hopefully, they will be hanging out for a long time.

Sitting Up

In Cali, Emmie started sitting up without falling (very often). He plays by himself for much longer intervals now.

Swinging California

We just returned from Emmett's first trip to California. We spent 8 days without wearing any down, playing on the swings, spending time with grandparents, meeting cousins and aunties and the kids of dear high school friends. Here is a series of swing photos. Look, no coats!

Mufridah's Visit

We just had a fantastic visit from Mufridah. Those who attended our wedding may recall her beautiful reading of Walt Whitman during the ceremony. Needless to say, Emmett has good taste and he adored her. She especially got a kick out of how much Emmett LOVES Hegel. See photos and video.