August 6. . .

On this day in August, Chris' 70's-style mustache causes both children to inexplicably fall asleep.

Gabe's Great Aunt

My aunt Kristi (Mary Sullivan, my dad's sister) stopped by for a visit in early August on her way to a convention of documentarians in Boston. I'm so proud of her for going back to school to follow her dream! We got to see some of her work while she was here, and I was impressed.




Here's Gabe, jumping into the picture.

Gabe's Bento

Here's Gabe, enjoying a bento box lunch on the day before his third birthday.

Two Months Ago. . .

. . .Kaylee was really getting into her feet!

Nom Nom Nom

Foods Kaylee tasted yesterday and today: blueberry, nectarine, carrot, green bean, and vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce. I am breaking all the rules. I'm not waiting two or three days between new foods. I am not starting out with cereal. I'm letting her gnaw on chunks of fruit that aren't contained in a silly little net, and I'm spooning lumpy things into her mouth. And I'm feeding her in my lap.

Blueberries and nectarines were a big hit. With the blueberries, I bit off one side of the berry and then squeezed the pulp into Kaylee's mouth. With the nectarine, I first pulverized some with a fork. But later in the day I bit off a piece and let her gnaw it while I held the skin side between my fingers. She had no trouble gumming the fruit into a consistency that she could swallow.

Baby foods in jars will be a part of her diet at some point, no doubt, but for the time being, it is both more convenient and more in touch with our caveman roots to do things this way. Most of the world does without highchairs and ultra-pureed baby food, anyway.

More Catching Up

Kaylee is now chanting "Ah-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba!" She loves her own toes; I think she would love them even more in some of Crackerbarrel's gravy. I don't remember Gabe putting his toes in his mouth like she does. Kaylee also sucks her thumb, which Gabe never did. Chris worries about the future state of Kaylee's teeth; I just love that it calms her down. I'm sure she won't be one of the few who don't give it up naturally. Chris was once one of those, and I think the experience traumatized him.

Gabe and Kaylee and I just got back from out weekly picnic at Franklin's farmer's market on the town common. No wonder I'm tired - we were there almost four hours! We met up with Molly and Amy and their kids at the gazebo for a picnic, and then spent a long while chatting with Anne Marie, who runs a booth at the market that doubles the money of anyone shopping there with food stamps.

. . .

I had to put down this post and take care of things for a bit. Kaylee helped me fold some laundry. She griiiined and laughed at mommy vanishing and reappearing behind sheets and towels. And she continued with the ah-ba-bas. They morphed into va-va-vas, and then concluded with ma-ma-ma! Mommy's favorite!

Catching Up

We have been letting Kaylee taste ice cream, mashed potato, soup, whatever is at hand; and while up in Michigan she tried mashed banana. But today at lunch she was throwing a fit for my food, so she got spoonfuls of Southern gravy at Crackerbarrel. She devoured it, much to the amusement of the waitresses. She didn't like the grits.

For dinner, I had to dive into the cupboard for a container of something green, because nothing on my plate could easily be reduced to mush, and she was practically dancing for food.