Gag me with a spoon

Belle likes the spoon as much or more than she likes the food, which I think is common among young eaters. She often plays with the spoon when the bowl of food is empty, usually using it as a teething toy. Sometimes, she accidentally gags herself with the spoon by putting it a little too far back in her mouth (my hand is always very near the spoon and my eyes on her at all times; don't worry, she won't actually choke on the spoon). After the little cough, she looks at me and smiles, as if to say, "Wasn't it funny that I just gagged myself with a spoon?" Valley Girls of the '80's would be so proud.

Humble, yet stronger

I have found in these six and a half months that being a parent is both humbling and empowering.

It is extremely humbling to be feel so unprepared for a role I have looked forward to my whole life. I have always loved babies and children- ti's one of the reasons I became a teacher- so I was so thrilled to become a mother. Little did I know that my days as a mother's helper, babysitter and teacher offered little aid to me in this role. I quickly found myself at the mercy of this tony two-foot-tall creature who became the boss of me on August 29 (she asserted her status as boss and made it clear that my schedule was hers when she arrived six days early). The physical discomfort, the challenges of nursing, the feeling that I have no idea what I'm doing: all so humbling.

And yet, I have the confidence that I am able to function (barely) on only a few hours of sleep (I still have yet to sleep more than four consecutive hours). And who knew I had the strength to carry a thirty pound stroller up a flight of stairs? I have successfully taken risks in trying new activities (Mommy and Me Yoga and Pilates) and reaffirmed my ability to make new friends (it's so wonderful to have other friends who are moms, especially ones with babies Belle's age).

It's amazing how motherhood is an exercise in humility while at the same time building my self-confidence.

Happy Purim

Belle is dressed us a UCONN cheerleader for Purim (those two rattles are her pom poms). Go Huskies!

Belle and Sophie

Belle enjoys her Sophie giraffe so much, she sometimes naps with it in her stroller. Thanks, Val, Ninfa and Lia for Sophie! We love it:)

Stumping the doctor

I called the doctor to find out what water I could put in a sippy cup (I had read that infants should avoid too much fluoride, and I wondered if the tap water contained too much fluoride for Belle). While I had her on the phone, I asked the doctor about spraying a detangler into Belle's hair. I remember my mother spraying Johnson&Johnson's detangler into my knotted hair when I was a child to ease the discomfort of hair brushing. Well, when Belle is in her stroller and she moves her head back and forth, she creates a rat's nest of the back of her hair that is difficult to comb out, even with water.

The doctor paused. "No one had ever asked me about using a detangler on such a young baby. Hmmm...let me think..." I stumped the doctor. Belle's long, thick hair (for a six-month-old, anyway) stumped the doctor.

Interested in her ultimate answer?:
"I don't see why not [I'm sure the doc did not intend the pun], just be aware that her skin is quite sensitive so keep an eye out for skin irritation on the back of neck and scalp."

Belle with a sippy cup

"Thanks, Cousin Noah, for loaning me your sippy cup!"
Belle is currently more into chewing on the spout rather than drinking from it, but she'll catch on.

Two days = the whole family

Between Grandpa Richard's birthday party on Sunday and a visit with the Levinsons in Connecticut on Monday, Belle saw her four great-grandparents, four grandparents, three uncles, three aunts and one first cousin in 48 hours. How lucky can one baby get?
It was a special treat to visit with Uncle JoJo and Aunt Carla as it was unplanned:

Enjoying the swing

How lucky I am that Belle is old and big enough to enjoy the swings at the park just as the weather is getting warmer. Listening to her giggle and seeing her eyes light up as she take in the excitement of the park makes for a great afternoon.

On the subway

Craig Cepler's Picasa Web Album - Belle - March

You are invited to view Craig Cepler's photo album: Belle - March Belle - March Mar 3, 2011 by Craig Cepler View Album Play slideshow If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=cepstar&target=ALBUM&id=5584112238974131601&authkey=Gv1sRgCJndmZDLgonOEg&invite=CKiLm6sK&feat=email To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

Tonight Rice Cereal, Tomorrow Rib Eye Medium Rare

Tonight Belle tried rice cereal. It was 1 tablespoon rice cereal, 4 tablespoons milk. So it's a very very liquidy porridge. And this is what it looks like.



Belle seemed to enjoy it. Some cereal into her mouth, plenty of it ended up on her cheek, bib and the "catcher" at the base of the bib. She grabbed the spoon, trying to control it. All in all, attempt 1 was a success. The plan now is to do this once or twice a day, each time with stored breast milk. As we continue, the ratio becomes less milk to more cereal. Every three to four days, we will introduce another food. This week is rice cereal then oat cereal. Next week is veggie week. We picked up cans of baby food today to start off. We plan on making our own baby food after that.

Belle learns to drive 2

Belle followed Rule #1 (see below post).

Belle learns to drive

Rule #1: Don't eat the steering wheel.

Belle's new "office"

Belle is very focused when playing in her new ExerSaucer, which she loves. She is so excited you can see her feet dancing below the toys. We call it her office because she looks like she is taking care of business (usually with a smile) when she attends to the various activities that surround in the toy.

Swing swing swing

We visited a local park on Saturday and put Belle in a park swing for the first time (the bucket-type swing, not the kind that only supports the swingers bum). Guess what? Belle loved it! She smiled and giggled and had so much fun! It was time to get out of the swing when she nearly started eating the swing: her head just cleared the top of the swing so it was easy for her mouth to reach the delicious swing (everything is delicious to Belle). We will surely take Belle to the park to swing on the swings again soon.

Belle playing with Great-Grandma Selma and Great-Grandpa Leon

Today, Belle went out to Jericho to celebrate Grandpa Richard's birthday. Great-Grandma Selma and Great-Grandpa Leon got their fun too.

Chilling on a Sunday morning

Daddy and Belle sitting on the couch, listening to the Juno soundtrack.

When it's time to call Grammy/Grandma

Belle at Friendly's

Belle as barometer

At Mommy and Me Pilates the other day, each of the four other moms had to interrupt their exercise at some point during the class to care for their babies: a diaper change, a bottle, a meltdown. Not me, of course, because Belle was happy to sit or lie down and play while I used muscles I forgot I had. Just as the class was wrapping up, Belle started the fuss. The instructor, who knows Belle to be a sweet, happy, self-entertaining baby, said, "Well, I guess it really is time to end this class- even Belle's getting fussy."