Babies: Another Type of Sweetness

Yesterday, the best parts of my day were a.)when Andy shaved off the mustache he’d tortured me with for all of twelve hours, and b.)spending five hours with a certain little girl named Verbena, also known as Beans.  She is nearly eight months old and I have had the privilege of being her baby-sitter since early summer.

 I love when she falls asleep in my arms, smiles at me upon recognition, and lets out prolonged, audible sighs of contentment. She loves it when I make animal sounds, clap my hands, and sing songs to her as we walk around town.  It’s a pretty breezy relationship 98% of the time.  The fact that she indulges my penchant for photographing her every facial expression makes me love her even more 🙂

Sepia portraits are all well and good and arty, but sometimes you just need to capture color (thanks to Andy for this photo):

And here is Beans lying on a gorgeous quilt that was collaboratively made by friends:

I used the word privilege earlier because that is what it truly feels like to spend so much time with her: a gift, a blessing, a wonder.  Here is a beautiful, tiny human being who is becoming more aware every day, who is constantly learning how to move her body and do new things, all for the first time. It’s kind of mind-blowing, isn’t it?

All right, enough of that. Let’s have a stunning portrait of yours truly, shall we? Taken by my husband in my new favorite local spot, Outdated: An Antique Cafe:

The treasures inside this place! It’s a vintage fiend’s heaven, I tell you! Something tells me there’s a blog post coming up solely featuring everything that I’ve been drooling over.

On the SAD front, I’ve found (or rediscovered, I suppose) that things are made easier simply by the sharing. Fundamental concept, I know. But letting others know what goes on with me in the fall and winter, opening up that discussion, a.)undoubtedly fosters less discomfort and anxiety, b.)makes me feel less alone, and c.)is a great motivator for MAKING PLANS. Plans, (and not backing out of them) are most important this time of year, when I’m apt to shy away from social interaction, surround myself with books, and then wind up crying under the covers.  Here’s where I ask for some healthy alternatives from you, dear readers: what are some of your favorite cold weather activities?

Tzam kal to all my Jewish friends- or should it not be an easy fast? From my heart: I feel for everyone fasting today, and I hope the holiday is a meaningful one.

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Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again. And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, you arms, you clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. You, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children.  –Pablo Casals