Each day you share radiant, pure joy with your two analytical, serious, critical parents. We are grateful to know and love you. Thank you for finding us, Littlest One.
Happy First Birthday True.
P.S. To our families and friends who joined us to witness and celebrate True’s first year, THANK YOU. All three of us are so happy that you could be a part of the festivities.
My day job is my calling. I always look forward to fall, fresh faced from a summer of running, research, and reinvigoration.
Fall of 2010 was a little different. True entered his sixth month spending Tuesdays and Thursdays in the care of a very special woman. I spent Tuesdays and Thursdays on campus teaching about Social Problems and Global Racial and Ethnic Diversity. I thought often of the line from Romeo and Juliet “But love goes from love, like boys towards school with heavy looks.” There were some tears along with the heavy looks. And many days while riding the train towards school I would pine for True, looking at his pictures as the miles between us grew.
A few months later True is approaching his ninth month as I close my grade book on the Fall 2010 semester. I managed to survive our days of separation and True is thriving. Having more people to love you isn’t a bad thing, of course. I will make the most of our month together during the winter break, taking lots of pictures and basking in our days of play. Before we both know it, classes will begin again. Thank goodness for the promise of summer.
P.S. True, I promise not to love you the way Hamlet’s mom Gertrude loved him.
Today True turns eight months old. It is unbelievable how far he has come in such a brief time. Allow me to walk you through an average day in the life of eight month old True…
True wakes up in his crib around 7:00 or 7:30. He starts out with some vocal calisthenics: ga, p, b, ka, t, da, squeals, and the zombie guttural aaghhhhhh. Dada goes to pick him up and they play together while I attempt to rouse myself from strange dreams (I dream again now that I have more than a few hours of sleep at a stretch).
Lately True enjoys playing on his puzzle mat. There he can experiment with toys, read, and sit unassisted (with a pillow behind him just in case). True has discovered that the puzzle pieces come apart, which makes a bunch of new toys ripe for teething. Eventually True is too hungry to wait any longer and he enjoys a snack in bed. There is time for more play and some reading before True’s 10:00 am nap. Favorite books currently include: Pat the Bunny, Have You Ever Tickled A Tiger, Snowy Day, Whistle for Willy, In My Patch, In My Forest, and Runaway Bunny.
After his nap, True enjoys a brunch of fruit, vegetable, and cereal. Often on the menu are pumpkin, peas, cherries, avocado, and banana. Apple and sweet potato are off the list for now due to strange skin reactions, but True hopes to feast on them again soon. He loves the taste of both!
With some food in his belly True is ready for another hour of fierce play before his 1:00 pm nap. He needs to work out his sillies before sleep. In addition to sitting and reading, True feels alive when he stands! He still needs a little support from Dada or Kuta, but he is working on independence. The view from up there is so exciting, I expect he will be spending lots of time examining this new perspective.
The later afternoon is True’s favorite time of day for a walk. Winter is upon us and he may be forced inside soon, but while it is still above freezing we pop True in the stroller for walks around the neighborhood, errands, and exploring at the lake. True is a wonderful passenger and loves the view from his stroller–what a fun opportunity to see more of the world. When we get home, True has worked up an appetite and enjoys a warm dinner. Another dose of fruit, vegetables, and cereal, with a vitamin chaser–yucky. It makes him shiver!
Most nights True follows dinner with splash time (bath time to the rest of us), and then I rock him before bed as he enjoys some milk. Bedtime is 5:00. After all of that action, True couldn’t possibly stay awake another minute.
One of my biggest challenges as a parent happens when I see babies True’s age doing things he has yet to do (or do comfortably on his own)—and worrying about “Is True Behind?”
Last night I saw one of his friends who was born a few hours after him showing some impressive moves. As True gets older, I never want to compare his growth and achievements to anyone else but his own. Never projecting that I feel he should be “where everyone else is”. It became obvious to me in an instant how much of our own failings as adults are placed on children as they grow.
It’s okay True. Like Dada, “Do You“. In your own time, Littlest One. In your own time.
