Tio Kaveh

This weekend we had a visit from my brother Kaveh, a brand new uncle. His first night here he got a serious lesson about unclehood from the owner/universal surrogate grandmother at our neighborhood Mexican restaurant. From what I could understand in her rapid Spanish, it essentially consists of being forever in love with the first niece or nephew. I think Kaveh took it to heart.

We had fun showing off the weather and other advantages of Marin county complete with our own slow food festival to rival the one in SF this weekend. The hardest thing about living here for us is we're so far from East Coast family, so we we're making the hard sell to get the most visits as possible. The main advantage definitely seems to be Alma.

Getting closer

Here's a little video of Alma from a few days ago. She is wearing a sweet dress that she has just about outgrown (she was 11 lbs, 10 oz as of last Tuesday!). She is becoming more and more expressive, but I never have the camera around when we are having our best conversations. Nothing "happens" in this video, but it does give you a glimpse of what she's like.

Play!

Alma has been getting more and more active, waving her arms and making cooing noises at her mobile and this funny "whoozit" toy. I was initially skeptical about these award-winning baby toys (they are a bit garish), but she seems to actually enjoy them. And it's really nice to be able to put her in her cradle and watch her begin to play. I'm having at least as much fun watching her as she is discovering the world of color and motion.

p.s. cute bird onesie made by Eva Jo

Smiley Afternoon

A Perfect Day

My birthday wish was to have a leisurely picnic in the park with my family. It came true!

Delicious orange-honey cake made by Joely.

"Memi" slicing fresh figs (thank you California).

My sister Joely relaxing.

Happy dad with figs.

Alma was fascinated by the Magnolia tree we were sitting under. She seemed very happy outdoors, despite the paparazzi...





Here's a sweet photo of Alma making love-eyes at Emily. And she woke us up with a smile this morning! It will probably be a while before we capture it on camera -- her smiles are fleeting but unforgettable to her parents.

p.s. I think we made it easier to leave a comment, give it a try.

Growth

We just got back from the pediatrician and Alma is a whopping 10 lbs, 8 oz! This confirms my theory that she has been in a growth spurt the last few days (although I guess the whole first year of life is like one big growth spurt). I swear her head has gotten bigger in one afternoon alone. It's amazing. Here's a picture of Alma the other morning - her usual pensive self.

Monday with Molly

First Fist Bump?

Molly started it...

On Children

I find Gibran's passage on children so poignant. Our daily practice is to remember to be "bent with gladness" as we step into the arena of parenthood.

* * *
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

-- Khalil Gibran, The Prophet

The Fuss Patch

Wow, it's been a month. Hannah says it's the fastest month of her life, to me it feels like the slowest. Time is definitely upside-down or inside-out or something. Or maybe we're just closer to baby time, with no perspective at all except hungry, tired, fussy. And for both of us, life before Alma seems like a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

For those who are keeping track, we proudly boasted a few weeks ago that we had figured out how to get her to sleep longer at night. That wonderful three-day period is long gone, I'm afraid. Alma Noor is constantly changing, and keeping us on our toes. You'd think the variables of eat, sleep, poop, look around, and cry are few enough to make life pretty predictable. But it's more like an ever-changing puzzle.

A big part of the puzzle is the "fuss patch," a new term we've learned that complements the "cute patch." That is, baby gets into a patch of extreme cuteness or fussiness for no apparent reason. The fuss patch lasts from around 4-9pm, and we are trying every trick in the book(s) to mellow her out, but coming to accept what they all say -- some babies just go through an evening fuss patch.

Fortunately, the cute patches keep rolling too, and our ongoing delight is watching Alma's face change. Her new facial expressions are endlessly fascinating, ranging from the adorable to the absurd. There are hints that a smile may be coming soon! So stay tuned!

With love,
- Sohrob

Alma Meets the Ocean

With her dad at Limantour beach for her one month birthday.

Baby's First Hike

Stations of Sleep

Blogging and Bouncing

Sohrob's daily bounce on the ball with Alma.

Hannah perfecting the art of the one-handed blog.

The Tale of the Too Big Hat

Alma met her second grandma today, Hannah's mom, who is here for a week!

She knit a Very Big Baby Hat for Alma, although she swears she followed the pattern. Alma wasn't convinced.

Maybe the hat will fit her mom...