September 13, 2007

• Nymphs, Cherubs, Fairies… and Dollies

  
  Baby has a new name recently. It all started when Ben was leaving for work one morning, and asked me what I  was going to do for fun that day. I shrugged, then grinned and said, “Play house!” Ever since then she’s been “Dolly.” It feels sometimes like I’m just playing with my real-live baby doll. I think all the years of playing doll when I was a little girl was just practice for the real thing…
  
  There is something about a baby that is just breath-taking. The innocence, the untainted purity. Knowing Zoe makes the world a little sweeter, a little brighter, a little purer…

  After taking Dolly’s birth announcement pictures professionally, I went out and did a little experimenting of my mind. Behold the results… When she’s laying on the truck I think she looks like a wooded nymph or something.

  

  Some more of the fairy, but in color. These were taken at the cabin where we stayed for the summer, just a gorgeous setting.

  

  Sometimes this thing of being a parent feels like such a huge responsibility… Here we’re first-time parents, never had any experience before, and we’re suddenly entrusted with a real live little person. Sometimes it’s scary. How will we know how?? How to train her, teach her, love her, guide her, enjoy her… Ben was talking with a man one day that has several children himself, and the man gave him this advice: “One thing I’d do differently is to just enjoy my kids more. Not worry so much about training, but just love on them and enjoy them.” I really liked that. Training is important, but unless the child knows he/she is being delighted in, the training won’t be effective. So – enjoying my baby I am!!

  
  While we were still in PA, these 3 Little Cherubs [I was going to say '3 Little Pigs' because that just comes out from all the days of reading that book, but Ben said I may never call our baby a pig. He just hasn't seen her eat recently. ] and their mommies met up one morning. All three girls were born within 2.5 weeks of each other, and Zoe and Callie were actually born on the same day. So fun… There were so many pregnant women this summer, it was unbelievable. There are many other friends’ babies I don’t even have pictures of that were born within a few weeks or a month of Zoe.
  
  From left to right: Esther, Callie, Zoe

  

  
  
  And the very proud [first-time] mommies…
  Dana Cohen, Ruth Leatherman, Yours Truly

   
  

  I’ve been having some relaxing days the past few weeks. I’m busy with Zoe, but it’s a different kind of busy than before. I definitely haven’t had time to get bored though, there’s far too much to do for that! My big event for the week was trying to make cinnamon rolls… It was disastrous the last time I made them, so it’s been a year since I last attempted the feat. Other than half of the flour on the kitchen flour, and half of the dough cascading over the sides of the bowl, I’d say it was a success. Wow, Dolly will have quite the training in culinary arts with me as her momma. So, my life, though relaxing as far as schedule, has been pretty exciting these days. I may need to fill you in on one day in particular some day.
  
  And now, this weekend we’re off to the ocean to one of the islands in Florida! Zoe’s first time. Not sure how sand and a 6 week old baby will get along, but we’ll find out.

   

   

   

   

  • 9:39 pm
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