Category Archives: Baby

10 months of Lucille Amelia

And she speaks. Lucy talks more and more each day. For some reason, I didn’t anticipate my squishy newborn daughter would verbally communicate with us for quite some time (at least a year). Despite these low expectations, Lucy had other plans. She says: mama, papa, dog, cat, chicken, and book. She recognizes that dogs come in all different shapes and sizes, and she cries, “dog, dog, dog!” each time we walk around the neighborhood and spot a new canine friend.

She’s grown even more attached to us (and I thought it wasn’t possible!). Separation anxiety has been at an all-time high, which, to be honest, is exhausting. On the days and nights where she only wants to be held by me, I remind myself: this season is so very brief and you’ll never be as “wanted” again. And so I find a tired but true contentment in letting her rest in my arms.

We go to Mom and Me Yoga every week now. I love meeting and stretching and talking with a group of other new moms. I only wish I had discovered it sooner. We’ll “graduate” as soon as Lucy walks….which could be any day now. If I could give any advice to parents to be it would be this: find a way to connect to a community of parents. It makes a huge difference in your mental health.

I wear Lucy everywhere. She loves to snuggle up close to my chest and fall asleep as we walk through our neighborhood or even through the house. Despite the fact that she is now VERY mobile (crawling and climbing and pulling herself up on everything) she still seems happiest pressed against my chest. It is a beautiful and simple habit of our days.

Speaking of habits, we still get a cappuccino together everyday. I sip on my caffeine while Lucy enjoys an apple. She’s growing up in that coffee shop, and I love that the bakers and baristas know her by name. Again: community. It’s essential.

And finally sleep. No, we aren’t sleeping through the night yet. Not even close. But you know, I’m okay with it. Our sleep arrangement is working now. I would love a full night’s sleep, but because Lucy sleeps in the same room as us…nursing her isn’t an inconvenience. Yes, her stomach might be find without milk for eight plus hours…but emotionally, she’s not ready to sleep on her own. And so instead of trying to force her, we’re accepting sleep for what it is now: a series of short naps.

We love you, sweet girl. Happy 10 months!

Baby in Boulder

Excited to launch the first, of what should be several, baby travel guides! As many of you know, we had plans to visit friends and family in Austin a few weeks ago…sadly, an untimely virus led us to cancel our plane reservations. Lu started feeling much better a few days later, so we decided to take advantage of our time off and make a small weekend trip to Boulder. Traveling with a baby presents its own set of challenges and rewards. I’m happy to say we had a delightful trip, one of my favorites, and I’ve been so excited to share our adventures with you. This post will highlight some of the more kid-friendly choices in Boulder (or at least, choices that worked for our family).

Shamane’s Bake Shop

Anytime a bakery makes sandwiches with their own bread, I’m eager to visit. Fresh baked bread and high quality ingredients make the sandwiches at Shamane’s out-of-this-world. At least that’s what I’d heard.

Only open Monday through Friday, Shamane’s was packed when we visited on Friday afternoon. Despite being located in an off-the-path strip mall, people had clearly spread the word about this talented baker.

After driving for a couple of hours, we were hungry and ready to enjoy a relaxed lunch. Between the turkey club, the monte cristo, and a spinach salad, we all had plenty to eat. Lucy eats strictly table foods, so she happily munched on vegetables and chicken, as well as a piece of that delectable whole grain bread.

Curry-N-Kebob

Names are important to me. So when I heard about curry-n-kebob, I was skeptical. A little too cheesy of a choice in my opinion. But the reviews we read couldn’t be ignored. Ryan and I love Indian food, and from what I could find, this was the place to go in Boulder (perhaps the place to go in all of Colorado!)

Even better, it’s strip mall location guaranteed that it would be casual enough to bring a baby on Friday night. The service would likely be quick and we wouldn’t disrupt any white shirt waiter’s groove if we had to slip in and out with a fussy baby.

Well, don’t ever judge a restaurant by it’s name because curry-n-kebob was incredible. Even better, Lu fell asleep for half of our meal, which meant that Ryan and I got some much appreciated “us” time. The evening specials came with jasmine rice and naan, which all three of us devoured. I kept on saying, “This is the best Indian food I’ve had in my life,” and Ryan would just nod, dip his naan into our saag paneer, and smile.

The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

The Dushanbe teahouse is a Boulder institution. Half the experience comes from soaking up the atmosphere. The beautifully and intricately painted walls extend high into the sky, transforming the tea house into an almost spiritual destination. That, coupled with a water fountain and fish, makes the tea house a baby’s dream.

We made an effort to arrive as soon as the tea house opened. Waiting for a table isn’t fun for anyone, but it’s especially hard for a nine-month old. Thankfully, we were seated right away and enjoyed a breakfast bahn mi and whole wheat chai pancakes.

Lu wanted us to walk around the tea house, and so we took turns eating and walking. When you’re traveling with a little one, you learn to adapt quickly to “the squirms.” You can’t expect a baby to sit still for three, hour-long, meals each day, so it’s crucial to choose restaurants that allow for movement…and to remember to tip well.

Boxcar Coffee

Ryan and I love good coffee. I survive on good coffee. Boxcar is the best in Boulder. Enough said.

Cedar and Hyde

Ryan and I both love to shop at well curated stores. As many of you know, Ryan makes and sells jewelry, so we’re always excited to find stores that carry other inspiring makers and designers. Cedar and Hyde is located just off Pearl Street (the main drag in Boulder) and we spent a good hour perusing many of the store’s beautiful selections. Home goods, men and women’s clothes, and even a small section for children.

Ryan or I wore Lucy in the Ergo baby while we walked and shopped on Saturday. She stayed close and happy, and we were able to walk up and down Pearl Street with ease.

Rincon Argentino

I’d heard great things about these emapanadas, and I knew they’d make a perfect Saturday lunch. Extremely casual (you order at the counter and then wait for your food at a table of your choice), Rincon Argentino was a nice change from the sit-down meal we’d had at the tea house earlier that morning.

And let me tell you: get yourself some empanadas. These were incredible. I ordered two, Ryan ordered three, and I think we could have easily gone for another round. Flaky, flavorful, and accompanied with fresh sauces, these empanadas were worth writing home about.

Afternoon in the Park

We talked about a long hike and then we talked about more shopping. But after four meals and a drive, we settled on spending the afternoon at a park behind the Waldorf School in Boulder. It was one of the better decisions we made. We explored the school grounds (which included a hen house and a goat pen), enjoyed a cupcake, and had a long relaxing nursing session. Even better, Lucy tried a swing for the first time…and loved it.

Ryan and I tend to be go-go-go when we travel, but with Lu, we’re learning the importance of slowing down. Our afternoon couldn’t have been better spent. After a few hours at the park, we drove to the flat irons and took in the views. Lu fell asleep as we drove back to our apartment (rented through airbnb).

Pizzeria Locale

This was by far our most ambitious dining choice. Pizzeria Locale and Frasca are sister restaurants. And if you didn’t know, Frasca is considered Colorado’s premier dining destination. Reservations are a must (and often must be made months ahead of time) and babies are not necessarily the most welcomed guests. Pizzeria Locale, however, is more casual and faster-paced. They serve Neopolitan pizzas that many of our friends rave about. But due to the reputation both restaurants share, it’s almost always a packed house.

We were lucky enough to snag a seat at the pizza bar, which mean that Lucy could watch the white aproned chefs assemble each beautiful pizza before sliding it into the wood burning oven. She remained happily occupied for most of the meal. Apple slices and foccacia bread helped. Ryan and I enjoyed a delicious pizza and arugula salad. And of course, Lucy managed to charm everyone within eyeshot.

Foolish Craig’s Cafe

We finished our trip at a Boulder institution: Foolish Craig’s. Although we enjoyed our morning meal, it wasn’t nearly as awe-inspiring as our other stops. Foolish Craig’s has been around for a good while, and the food seemed a bit heavy-handed. Regardless, we enjoyed our meal, and Lucy even took a few bites of her first crepe.

We look forward to visiting several more cities in 2014 (Portland, Pittsburgh, New York…) and I’ll be sure to share more baby guides too!

9 months of Lucille Amelia

1. You love watching. I take you outside and your mouth moves, forming secret words, as you watch the people and the cars and the animals pass us by. The ants on our porch delight you. The old women who wave and giggle at the grocery store charm you. The wind that blows through our sleepy neighborhood captivates you. I love seeing you experiencing our world.

2. You sleep poorly. No. You sleep with a desire to have us close by you at all times. We snuggle, we nurse, we wake, and we talk. It’s okay that we don’t sleep through the night right now. We will. Eventually. I cherish each moment with you…even moments at 2am.

3. You love animals. Each morning, you wake up and say, “Da-da-da-da” which translates as “Dog, come here!” I call Margot into our bedroom and you bounce up and down in excitement. On most mornings, you squeal when she jumps up on our bed.

4. You eat food. Real, grown-up food like avocado toast, roasted chicken, broccoli, sliced apples, banana oatmeal, apple muffins….

5. You still love to nurse. And I promise my dear, we’ll nurse for as long as you need to. It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever done.

6. You drink coffee. Not really. But you come with me to get a cappuccino each day. We sit at our coffee shop and everyone knows you. They smile and laugh and coo, and you respond in kind. Right now, you’re sitting beside me and chewing on an apple. It’s one of my favorite parts of our day, and I think it’s one of your favorite parts too.

7. You’re learning to talk. You say “ma-ma” for me, “paw-paw” for your dad, “na-na” for milk or nursing, “da-da” for dogs.

8. You are mobile. You crawl faster than some people walk. You pull yourself up on our couch, our chairs, our tables, our bed, our legs. It won’t be much longer until you’re walking, and then running, and then jumping. I try not to think too much about how big and fast you’ll soon become.

9. You are light. You have brought us such joy and laughter after a season of such sadness. I am daily reminded of how beautiful life can be. You have brought such hope to our family, and we’re blessed to have you in our care. We love you, sweet Lucille Amelia.

8 Months of Lucille Amelia

When you first announce a pregnancy, you’ll almost always hear something along the likes of: you have no idea how much you’ll love this child. I heard a version of this at least a dozen times. And don’t get me wrong, the moment that the doctor placed Lucy on my chest was easily the best moment of my life. A potent mixture of love, disbelief, and pure joy coursed through my body.

But in the weeks that followed…well, I felt slightly numb.

I loved Lucy but it wasn’t exactly like I’d been told…my love for her didn’t overwhelm me….and there were some days when I questioned if I was doing something wrong.

Falling in love with my daughter took time. But when it happened, it happened hard. I can say that today, after eight months of having Lucy in our lives, my love for her overwhelms me, scares me, motivates me, and surprises me. She brings me the deepest sense of joy that I’ve yet to experience. A joy so unadulterated that it often brings tears to my eyes.

Lucy is eight months old now, and she can do so many things. She crawls everywhere and pulls herself up on everything she can get her hands on. Her highchair, our coffee table, my legs, our baby-gate. She talks with us now saying consonants like “da-da, na-na, ma-ma.” She still wants nothing more than for me to snuggle and nurse her during the night. I haven’t slept a solid eight hours in over eight months, and I’m okay with it. In fact, I’m thankful for those beautifully quiet moments we still share.

We go to mom and me yoga on Wednesdays, which we both love. We take long walks when the weather allows. We snuggle together in the morning, and we nurse, again and again, at night. She’s eight months old and means the world to both of us. We are so blessed to have her in our lives.

7 months of Lucille Amelia (and 4/52)

“a portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014″

She’s seven months old. And I’m sitting here with a heavy heart. I have days like this. Days where I feel overwhelmed with the uncertainty and the sheer terror of life. Days when I think about my lost sister, about my friends, about people who are facing far more than they ever should. But as I drove home from campus tonight, I also thought about what I’d tell my daughter when she was seven, when she was seventeen, when she was twenty-seven and driving home, feeling scared of life’s unpredictable twists and turns.

And I realized I’d tell her this: death and terror never have the final word. Although it may seem like darkness surrounds, there is a present and unfading light to be found in this world. We find it in faith…in family…in friends. And when those terror-filled times come, we’ll find it even amidst the confusion and fear.

Lucy, you truly have been a bringer of light. After a season of darkness, your presence has filled our family with laughter. You’re seven months old and you couldn’t be any more perfect. You talk to us from the moment you wake, and you smile at delight when we walk into the room. You weigh nearly twenty pounds and I feel it in my arms as I carry you throughout our day. You’re crawling now, an accomplishment you made just shy of the official seventh-month mark. (if you want to see a video…find me (@cakestand) on Instagram!) We’ve yet to baby-proof our house, but it’s happening…this weekend. Standing is your new favorite activity, and you’ll gladly reach for our hands or a table or the side of your crib for support.

You still want to breastfeed all the time, and I’m happy to do it. We breastfeed at night. We breastfeed at the coffee shop. We breastfeed on our couch, on our bed, on our kitchen floor. You like broccoli and apples (maybe tolerate is the better word), and I have a feeling we’ll keep breastfeeding for quite a while more.

There’s so much more I could say about you. But know this, love and light and laughter are the words that come to my mind when I think about you.