Spring Stroll

It was a beautiful day so Satch and I took a stroll.
It was wonderful being outdoors again after a
winter, too long and too cold.

We strolled past stone steps leading nowhere.
Beside it, winter berries wither on their thorny branches
and daisies sprout signaling the first signs of spring.

          


We stumble upon a make-believe campfire that
crackled and sparked in our imaginations.  After
contemplating pretend marshmallows, we return
home.













Satchel fell asleep and I watch him nap.
I wonder if he's dreaming of building his own
pretend campfire and perhaps he'll
scamper inside with a fist full of daisies for his mama.

Raising Cain

I've just watched the PBS documentary "Raising Cain" and am speechless. I have a better understanding of the emotional challenges boys face and It's truly frightening. I encourage all parents of boys to watch this film. I hope with this new knowledge and further reading I will be more equiped to help Satchel face the challenges of manhood. I am thankful Satchel has an extraordinary daddy and hope that he, like his father, will grow to be a kind, witty, and intelligent man.

Old Stompin' Grounds

We packed up our car and headed to NYC for the weekend. First stop: Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn - aunt Laura (pictured) and cousin Kate flew in from KC for a concert and we drove down to see them at Andrew's flat. Satch was given two wonderful books from aunt Laura..."Mixed Beasts" and "Peek-a Moo". Kate knitted him this really cool toy.










Second stop: New Jersey - for a family slumber party at Matt and Shabana's enormous home. We had our own cozy suite on the lower level. Satchel got to play with his cousin Hanna (pictured) while I shot some belly portraits of the Carriero's.

Third Stop: Sunday morning brunch at Elephant & Castle in Greenwich Village with two Fawns and a Reb.

Fourth Stop: Pearl Paint to redeem my gift card from the very cool Pam Hops. Art supplies of the Kolo variety for which I'm most grateful.

Fifth Stop: Ikea to exchange a few things....Ikea is closed on sunday, who knew?!?!

Hunger

"We have to feed babies, fill them both inside and out. We must speak to their backs, which hunger and thirst and cry as much as their bellies. We must gorge them with warmth and caresses just as we do with milk. Being touched and carressed, being massaged, is food for the infant. Food as necessary as minerals, vitamins, and proteins..."
- Frederick Le Boyer (Author of Loving Hands and Birth Without Violence)

My kindred mama, Pixie, led me to this wonderful weekly theme from Mama Says Om. A little creative fun....

What Bliss Is

"No day copies yesterday,
no two nights will teach what bliss is
in precisely the same way,
with exactly the same kisses."

- Wislawa Szymborska

Last night as I lay on my side nursing Satchel to sleep,
he put his little arm around me
resting his chubby little palm on my rib cage.
The heat of his hand and the tenderness of the moment
relaxed me so deeply that I fell asleep in minutes.

Swinging

A warmish, sunny day...and Satchel's first trip to the playground!

And Sliding

Satch on his way down to Mama!
(Daddy held him the whole way down)

Of All My Life

"I love thee with the breath, smiles and tears of all my life" - Elizabeth Barrett Browing





I stumbled upon a website called, Swap Baby Goods, where one can trade in their old baby goods for other items they may need. What a concept! I love the idea of trading with other parents. It seems so efficient.

Their Mission Statement:
"SwapBabyGoods.com is a one of a kind online marketplace to buy, sell or exchange baby items that are no longer needed. Our goal is to provide a platform that brings together willing sellers, buyers and swappers in an online marketplace, benefiting everyone involved.

Babies grow so fast and so do their needs. Before we know it, the cute little outfits, baby toys, and other baby items we once could not live without become outgrown and underused, taking up an inordinate amount of space in our homes. The baby item one family is ready to put in the attic or out in the garage sale might be just what another mom or dad is looking for. Our goal is to bring such parents together; we offer an economical and efficient alternative to buying for parents all around."

He's Confectionary!

The boys outside CSMA gallery in Ithaca. We dropped of the photos for the exhibit.















Satchel's cousin is 1 year old today. Satchel would like to say, "Happy Birthday, G...eat, sleep, poop, PLAY!"

Satchel is 9 months old today. Yesterday he refused to eat his breakfast and astonished me by signing "milk". I acknowledged his request and nursed him instead.