6 months of age is amazing (7 months too. I’ve been meaning to write this post forever!). Eva’s personality is beginning to show and she is this happy, smiley, loving, little person. She sits and moves a little bit in her immediate area, but I’m not having to chase her down (yet). She is so easygoing. If a toy gets out of her reach she doesn’t get upset, she just finds something else to play with. She loves games and is beginning to make up a few of her own. We are having such a good time!
Today the most important man in Eva’s life turned 30. I know what you are thinking. I am a cougar! Eva adores her Dad like no other and they definitely complete each other. He, of course, thinks she is the most perfect thing on the planet.
For this important birthday, I decided to take Eva’s Dad to the dump. We went to the Albany Bulb, which used to be a dump, then a homeless camp and place for artists to create art using found objects, and now a park. We had a great time and saw a lot of interesting things. We did not make it to the hobo hot tub however.
I must also remember and thank Grammie, who, 30 years ago today, gave birth (which, as previously stated, is really hard!) to an amazing and wonderful man.
Today Eva’s Mama turns 30. My Mom sometimes says that on my birthday I should be celebrating her. I know she is being facetious (right?), but she is also remembering that wild journey between the first small pains to the first hours of your child’s life on the outside, which can be pretty hard on a mama. Birth is no picnic for the little one either. She has to struggle to get out while being squashed and smooshed by contractions and then be greeted by lights, sounds, people, and numerous other things she didn’t experience on the warm, cozy, safe inside.
Growing up isn’t easy either. These past 5 months (and 30 years) have been fraught with challenges, tears, and pain only to be countered by joy, love, and wonderment. Sometimes you have to deal with the hard stuff before you get to the good stuff. For example, Eva hasn’t been sleeping well. After thinking it could be a million things (teething, 4-5 month sleep regression, crib position, bedtime, etc.) we now believe she has made great developmental strides and is working these out in her sleep. She is working so hard on sitting and rolling over, she is doing them in her sleep, thus waking herself up. Last night we found her on her belly at the corner of her crib (not where we put her). This hard work will all culminate in a bright independent child who is able to move around and get what she wants by herself. And then on to the next milestone.
Turning 30 is strange. I guess I never thought I would be this age. But this is definitely not as big a deal as having a child. And having a child will make my 30’s the best years of my life thus far. 30 is the new 11!
Some things Eva and I had in common at our births: Kaiser Oakland, having to maneuver around that pesky tailbone we eventually broke, challenging ourselves by travelling out facing up rather than down, having supportive, loving and involved Dads at the birth, having supportive and knowledgeable doulas.
So Mom, on this great day, I salute you. And I also salute me.
No. I am not pregnant. This is the very first photo of Eva taken 1 year ago today. You can already see her beauty. During this time last year, Eva’s name was Elvis in Utero. Actually, Eva isn’t too far off from Elvis.
Eva plays with books. Not just the squishy one above, which she loves, but hard books too. She turns pages, scratches them, and sometimes chews on them. It is so much fun to read her a story and have her interested in the actual book (if not the plot, yet). She is a budding bookworm.
She is sleeping like a little angel in this photo, but it took a lot of effort. (In the interest of disclosure this picture was taken 1.5 months ago, but it is very cute.) Sleep is a continuing struggle for our little family. And now that she is so excited by the world and pays so much attention, getting her to sleep in public is close to impossible! Well, I can’t say that. We went to dinner with friends at Bagan (sister to Burma Superstar) a great Burmese place in Alameda. Try the wok-tossed broccoli. It is ridiculously amazing. You would have no trouble feeding a toddler this broccoli. It was very loud and crowded and she just passed out! But today I went to the Moms’ group, and she would not fall asleep. I think I missed a cue, because she was really upset. We had to leave early. I can’t bring the birthing ball everywhere!
I think what was really going on was that Eva was anticipating her four month appointment. Everything went really well. She is doing great. And of course, the stats: Height (or length, hmm) = 24 inches, Weight = 13.5 pounds, Head Circumference = 16 inches. She’s right around the 50th percentile (up from less than 10% at birth!) with height a little bit higher.
This is a blog about my beautiful daughter, Eva Violet, and our adventures together. I feel like I need to give you some background before just jumping in. She was born November 29, 2007 (9:52am) after FIVE HOURS OF PUSHING! I suffered for her. (Stats: height = 19.25 inches, weight = 6 pounds, 7 ounces) After three months of being clueless about being a mother, she and I are slowly settling in. She is of course brilliant (she speaks complete sentences) and beautiful (you can see for yourself).
