Independence.

Sometimes 20 minutes will have passed and I realize Cecilia and I have been quietly co-habitating, her bustling around in the domain of the floor, and I am bustling at counter height. What luxury to have a sweet companion such as herself. She makes her usual rounds, the cabinet with recent safety latches, where she used to pull out small jars, then onto the cubby that houses rolls of aluminum foil, plastic baggies and potholders; then on to her very serious work of pulling out all of the paper bags from next to the dishwasher; or maybe she'll pull herself onto the baby gate and look at the hallway; or check out the gallon jars of grains; then off to break some dishes, at which point I intervene "That's not for babies" and redirect to her very own under sink cubby with all sorts of Cecilia Safe dishes and toys.


The walking! Have you heard about the walking yet? It's been 7 days of very balanced, very cautious (and adventurous!) first steps. First it was 3 steps together, then there were 6, and today I counted 9! She's so funny, the first few times I think she was honestly unaware that she was walking, and then Raf and I put her between the two of us and encouraged her back and forth and she got it! The scrunched nose! The waving arms! The excited squeals! Since then I notice her picking her way around furniture, and then pivoting for a few cautious steps. I find her balance to be excellent, and she shows a healthy respect for walking, just as she exhibits great caution crawling around the edge of the bed. When we encourage her to walk to us, she gets excited and drops to her knees to implement her fastest movement tool... the crawl. She can really move around on those hands and knees boy, what a master!

The cuddles! The snuggles! The laughter! The affection! She now crawls up to me and Rafi with glee in her voices and hugs us! Honest to goodness hugs! She sticks carrots in our mouths and thinks this is the funniest thing ever and cracks up laughing. She rolls around gets tickles! She blather, blather, blathers all the time, telling the crayon, wooden spoon, maraca or book all about it.


And before you ask, yes that is a barrette in her hair, what long bangs she has!

The Need For Zumba...

"Can you hang out or is it a Zumba Night?" Someone recently asked my husband.

That's how important dancing exercise is to a woman in Eastport, Maine 8 and half months after having her first baby. It is necessary for the following reasons:

-Cardiovascular Exercise
-Endorphin High
-Hanging with Females
-Laughing
-Stretching
-Alone Time out of The House
-Sweat
-Coming Home

Look Closely....

Do you see anything in someone's lower gums?

The Catapult...

I've officially reached a new phase of Motherhood. Cecilia has been sick since Monday morning with a stomach bug. Rafi was also infected with the same bug on Tuesday night. I have become the caretaker of 2 sickies, 1 incapacitated Papa and 1 very clingy baby. They are both very much on the mend, but I've never experienced anything quite like a feverish baby with her glassy eyes, oftentimes Mama's Milk won't even console her! It's been exhausting personally for sure.

Today Rafi brought Cecilia down from a nap they'd been sharing and she sat so sweetly on her Papa's lap. I looked at her in her hooded sweatshirt and legwarmers that are becoming calf warmers and my goodness I noticed a BIG kid... nearly a child, holding her whole body on her own as she sat on Rafi's knee.

The Perfect Winter Day!

A snowshoe/hike to Race Point was just what the sun ordered yesterday! With a bright clear, windless day and fluffy new snow on the ground the 6 of us, Micah, Rafi, Cecilia, Joan, Adam and I, went off to enjoy the day! We got out of the house at 10:30 and all drove out in 2 cars. After a nice warming hike we lit the sauna and snacked and chatted and played with Cecilia in The Pond House. Lovely good time.

After a few hours the sauna was up to temp and we took turns in the 180 degree heat and tromping with Cecilia until she took a nap and slept peacefully on the enclosed porch bundled up in snuggily clothing, with us all looking over her. After cooling down with fistfuls of snow for the first few hits in the sauna, Adam and I psyched one another up, put our boots on and rolled in the snow!!! Woo! Hoo!

By the time we walked home there were only a few minutes of daylight left. We were of course armed with flashlights, but we didn't need them as the moonlight crept in and made a magical snowy walk home. Such a beautiful night! We stopped at the Whiting Store and purchased many exquisite chocolates, like Almond BonBons, Needhams, Peanut Butter Balls and Cowtails, we snacked/shared those like true champs. Then Adam and Joan sang in the backseat all the way to Dennysville.

January Is The New August.

What are those you ask? Why they're Bergen Bagels of course! And why do you have Bergen Bagels you ask? Because Joan has come to town! An everything Bagel, with cream cheese, red onion, capers and salt? Yes, Please!

Rafi, Cecilia and I have all been having a real treat these last few weeks, because some of my closest friends have been coming to visit from Brooklyn and PhilaBaltimore. First Adam had the notion of working on his next album for some of January and he arrived 2 weeks ago with friend Sam in tow! They have been staying up in Dennysville, a short 25 minute drive. Our evenings were speckled with special dinners and afternoon roundezvous. Adam took Sam to the bus station 1 week ago, and we've enjoyed lots of Hang Time. I haven't been able to spend this kindof day to day activity with Adam for a long time, perhaps since we met and lived together when we were providing disaster relief in Buras, Louisiana. The joy of spending daily interaction with a such a lovely friend is a gift beyond compare. I feel like we've completely "caught up" and are now able to process the PRESENT MOMENT together!


This past Friday Joan Puchalski arrived on an evening flight from LaGuardia. Cecilia and I made the dutiful trip to Bangor, and constant fun time has been happening since. Joan's one of those people that just clicks right in with our family and she feels like part of the tribe, plus she's so upbeat and positive that it's a real joy to be around her. She's also excellent with Cecilia, and we love that. She has a real commitment to Washington County, as she's made a promise that as time progresses she wants to see Eastport in every month of the year! So far she's come in January, February, August and October. Joan was only up here for 3 n ights this time, but she promises to come for 5 nights next time so that we can have a longer visit, and get into the swing of things.

The Loves Of My Life!