Month Six

Dear Ela,

How is it that you've grown another month older already? When you were first born every day was momentous. I remember what a big deal it was to me when you reached 10 days old (now you were in "double digits" -- wow!) and now another month of growing and learning has flown by. 

You weigh 14 pounds, 1 ounce. You are 25 7/8 inches tall. You're still kind of tiny according to the charts they use at the doctor's office, but we think you're mighty.

This month's oh-so-big accomplishment has been sitting up. You started balancing on your own for a few seconds a couple of weeks ago, and made rapid improvements every day. I told your Dad that by your six month birthday you'd be sitting like a champ -- and lo and behold, you were! Now your "tummy time" rug doubles as your sitting rug. You're surrounded by a ring of couch pillows, and happily play with your toys and your puzzles. Your absolute favorite thing is when Clover the cat decides to rest within arm's reach, and you can grab onto his fur with all your strength. Clover's a pretty good sport.

As always, you are an alert little girl, with wide-open eyes and an inquisitive gaze. Your Daddy likes to take you for walks in the park, and he always says that you spot interesting things (like birds in the trees) from a mile away. Daddy takes you to visit the dogs at the dog run and you watch the big kids play on the playground, and sometimes you swing together. It's always a grand adventure.

You're not speaking in syllables quite yet, but you LOVE to sing. Your friends (the ones that are boys) are sometimes startled by your squeals. We have wonderful conversations together, and I am very much looking forward to hearing more of what you have to say about the world.

With Anson & Kelly and Nate & Holly.

Your ability to be social isn't limited to just your family. You have lots of friends -- of all ages -- that you love spending time with. We get to do a lot of things with a group of moms and kids that live in our neighborhood. Our Friday afternoon routine usually involves walking down to Highlands Square (a nice 3.5 mile round-trip for Momma) and spending time on the patio of the local coffee joint. Momma drinks chai (or sangria, depending on her mood) and you play with your toys, chat with your friends, nurse, and nap.

With Lexi, Isaac (4 years) and Madeline (1 year). Madeline gave you all of your
girl hand-me-down clothes.

The next generation of sangha kids! Satori & Sarada, Ashwin & Chandra, Jyoti & Bodhi, and Faith.

As we've gotten to know other children, I've noticed that they seem to grow stupendously fast between 6 and 12 months. A 6-month-old still seems like a baby, whereas a 12-month-old is toddling around like a miniature person. I know that you'll be doing a lot of important growing over the next few months, and I'm thrilled that I'll get to watch you learn new things each day. I know it's going to be a wild ride, and we'll do everything we can to have fun along the way. And then, at the end of each day I'll cuddle you to sleep, and you'll still be my darling baby -- no matter how big you grow.

Love,
Momma

For Momma

Mother,
During those early, dearest days
I did not dream that you had
A large life which included me,
For I had a life
Which was only you.
-- Maya Angelou

A Daddy Can Dream

Ela- right now you are sleeping on my lap-- stretched across the boppy. And earlier this morning I took this photo of you. And in between now and then I took you on our first father-daughter stroll through the park up the street. I didn't carry you in a wrap or in a stroller. I just carried-- you. I like it that way. Just you and me.

You were very happy to be out and about in the warm morning sun. You are very observant and love to soak it all in-- never off in some other place or passively passing by. Always seeing what can be seen, and it seems, wondering in amazement at what all these new things are that we encounter. We went down to the lake's shore and saw several Canadian geese. A couple of them seemed very respectfully interested in you-- thinking you were just a little harmless gosling under my wing.

That really is what you are-- a little one, under my wing. And I couldn't be more thrilled about that relationship we have. I know you will teach me plenty over the the years; you already have. But I'm so excited to take this journey together, helping you to figure out all the simple and complex things that life has to offer; introducing you to so many new things. It will be very interesting to see what you gravitate towards in terms of your interests, interactions, and what your developing personality brings to every situation.

I know what "sticks" to you-- those things you do gravitate towards with full enjoyment-- are very much up to you. I'm perfectly ok with that. I will tell you, though-- I am very excited at the possibility, the potential for, even if slight, a few of those interests are some that your daddy is already interested in himself. I'll be ok if you don't care much for any of them, because I'll still get the opportunity to share in the things you do love. However, one of those things I'm keeping my fingers crossed about is that you'll share in my love of-- who could have guessed it-- photography.

Photography means using that keen sense of observation you already have. It means going out and grabbing those things you see with your eye and mind, but bringing your own perspective to each thing and expressing it, uniquely, with your own interpretation of it. Your own interpretation as you look back at each photo you've created, but also being able to share those images with all the different viewers of your photos-- as they each bring their own interpretation to what you've created. I want to share that with you. The act of observing-- while a very individual thing, can also be with great comradere. New discoveries shared together. Exploring in this way-- this fine state of Colorado we live in, with all the beauty. And beyond Colorado, adventuring to other parts of the country and world. The sharing of our own interpretations of what we see through our lenses, those moments captured. And again, the sharing of our interpretations of each other's photos. Beyond that, I'd love to share in building our skills, learning the latest technologies, the latest trends, the always-important post-processing of the photos, to see them through to a finished product, the displaying of them, admiring other photographers' work, and on and on. I'd love to see your passion for it be big, like mine. That would be so much fun.

I will say one more time-- if photography doesn't do much for you, that's ok. I'll survive. We'll just go have a tea party together, or we'll just put on your favorite song again (that's music!?), or help you practice for your next big debate. But just know, I will have my camera with me anyway and I'll be capturing all of these special times of you growing from under my wing, to becoming the amazing and unique woman that I know you will become--with or without a camera in your hand.

...Oh, look-- you're grabbing on to my camera strap!! Oh, a daddy can dream!