3 months

On Christmas Eve, December 24th, Ofelia completed her third month of life. Mom made a first attempt at traditional festivities, including a red-meat-less dinner of salmon fillet, cabbage, borsch, and breaking of bread. This minimal example mimics the time-honored celebrations of her Polish clan. Time is an abstract beast, marked by physiological developments (started drooling, holding head consistently, much hair rubbed off), external events (visiting relatives, Dad separates shoulder, Mom finishes a project), and the back and forth swinging of the QuietTime in the kitchen... Ofelia's skin rash - finally diagnosed as seborrhea, or the common cradle cap - has cleared up a bit, but she's still experiencing minor flare-ups. Mom uses a soft brush in the bath to scrub the crud off the delicate scalp. Ofelia likes it, as she likes most things. She smiles a lot and tolerates most forms of parental torture, like sucking out buggers and bundling up for the cold. This her mom attributes to an unrelenting supply of delicious milk, love and encouragement.

Pleased to meet you!

Mid-December, just before her 3-month birthday, Fiki received a visit from her Aunt Jane (mom's only sister). Boy oh boy, what a difference 9 months make! Gone are the self-indulgent, care-free days of mutual singledom... There's a baby in the nest! At first, there was a sense of curiosity - speculative looks were exchanged, tentative touches, giggles - but within a couple of days the two were dancing to rowdy klezmer like a couple of old pals. Jane noted that her initial skittishness subsided once she got a better feel for Ofelia's physical abilities and limitations. This is of course what we're working on and evolving every day. Jane has gone back home now and we miss her big-time!