Weeks 30 & 31-- Gila Monster!

Silvan has learned how to hiss like a Gila Monster! Everyone is suitably impressed and terrified when he does so.
He is getting more and more rosy-cheeked, and his new baby hair is coming in blonde.
During these weeks we holed up at home until we all got pretty antsy. Silvan started eating some finger foods, like steamed apples, and got better at crawling a few inches (if one of us pushes on his feet).
We also slept a lot in our big down comforter.

Read more!

Silvan at 29 weeks

Bruce's sister Faith came to visit over Martin Luther King day, and brought with her this wonderful bunny hat which she found in the street (apparently, run over multiple times). We had fun dressing Silvan as a bunny, and cooing.

This week we also discovered the baby playroom at the library. Silvan loves watching the little ones toddle around, and one baby even came over to play with him-- that was awesome!
We watched Obama's inauguration on the computer, and Silvan drooled happily. I feel so much better about raising Silvan in this country, now.
Read more!

Silvan at seven months

Silvan is seven months old already! He is having a fabulous Winter, and becoming more and more his own person. He loves having one of Bruce's pretty scarves draped over him, and can almost get his foot into his mouth. Silvan weighed 18 pounds in early January, and is lengthening out. He has begun reacting gleefully to Teletubbies. We spend our weekends dragging around antique shops and greenhouses.

I went back to painting houses this month, and Silvan started staying home with Yifot sometimes. They are very fond of each other, and Silvan is doing great with the new arrangement. We all can't wait for Spring, when the seeds come in the mail and the trips to the zoo begin!
Read more!

26 & 27

We continue to fall behind - as I write this, a 7-month-old Silvan kicks and gurgles on a blanket by the fire. Even so, I soldier on.









Silvan is constantly growing - he's added several consonants to his verbal repertoire, he can confidently feed himself from a bottle and, less confidently, with a spoon. He's done some sippy cup work. Also, he gets up to some pretty fancy acrobatics in his bouncy chair (courtesy of his Aunt Ann).









It occurred to me that a majority of the pictures on this blog show Silvan and me together. This merely reflect the fact that jd is quicker with the camera - in actual fact Silvan spends much more time with jd than with myself. In an effort to correct the record, I've included the following pictures.




And, just to round things out, here's a shot of Silvan with jd's brother, whom we affectionately refer to as 'Psycho Uncle Mike'.

Read more!

Stay up late

Read more!

Week 25: Silvan's first Solstice, Hannukah, and Christmas

This week, Silvan got to celebrate three different winter rituals. We're not sure he made much distinction between them: all three involved shiny wrapping paper, which he loves. We started the week with our observation of the Solstice. Silvan has been enjoying our live Solstice tree all month, and on this day we opened all our presents together as a new little family.

We also lit our first candle for Hannukah on the Solstice. We're celebrating Hannukah with Yifot this year. She taught us how to make latkes, and we ate them until we got sick. Yif has this awesome militant menorah from her folks in Israel:

When our celebrations were winding down later in the week, Bruce's parents came out from Dodge City, along with two chihuahuas and their puppies, to celebrate Christmas with us. This was their first time meeting Silvan. He was very taken with his Grandpa Zink's beard, and with his Grandma's hair and glasses.

We all spent a lot of time talking, and Bruce cooked clam chowder and roasted a duck.

Bruce's father taught us to make candles out of tangerines, and his mother taught Yif some knitting tricks.

Silvan was pleased with his toys, the lights and candles, and the attention. We are all about tired out.

Read more!

Weeks 23 and 24: Big city

Look what Silvan can do with a potato these days:

Silvan is definitely not a newborn anymore. We decided it was time to take him to the city for the first time. Bruce, Yifot, and I are all fugitive Cincinnati folks, so we loaded up and headed there for the weekend. Silvan got to experience his first hotel room, his first time waiting to cross at a light, and his first breakfast at the Proud Rooster (vicariously):

Silvan got to take a close look at a gazillion plants at the Krohn Conservatory. He also had the honor of being carried around and made much of by the storied proprietor of Sitwells Coffeehouse, our friend Lisa.
This visit also marked Silvan's first attendance at a punk basement show. Several punks commented on his hairstyle.
Read more!

Silvan at 22 Weeks

Silvan is looking like a little boy to me lately. His chin is emerging from his neck fat, giving him a pointy, pretty fox face. He has begun holding a toy in each hand, and can fish his pacifier from a pile of blocks with something like grace.
This week, we got a long-tie carrier to lug Silvan around in. We're having a lot of fun experimenting with different ways of wearing Silvan in it. He loves spending the day riding around on my stomach, watching all the totally boring things I do.
Also this week, Silvan ate his first mango. He was extremely pleased by it.
Read more!

21 Weeks: Baby's First Thanksgiving

This week, we loaded up the jeep with Silvan, Yifot, Daisy dog, and all our myriad stuff, and headed off to Missouri to have Thanksgiving with my folks. Silvan did great on his longest journey yet, provided we stopped at diners and antique shops periodically.

My folks, as usual, grabbed Silvan up and I didn't see much of him for a few days. Silvan has decided that his Grandpa is really funny (possibly, funny looking). There was a lot of hysterical laughter from Silvan, and a nice walk on the rock beach by their little house deep in the woods.
Silvan got to meet his great-grandparents, Jim and Gretchen, for the first time. He was very interested in his great-grandma, and held his great-grandpa's finger in his little hand.

I was more grateful for the things in my life this year than I can remember ever being.
Read more!

5 Months: Fashion Shoot

The weather has taken a turn for the crisp and invigorating here lately, and as a result Silvan has been wearing more and more clothes. It started with socks, but soon he was wearing pants and little hoodies and cute little footie-pajamas. Jd and I are, naturally, thrilled.

Babies apparently enjoy a significantly expanded fashion universe and are allowed - even encouraged - to really push the envelope. Here Silvan is sporting a plush pink one-piece body suit. What adult could pull that off?

Normally, I get to pick out Silvan's outfit for the day. I get up early and make sure the front room is nice and warm. Then I put together everything I'll need to get Silvan ready for the day: a new diaper and diaper cover, baby wipes, his baby lotions, a blanket for him to lay on, and a new outfit. Finally, I lift him out of bed (unless he's nursing) and carry him out to the front room. I change his diaper, put on his little outfit, and sit with him by the fire for a few minutes.

This morning ritual of ours is very peaceful and meditative, and none of us make a big fuss about it. Sometimes, though, we change his clothes in the evenings just for kicks. These are much more festive events - we go through all his clothes and pick out a cute new outfit. We have a couch in the front room with a white blanket on it that makes a wonderful backdrop for our little fashion shoots. Jd and I will both get our cameras out and snap away for minutes at a time. Silvan seems to appreciate the attention.

In addition to new clothes, Silvan has been getting more and more involved with toys. For Silvan, toys are primarily for chewing on. He has a significant collection of stuffed bears, caterpillars, goblins, and a single stuffed robot.



Of course, it isn't all photo ops and stuffed toys for Silvan. He has a quiet, sensitive side that you can most often glimpse at about 8:00 in the morning. At this time of day - after his breakfast, a fresh diaper and a new outfit - he likes to sit quietly and stare into space.
Read more!

19 Weeks: Eating!

This was a really exciting week because Silvan started eating solid foods for the first time. I had been noticing him watching very closely while we eat, and he had been nursing constantly the past couple weeks-- even during the night, which has not been his habit. My folks, along with a couple mama buddies of mine, convinced us that the time is right to try solid foods for Silvan.

We started out with some teething biscuits (the hippie organic kind, of course). I offered one to Silvan and he immediately grabbed it and put it in his mouth, as if he had been waiting for me to offer him a biscuit for weeks! When he found that he could eat it, he began kicking his arms and legs and squealing with delight.
We sat him in his high chair and gave him rice cereal a few days later. Another easy success! Silvan had no trouble eating from a spoon, and soon insisted on holding the spoon himself (he's not great at aiming for his mouth, however). He can eat a serving of rice cereal in no time flat.

The goat shed is now finished. It will be a nice warm winter home for goats, chickens, sheep dogs, and cats. It smells pleasantly of cedar and hay inside, and we are very happy with it. Now comes the difficult work of herding the chickens into it. Silvan and I work on herding chickens each afternoon; he rides in the backpack. We like to hang out together this way.
Read more!

Silvan at 18 weeks

This week, my folks visited again to spend some more time with Silvan. We dressed Silvan up as a little pumpkin for his first Halloween, and took him to his music class with my mother. He had a great time, as he always does, and looked fabulous.

Silvan learned to hold and play with his rattle this week. He looks somewhat foreboding with it. We are still vacillating on whether to give him the pop rocks his Grandma Zink sent him.
Read more!

17 Weeks: Greencastle visit

This week, Silvan and I made a trip out to the cabin and farm I've been slowly building in Greencastle. My buddy Susan met us out there, and we sat in the clover and drank a beer while Silvan slept in his sling. Silvan really likes the cabin and the woods. We intend to move to the cabin permanently in a couple years. It is a beautiful place, the same now as it was when my Great-great-great-great Grandparents lived on this land.

This week we finished framing and roofing the goat shed. It is coming along, and we are looking into our goats for the Spring! Silvan has been so patient through our building, playing quietly in his Old Macdonald chair and chewing on his green bean toy. He is such a pleasure to have around.

Read more!

16 Weeks: Silvan's Wiccanning

The weekend after Silvan's 16 week birthday, we met up with some family and friends at Lothlorien Nature Sanctuary to hold a Wiccanning Ceremony for Silvan. This was an opportunity for us to formally introduce Silvan to our spiritual community. He looked beautiful in the Zink family Christening gown.

Our friends made a circle around the maypole in the lightning shrine, and lit candles to symbolize their commitment to supporting Silvan's spiritual growth, wherever it may take him. Lots of heartfelt wishes were extended, and bright ribbons were wrapped around the maypole while Silvan and I sat at its base, accompanied by drum and didgeridoo. We broke out the homebrew mead and talked late into the hazy afternoon while leaves swirled down from the woods.
Bruce's sister Faith came down from Cincinnati in time to partake of a big communal meal in the Long Hall. She and Silvan had some good laughs together.

Read more!

Week 15: Goat Shed!

This week we donned our tool belts and started building a movable goat shed/ chickenhouse in the front yard. The chickens have been roosting in a particular tree since they were chicks, and a cold rain last week convinced us that they can no longer go without shelter. Silvan hung out in his baby papasan chair while we worked, and needed only occasional cuddling and comforting. He is a very patient guy. During this time he learned how to yank the dangling toy from his chair, the better to stuff it into his mouth.
Silvan's emerging bottom teeth are hurting him lately. But he spends most of his days in high spirits, looking around at the fire and the cats and gurgling to himself delightedly.

This week our little white hen, puff, started laying eggs-- the first we've had from our chickens. They are tiny, blue-green, and lovely, as you can see.

Read more!

Silvan at fourteen weeks

Silvan made even more progress towards becoming an independent person this week. He has become interested in his "baby gym", which has served as an elaborate cat toy up until now. Grabbing things and putting them in his mouth occupies most of his waking hours. He desires to sit up and engage with the world as much as he can, and complains when the view is not to his liking. He has noticed that there are an awful lot of chickens, cats, and dogs running around this place, and would like to put them into his mouth, too. We started our first fire of the year in the woodstove this week, and all sat together looking at the flames.




Read more!

Week 13!

Shrewd observers will note that we're falling behind - Silvan turned 15 weeks old this past Friday. We have a sizable backlog of photos and anecdotes that we're just dying to share with you all.

At any rate, Silvan is proving to be extremely pleasant company. I don't get to see him as much as jd does - in the mornings I change his diaper before I go to work and in the afternoons I take Silvan and sit with him for as long as he'll abide it.

Read more below.

He is proving to be a real handful - jd surly knows this better than I since she's home with him by herself most often. On the other hand, it sure seems like she can always calm him down with out much trouble. Her ability to nurse him gives her an unfair advantage, if you ask me. I have to pick him up and walk with him sometimes to keep him happy.

Silvan is growing by leaps and bounds. He'll support himself on his legs if you hold him steady, and just last week he started successfully grabbing things in his hands and putting them in his mouth. He petted a cat. His babbling has moved from 'aaaaa' to 'laaa' to 'mmmmmm-ba' all in the last week or so.

His awareness of mirrors has been a fascinating development. Initially, he only seemed interested in mirrors in the same way he was interested in light and movement. Later, he would make eye contact with himself in the mirror. Then he started trying to touch the mirror, and now he'll make eye contact with jd and me through the mirror.

That about exhausts what I have to say right now - Silvan is lovely and sweet. I'm extremely fond of him . Here are a couple more pictures showing how pretty he is.




Read more!