"Ta.......Ttt.....Ta......"

Around here, kitty-cat is pronounced "Tttt" or "Ta," depending on the occasion.

Here's Ronin enjoying the objects of his deepest affection. Pictured are Clyde, our grumpy tabby who's remarkably patient with Ronin, and January, our beloved foster cat who is the BEST CAT EVER and who really should stay with us forever as a result.

Ronin the one-year-old

Ronin seems to like movement and checking out the way things work.

He's totally into opening and closing doors and jars and containers.

Putting things in, taking them out, putting them in, putting on a top, and shaking the whole thing around in glee.

He's also always on the go.

He doesn't sit still, not even to eat. You can't read books to him now cause he's got no time for sitting if he could be exploring. He has to have an object in each hand, he needs to be investigating each one, and he has to be moving his legs and torso as well, so diaper changes and car rides are...invigorating.

He's obsessed with the 'gravitron' game at the local children's museum. The game's all about tubes and joints and gears and cranking balls up to watch them come down over and over again. It's a game for older kids, and he likes older kids, and he really likes gravity and watching things fall, so it's just his style.

It's one of the only times when he's relatively still. He staggers about holding a ball in each hand with mouth agape and his eyes bright with wonder and he watches the kids crank the balls up to come tumbling down over and over again.

The older kids say, "What's wrong with you, Baby? Why are you just standing there, Baby? Why are you holding two balls? I need those balls. Give them to me, Baby."

And happily (for now), he does, he surrenders the balls with no issue and watches them become part of the game and goes in search of two more bright balls to hold.

At home, he stands at the edge of our porch and tosses his toys off very carefully. I don't worry that he'll fall off himself. He's quite aware that the toys are making a leap that wouldn't be comfortable for him.

Instead, he slowly turns and feels his way down the porch steps with his feet, inching down till his toes touch the ground, and then he's off and running in the yard.

He has practically all of his teeth. At least four molars are in and canines are cutting, too, and he has his full front rack, top and bottom, with a little gap in front, just like his dad.

He's also strangely buff. I need to post a new photo of this guy (above is from March). He's got biceps and deltoids and lats all rippling under his skin. It's wild.

His only babylike attributes are bowlegs and a Buddha belly. Oh, and he speaks Baby, for sure, and he's still in diapes. Other than that, he continues to look like a slightly balding but wildly handsome middle aged man. Hmmm, sound like anyone else I know? ;)

Happy Birthday, Attayya!

Happy birthday, Attayya!

This picture is old as the hills, but it's the one that's in Vasu's office; it's one of his very favorites of Ronin.

It pretty well describes the experience of playing with him every minute of the day!

Happy birthday, Asha! Big kisses from Mr. Ronin to his aunt and all the rest of his family in India.

Weaned! Walking! Molars! One!

One has turned out to be a big milestone for Ronin.

He started walking, then he started cutting molars, and now he's weaned. I keep trying to see if he wants to nurse and he's just got no interest whatsoever. It happened from one day to the next. He was a happy nurser on a Friday, and on Saturday, he'd decided no thanks. No thanks, ever again. Rather shocking.

My mom told me that's the thing about raising kids. You do one thing over and over and it feels like you'll do it forever. Nursing. Going to the orthodontist. And then one day, it stops, and you never do it again. We got our braces off and mom never saw Dr. Schonberg again.

If we have another, I'll nurse again, God willing. But for now I'm very, very happily putting away my nursing bras and gowns, packing them into a big bag to give to my friend Tiffany, whose boy will join the world this September.

It's funny, because I had just gone out and bought myself a new round of sturdy, supportive size D bras. Alas! I will be able to stuff them with socks and be Dolly Parton, or Nursing Caroline, for Halloween.

Oh, and apologies that this blog remains photo-less. The camera is somewhere....somewhere....it's somewhere around the house. I'll find it and photograph our little adult one year old soon.

Walking and such

I'd feel like the world's worst mom if I didn't mention that Ronin's walking!

He started a few days ago...maybe a week ago....not sure. Every day, he walks more and more and more. He's crossing the room now, and Vasu and I are realizing that we need to enjoy the adorable crawling as long as we can, as it's on its way out.

This is not a picture of his walking, nor is it a video, because I don't think we have one yet. We moved last week into our new abode and everything is packed away, and the walking's not really even newsworthy anymore...it just crept up on us and now here it is.

But he's standing here, and he's admiring a kitty on the other side of the door, and that's pretty cute, so it'll suffice.

A month goes by in the blink of an eye

Here Ronin is, enjoying the beautiful animal books that his aunt Kelly and cousins sent him from Atlanta for his first birthday.



Here, he's with his grandfather, learning about playing the tablas...



And eating some birthday cake...



And a birthday apple.



Happy birth-month, sweet Ronin. A thousand kisses to you and to all of the wonderful people and beings surrounding you.

Curfew update

So here's the post-script to the prior posting:

Ronin woke up at 5:30 a.m., shortly after Bagheera started his morning meowing.

Now it's 7:30 and R is starting to yawn for his morning nap...before we've even made it out the door to the farmer's market.

Ah, parenthood, thou art a master teacher of flexibility and patience!

Curfew revisited

Last summer, I wrote a post full of frustration because I had to be home on a lovely summer night when I wanted to be out.

Vasu, Ronin, and I had gone to the Carrboro Music Festival, which happens in the depths of the warm lazy summer, and as the cool shadows of evening were starting to creep across the day and all sorts of mischief was about to begin, we had to go home to get Mister to bed. My commitment to nursing meant that I always had to be there, at every bedtime, to nurse my boy to sleep.

I used to resent it, but dag, I love nursing him to sleep now. And I love to think of the cumulative effect of all of these naps and nights and how they've bonded us. But I digress. What a difference a year of parenthood makes.

In the winter, Ronin started going to sleep by about 6:30 p.m., which was fine with us, because it was pitch black dark and we were dawg tired and asleep ourselves by 9. Once he started sleeping through the night, he'd still wake up by 5, full of vigor and enthusiasm and ready to embrace the day.

These early bedtimes and early mornings have broken us. We no longer really expect to have a life. But now, the days are stretching out and the evenings are long and sweet and sunny. Ronin's afternoon nap went until 5 today, so we played with keeping him up later, staying out and lounging on the Weaver Street lawn, drinking beer and eating Chinese food until SEVEN FREAKING FIFTEEN at night.

By the time we got Ronin through his bath, he had begun to break down. He started trying to nurse Vasu's nose and mouth when Vasu tried to kiss him. He fell asleep by 8 p.m., but boy, was he shot.

With all of this spring cavorting, we're hoping that a latter bedtime will lead to later rising...Ronin is perfectly pleased to get up at 5 a.m. but his parents are so very tired after a year of sweet early mornings.

We are crossing our fingers that 7 a.m. could be within our reach...

After a year of being a mother, so many things have changed. But considering that now 7:15 p.m. is late for me to be out and about on the town, and that 7 a.m. is my greatest hope for sleeping in, I've noticed that my ideas about impositions on my time have flexed quite dramatically.

Oh, and honestly, although he keeps baby hours, Ronin can't possibly be a baby. JUST LOOK AT HIM IN THIS PICTURE. Doesn't he totally look 30 years old? How is it possible?

Drinkin' a smoothie in half-hero

I know every parent is blown away by their baby's flexibility. When do we lose our ability to sit ever-so-comfortably in half-hero pose with a perfectly straight spine? Is it because of the dreadful desks we're forced to sit in for hours and hours? Is this yet another argument against standard education...we lose our flexibility, literally and figuratively, because of its emphasis on conformity?

Ronin, who KNEW that drinking a smoothie could be so subversive.

Scenes from Atlanta

Since we're in the throes of moving, Ronin and I decided to clear out of Vasu's hair for a week and head to Atlanta to visit family and friends.

Where's my shot of Ronin with his grandparents? Where are my shots of the weekend we spent with my good friends from junior year abroad? Alas, I didn't take too many pictures in Atlanta....I was too busy running around after Mr. Toddler.

But here are a few pics of Ronin with his cousins Juila and John and his Aunt Kelly, as well as a shot of Ronin's good buddies Liam and Ben, the sons of my BFF, Carolyn.


Our trip to ATL was lovely. It was so special to spend time with cousins and family and lifelong friends. It's always nostalgic to go to the city where I was raised. And everyone was so sweet to Ronin and such a help with him.

When the week was over, we were glad to get home to Vasu-Daddy. I thrust Ronin into his arms immediately and went for a shower and a nap. And Ronin went on a long walk with his dad and his dear friend Christophe.



We are so blessed to have family and friends!

Mr. Sophisticated

This beautiful silver is from Vasu's parents. Today was Ronin's first day drinking from the cup on his own. I was so proud I didn't know what to do, until I realized: the thing to do was to take pictures and video.

He got totally soaked with the water he was drinking, but it was so freaking cute. He and I sat there and had our morning beverages together. Now that's what I'm talking about. I'm ready to pass him a section of the paper and quietly pore over it for hours...

The look in his eye says it all

Such mischief! Oh, this boy loves cats, no doubt about it.

We've been sick again around here. Yikes! This time it was with a nasty stomach bug, but it was short-lived, thank goodness.

I hate to say it but Ronin was actually really cute during this illness. He was in a crabby mood for sure with that cold. But with this, he was sleepy and quiet and it was like having a little baby doll for a day or two.

Now he's back into trouble, though, so all is well. We're ready for spring!

The glory of the teething biscuit

This is how to look really tough with teething biscuit dissolved all over your face, dressed in some wacky knits.



I have grown to love teething biscuits, because I can tuck one into Ronin's little hand and be guaranteed 15 minutes of quiet. He is so happy, examining and decimating his biscuit.

He pretty much hates his stroller, except with a teething biscuit. With a teething biscuit, all things are possible! We went on a lovely spin around the neighborhood today all thanks to this little bit of compressed barley.

Oh, and he also stood up on his own today, four times in a row. Each time, he'd stand for about five seconds. Beautiful.

It makes me think of yoga class and how important it is to believe that all things are possible.

AND we bought a house today.

A big day, it was!

Night giggles

While I'm bragging, here's something way charming that Ronin did last night:

He cracked up laughing in his sleep! Big tumbling fits of giggles. I woke up but he didn't...he just dreamed something funny and kept on dreaming.

It's been keeping me smiling all day. It's so wonderful to know he's having happy dreams.

Un petit gourmand

I must take a moment here from my constant grousing about how motherhood is both lovely and hard to brag, straight up, about Ronin.

This boy is the best little eater in the world.

I've already written about his willingness to eat all things beet. Beet, shmeet. I've yet to find anything, really, that this boy doesn't enjoy. Broccoli, cauliflower, capers, spicy dosas, eggs, beans, artichokes, roasted peppers, you name it. He loves food! I'm so happy.

It's a real joy to sit at the table with him and watch him go. The chewing is really freaking cute. And he loves water, drinks tons of it, through a straw in a cup.

I feel like it'll be just days before he's got his pinkie in the air as he swirls his glass of pinot before his very appreciative nose.

God love the foodies!

Of course, I must remain open and understand that at any day, he might laugh and chuck all of this food right back at me. He might then insist that he will only eat Cocoa Puffs, and nothing else. And I will remember that parenthood is the world's very best teacher for flexibility, I swear I will...cause God knows I have a lot to learn in that department.

Right, Ronin?

Two faces of motherhood

This is Ronin's new favorite thing -- to be on me. To sleep or snuggle on me if he's tired or grumpy, and to climb on me or be carried by me if he's perky.

To be fair, he does play independently, climbing around, pulling up, putting corks in his mouth. And he loves to hang out with his dad and Daria and his grandparents and Tiffany and such. He smiles at strangers. But he's going through a new phase of wanting lots of closeness, day and night, so here's a picture of his soundly sleeping on me...



BUT I AM NOT ASLEEP. Not in this picture, and not in many circumstances. This child is heavy, and although it's unspeakably wonderful to have him curl his head into my chest and sleep soundly, I treasure his nap times as my free time, and I treasure my unencumbered sleep.

I still can't believe I'm a mother. Maybe I'm too tired to realize it. My brain feels very, very slow. But I must be a mother, because this child seems to find me the source of all comfort right now. It's really beautiful and sweet. And (does every entry say this?) it's harder than I thought it'd be.

Lovely visit with Mohan-Tata

Vasu's dad, Ronin's Mohan-Tata, came to visit this past weekend. He and Ronin had the best time together! It's really sweet to see these two in action. Vasu's dad spends so much TIME with Ronin, just hanging out with him. He feeds him, he bathes him, he drums with him, he plays games with him, he insists on carrying him, he sits in the back of the car by the carseat with him...

It's true love!

I wish Ronin and his Mohan-Tata lived closer to each other so that they could hang out more often. But we get up to New York and Vasu's dad comes down here so now we look forward to our next visit: a trip to NYC in May to celebrate Ronin's first birthday.

On the mend

Ronin's feeling better, so we're all feeling better.

I'm proud of his little body for fighting off that nasty cold. Way to be tough!

It's snowy and rainy and downright wintry today but Ronin's improved bill of health means we're going to the library for baby story hour. It's actually more like baby story 15 minutes. But it'll be nice to be cozy and inside and with other babies.

We've been reading to Ronin for months now but he's got no time or interest for the activity any more. Perhaps I'll pick up some tricks from the pros in the children's reading room!

Mama and child

My new favorite shot...taken today while Ronin practiced standing for hours on end.

Interlude: vegan mac'n'cheese, of sorts

Behold the beauty of this pasta dish!

I had to break away from featuring Ronin to show you this nice lunch I made because this dish is actually more attractive than he is these days, what with the snot running down his face and all.

But don't let me speak of snot in a food entry!

Before I went on strike against all animal products, you could often find me with a bowl of macaroni and cheese in hand. I was mostly made of mac'n'cheese and pizza. And burritos.

In fact, I used to think the reason I could never, ever go vegan was because of my great and abiding love for cheese.

That's why I'm so proud of this pasta! It's my new go-to comfort food. It seems so decadent. You creep back for 2nds and 3rds in the same way you do for crispy oven-browned mac'n'cheese. But it's a healthy vegan option! The lady cows thank you.

So here's how to be overwhelmed with delight while eating a bowl full of peace:

Roast some cauliflower or other winter vegetables till crisp-tender, saute tons of garlic and some capers and chipotle peppers, add chopped roasted cauliflower, boil pasta till it's 2 minutes shy of done, add pasta to all the vegetables along with generous olive oil and about 1 cup of reserved pasta water, top with freshly made bread crumbs, and serve.

Vasu warned me that cauliflower pasta doesn't sound very delicious, so you'll just have to take my word on it. It IS. If you've got some 'flower sitting in your fridge, roast it on up today. Bon appetit, dear ones!

A boy and his frisky dad

Today was warm and sunny, with temperatures getting up into the 40s, so we headed out on a late afternoon family walk. Vasu carried Ronin, because that way, he was able to squish him.

An apple a day...

Hey, if Ronin really sucks the juice out of this apple, will it cure his cold and keep the doctor away?

Or will this fierce look scare the doctor away instead?

Cold

We've had a festive winter storm here, with seven inches of lovely snow falling Friday and Saturday leaving us a wonderland of sparkly white all around.

Unfortunately, we're all too sick to enjoy it.

I got the cold first, and to my chagrin, gave it to Ronin. He's been sick for a week, and now Vasu's coughing along with us. It's gross over here. White hankies and saline nasal spray cans and eucalyptus oil bottles are all over the place.

Yesterday, Ronin went down for a late nap at 3:30 p.m., and didn't wake up again until this morning at 5:15. Poor little guy. At least he slept. If only he'd wake up all better!

The lounge

People often call Ronin "Prince Ronin." It's kind of spooky. Perhaps it's his very regal eyebrows. Maybe all babies get called princes and I just didn't know it. 

Or maybe, just maybe, he's got a little something royal on us.

Check out this lounge position, baby. Now feed me some grapes.

Counter-shard

In an attempt to be productive and happy around the house, and to keep Ronin from as much danger as possible on the ground, I've become devoted to my Ergo baby backpack.

After the wee Kilaru has thoroughly exhausted himself crawling and climbing all around the kitchen and family room, and when it becomes clear that he's starting to grouse with boredom and look for a little adventure, I just hoist him up, strap him on, and carry on with chores as before.

I really dig it. EXCEPT. He's so squirmy. I totally block his view in the backpack. I'm this big huge mama lady in the way. Ronin has to bend and twist all around to see what's going on. 

AND. Those fingers. Those hands. Always grabbing something, holding something, picking it up, banging it around. Turns out I STILL have to be careful, even with this child strapped tightly on to my back. 

Shard

Today I was baking some very delicious vegan chocolate chip cookies and Ronin was playing on the floor. 

He was actually playing in a kitchen cabinet that contains some pottery cookware.

As I beat the oil and sugar, Ronin chucked the bowls around. As the mixer whirred, one of the bowls broke. Ronin began to play with a shard of pottery.

I looked over from happily beating my cookies to see him lifting this shard to his mouth. 

I removed the FREAKING PIECE OF DANGEROUS GLASS from his little hand, which had two small nicks on it. He didn't seem to mind at all.

I next became terrified that he had swallowed a tiny piece of the pottery. Never mind that he has a hard time directing large chunks of food toward his mouth. I kept examining his lips, tongue, gums, and mouth for any signs of bleeding.

HOLY FREAKING COW. We are getting a nice baby fence to cordon off a section of the room that we can certify is safe. I am also considering a straightjacket, for him and for me.

Awake

This smile is the reason to have fun when Ronin's awake! Today, it was 65 degrees outside...gorgeous. 

Ronin likes to climb on me, which is pretty cute and fun. Except when the very sharp little baby nails or the very pinchy little baby fingers get too worked up. But even that's cute. His fingertips are so small.

Anyway, he's pushing up and standing, which can be practiced often on the mama jungle gym. Spring time is fun! Aw man, it's not the spring. It's January.

Asleep

Here's a sleeping baby. There are so many reasons to love a soundly sleeping baby. 

It means they are growing. It means you have free time. And it means the baby is quiet and still, which is otherwise impossible.

My great-grandfather made this for me

Ronin's great-grandfather, who just turned 91, made this little stool for Ronin. Mochie gets up and goes to his shop every day and putters around and makes sturdy, lovingly crafted furniture for his family. HOLY COW. 

Meanwhile, my grandmother makes homemade chicken salad and scrubs the floors and gardens and runs errands all around town and will talk with you about everything going on in your life with complete attention and presence.

They are both so interesting and so vigorous and I'm so impressed by them. I just wish we could see them all the time. There's so much I'd like to learn from them that I am missing through distance.

Alas. They are just a few hours' drive away so now Ronin's been to visit twice! And they came the week after he was born. We enjoy every moment we have with them.

Yesterday he couldn't do this

Yesterday, he could crawl up to the dishwasher and pull up on the door when it was in this position.

Today, he can pull up, and pull OUT plates, knives, forks, you name it. He can also come around to the soap compartment and compress it so that the lid springs open and toxic, dangerous soap is right there beneath his fingers.

And then there was the time he fell down the stairs...

Seems I can't take my eyes off this child for a minute. Thank goodness babies start to get really cute once they pull through that newborn phase. I don't really want to take my eyes off of him, and it's a good thing, because if I did, the house might burst into flame in no time at all. 

Put a cork in it

I swear, Ronin did this of his own accord.

He never would take a pacifier (we called him Binks just cause we thought it sounded cute) but he's really taken to the cork.

Delightful.