My darling Greta turned 11 years old. I think she'll be stuck at 10 in my mind forever though! All Greta wanted for her birthday was books! We had a birthday party for Greta at the local park's outdoor fireplace where we roasted hot dogs, marshmallows and starbursts. On Greta's actual birthday (a Monday), we ate waffles and opened presents and sent Greta to school late. Greta wanted fancy pizza for dinner - yum! And after school, Greta and I played card games together. I love my Greta!

This past year has sped by! Has it already been almost a year since Ira was born? Ira continues to be a joy! A few weeks ago, he decided to start crawling on his hands and knees and hasn't really looked back. He's crawling around all over the place and pulling himself up to standing constantly (my couch is covered in Ira height snot smears). Ira's like a goat in that if I'm sitting or lying on the floor, he's climbing onto me.

Let's talk about sleep. Conor and I made some desperate (but deliberate) adjustments to Ira's sleep life. He now sleeps at night in Conor's office and naps in our room. I get him up and feed him at around 10pm before I go to bed and then he sleeps until 7 or 8am. This is an incredible improvement! When I go get Ira after his naps, he always scooted into the corner closest to the door waiting for me.

Ira loves to eat and has decided that spoon fed baby food is for babies and he'd like to eat with his hands thank you very much, unless he's being offered yogurt, in which case, shovel 'er on in. He can reliably drink from a sippy cup (finally).

Ira can say "uh-oh" and "hi" and has an adorable little wave. He's cuddly, something I really love about him. I melt every time he snuggles into me. To get really close, he'll roll himself right into me nice and tight. He did that to his big bro, E, the other day - rolled into him for a snuggle.

Ira loves taking a bath. Water is where it's at for him! I'm looking forward to summertime and swim lessons. Ira likes to be outside and when I get out his snow suit, he crawls over to it and holds it until I put it on him. Ira continues to be a really easy going and good natured guy. His body weight and size is so compact and sweet. I sure love my pumpkin pIra.

Today, on his sister's 11th birthday, he is 11 months old. He's snotty nosed and globs of drool fall from his mouth. He has scratches on his face and a bruise that's almost faded. His father and I disagree about a haircut. Why does he need to look tidier, different? Can't he be a baby for a little longer? I'm mesmerized by the curl of hair behind his ear. He's the last one. My body has no lingering plans to hold another bundle of cells until they grow into a human. My body will never nourish another the way it does now. So no, let's leave his hair a little longer and let it grow longer.

PS: Please take a moment to appreciate the ankle rolls.

Our families have caught the Covid. Or most of them have. And a few family members requested I update the ol' blog. So darlings, here you go. Enjoy this flashback with some of the people I love best as your recover in your 3 to a bed sickbed. We'll look forward to more good times and memories together soon!

For My Daughter On a Bad Day
by Kate Baer

Life will rough you up. Throw you to the
shore like a wave crashing - sand in your
hair, blood in your teeth. When grief sits
with you, hand dipped with rage, let it
linger. Hold its pulse in your hands. There
is no remedy for a bad haircut or ruined
love like time. Even when death is coming,
even when the filth rises in the back of
your throat -

this is not the worst of it. And if it is?
Listen for the catbird calling. No matter
the wreckage, they still sing for you.