For the first time today, Zevry clapped on his own! This is a major accomplishment for any baby, as clapping is required for so many of the best baby songs, such as “If You’re Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands.”

We were walking in Holland Park this afternoon, when a police car drove past us, and stopped at the pig meadow. To police officers got out of the car and went into the meadow to check an alarm which had been triggered. As soon as they went in, the pigs ran at full speed over to them. Then they all stood around and looked at each other for awhile.

I started work again today. Yep… maternity leave is over, all glorious 7 months. I know I am so lucky to have had all those weeks with my little boy, but I want 7 more! He gets more interesting and fun every day, and I am jealous of Lina (Zevry’s nanny), because she gets to do fun things with him while I am at work. I have had a taste of what Michael’s gone through the last 7 months, and I am not going back for seconds! Well, actually I …

Zevry had his first kiss the other day. It took him over 6 months to get it, but he said it was worth it to hold out for true love.

The first couple of times we bathed Zevry he wasn’t too sure if he liked it, but it quickly grew into one of his favorite times of the day. We incorporated it into his evening pre-bed routine and I think it has always helped to relax him and signal to him that it is the end of the day. The other day, I thought it would be fun to try giving him a bath with only about 2 inches of water, so I could just lay him down in the …

Zevry had a breakthrough swimming session this morning. He was laughing, smiling, swimming, and just generally having fun. He almost cried one time when the instructor took him from me and swam him around for a minute, but other than that he had a great time. He was dunked 3 times! And one of those times Steve shuttled him through the water (underwater) for about 5 seconds… which seems like a really long time when it is happening. He collected several tennis balls (jealous Sammy?) and put them in the …

We’ve gone almost 6 months exclusively using a sling to carry Zevry. There have been one or two times when I’ve thought it would be really nice to have him in a buggy, but for the most part the sling has been convenient and easy. And I’ve been reluctant to buy a buggy for 3 reasons:
1. Good ones are expensive – around $750 expensive.
2. They take up a lot of space.
3. I keep thinking if I can hold out just a little longer, I can get one designed for an …

I have just started weaning Zevry properly. He has been eating a bit of banana and some porridge for awhile now, but as he is just about 6 months, we have begun to introduce some more solids. Basically, I give him a little of whatever we are having that night – so if we’re eating a salad with cucumbers and red peppers, he gets some big batons of cucumbers and red peppers. He also gets pureed fruit and/or vegetables. Apparently, the key is to cut big enough pieces so he …

I have to back to work 3 weeks from tomorrow. I don’t exactly expect anyone to feel sorry for me since I will have had 6 months away from work, and I am going back 3 days a week, not 5, but still. Ugh. It is hard work taking care of a baby, and there are very few breaks. It doesn’t even stop at night, and while it is getting easier and a lot more fun now that Zevry can sit up and entertain himself for 10 minutes or so, …

Zevry and I visited the largest Hindu temple outside of India today. It was stunning. No photos inside, unfortunately. It’s built with a lot of marble and stone and the carving was just beautiful. Zevry enjoyed touching the carvings – he kept running his hands over the surface and then he’d look at me and say “oooooo!” We were lucky and happened by right when they were starting a prayer ceremony. There was a lot of drum beating, incense burning, and singing and Zevry was rapt. He sat there …