10 Months

So it happened that we awoke this morning to find ourselves the owners of a 10 month old 21 pounder. It’s a clear Saturday morning with the sun still hung in the trees. Outside there are 6 inches of new snow. Winter, despite this late February chill, is on its way out. The tulips are twitching in their roots. And our little daughter, our little 21 pounder, is 10 months old.

10 months ago I walked Meg to the hospital. We came home a couple days later with this tiny bundle, who is now over in the corner making a mess of our bookshelf with her compact, wrestler’s body. She is talking to herself, clapping, randomly pointing at things and exclaiming in babble.

We might go for an early morning ski through the woods. We might put some rocknroll on the iPod and clean the home. We might pack our suitcases for a future adventure to someplace warm. Either way, it’s Saturday morning and we’ve got the whole day of freedom ahead of us. And the day after that. And that’s as far ahead as anyone needs to see. Especially a 10 month old.

So The Wind Won’t Blow It All Away

On a trim board at the entry to our basement laundry/bike shop room, there is an old growth chart, hand drawn alternately in red pen, pencil and blue pen, marking the growth of the Leaf family who previously lived in our home since the early 50s. Each color signifies a certain child. The oldest line, marked in pencil, reads “1 yr. 29″ 4/24/58.” Interesting to note that the child nearly shares Maeva’s birthday. I envision these kids each year on their birthdays, the boys in  crew cuts, the little girl in ribbons and a summer dress, marching downstairs into the basement to get their mark on the wall. I can see them grow, right here on the wall.

Today I decided it was time to add Maeva’s mark. Although she’s not yet a year, I can’t wait. I found a green pen, stood my daughter against the doorway (She gave me a level eyed look, saying “Dad, what #%&*@ are you doing”) and put a mark against the board at the top of her head. I grabbed an old straight edge that I had found in the house – perhaps the very one old Mr. Leaf had used – and made it nice and straight just as the others were done. Then, just above the line on the right, I marked “MW2, 2-20-09.” We’ll do it again this spring on her first birthday, just to see where we’re at.

The home is a vessel. We live our lives, make our families, help our kids grow, we get healthy, we get sick, we see incredible things, we taste incredible things, we clean up and then we get dirty again. If we are lucky, and do it all the best we can, we create a space of love, creativity, harmony and growth. And we do it all inside our home, inside these walls, under this roof of shingles and insulation. In this particular spot on the planet. We move through our days inside this home. So it’s good to leave something behind, a clue, a notion, that you were here and that you lived, something to mark your progress by, so the wind won’t blow it all away.

Spring 2008 Model Released

We are happy to announce the birth of our baby daughter, Maeva Francine. She is extremely healthy, a good sleeper, and looks just exactly like her father! We are all doing very well. There is a great story to tell, but papa Jw is too tired to tell it right now. Eventually, there are about 200 photos to sort through.

Here we begin a new journey.

Here are the stats:

• Girl – despite what most people predicted (full disclosure – both ma and pa had dreams of a baby girl)
• Born 4/28/08 @ 11:31pm
• Weight 5lbs 14oz; 19 3/4 inches

Ok – let’s get to the photos…