This is Life!: Revolutions Around the Cruciform Axis

The Fatherhood Chronicles XIX: Some Firsts

The last few weeks have been amazing for this new father.

Sofie has begun to smile. At first it was just spontaneous smiling with some cooing and proto-giggles. But then . . . she smiled back at her daddy! So in the mornings (between 6:00 and 9:00) when she is more alert and awake, her dad puts her on the changing table, and talks to her, grinning as big as he can. And that little looker just grins right back, her face scrunching up in an all-over body smile. Sometimes she'll even sort of giggle. (Sniff.)

Then, a week ago this past Saturday, daddy gave Sofie her first bottle. He has been looking forward to this since she was born. You should rightly assume that he had very high hopes and expectations how this first time would go. Wrapped like a burrito in her pink blanket, he grabbed the bottle--chock full of good stuff from momma--and took a deep breath. She took it right off. No fuss (though plenty of mess--she's a vigorous eater!). That was just dang cool enough. But then . . . she looked me dead in the eye and locked on. (Sniffles.)

Then today, Anna called my cell phone during the class I was teaching. I answered, because I thought it might be my sister, Stephanie, who is due to give birth in the next 24 hours. Instead, Anna gave me the news: Sofie, during her "tummy time" on her Baby Einstein play mat, rolled over! And not just once, but five or six times. I missed it. But I'll get to see other times.

I tell you what, folks. When this little girl laughs with me in the morning, or looks me in the eye while feeding her (somtimes giving a mischievous grin), this new daddy's heart just goes bang!

So, in celebration, I'm posting these recent studio proofs of Sofie at four weeks.

Posted by Clifton at October 6, 2003 12:57 PM | TrackBack