We’re wrapping up a quick trip out to the mountains, enjoying the beginning of peak foliage season. Our family home out in Brevard is a many-fold blessing: a place where we come to rest, removing any temptation to while away the weekend doing chores. We come here, mostly, to “do nothing,” which is to say, to move through time without feeling rushed. I quip that it’s a rough life, but at this point in…

Our baby turned the big 1-2 {months} yesterday. I spent a lot of time in the last week reliving his birth story, feeling fresh relief that it ended, as I was sure at the time it never would. I've also spent a lot of time reflecting on the kind of parents we are shaping up to be. What I'd do differently, what I feel good about, what I hope to start doing more of. Having a…

Well, there went June. I blinked, and it was gone. Misha's eleventh month was full. I started a new job as an engineer at GitHub, where I managed to get a sizable pull request opened in my first week. (Achievement: unlocked.) A training session brought me to Atlanta this week, my second trip away from Misha and third time pumping around work meetings and airport travel. I have mastered the public-restroom breast pump juggling routine, but…

I just told Jamie that if I were to write this month's blog post, it would probably begin, "It's been another hard month ..." Which is kinda true. Misha is not what you would call a "gateway" baby. Little dude is not the perfect little angel that lulls first-time parents into thinking that a second kid would be a piece of cake. He is the type that makes one think long and hard about the coming hours,…

Our little gentleman is nine months old today. It’s been a big month! The first top tooth. I am still mourning its arrival, as it means the last flash of his gummy smile has been seen. (Obviously I was not ready to say goodbye to it.) Even more devastating: nursing has me on the edge of my seat. YOWZA. Dance parties. Misha can’t walk yet, but boy can he dance. He’s pulling up,…

Spring has finally, mercifully arrived, as it comes every year to remind me why we love this place so much. The 50-60 degree days are my very favorite. All sunshine and fresh breezes before the tree canopy re-establishes itself and the cankerworms descend. We reach for lighter and lighter coats until the sleeves come off and school is out and another year has slipped through our fingers once more. So I am holding on tight to…