Today we begin our second week of Tala bonding. Our days here are surprisingly similar to our days on the road; long days with new adventures sprinkled in here and there. There is a cadence to a baby's everyday life. Wake up (early), feed, play a little, morning nap, wake up, feed, play a little more, mid-day nap, wake up, feed, play even more, late afternoon nap, wake up, feed, be the most playful of the day, down for the night. Of course, there are walks and diaper changes during those wakeful times. The labor is non-stop except for those well-placed 45 minute rest periods.
While we have been here Tala has learned to roll from back to tummy, has had her first full out belly laugh (Thomas folding up the tripod did the trick!), has tried cereal (she loves it), broccoli (so-so), watermelon (delicious!) and has climbed into our hearts in the most astonishing way. At the end of the day we are so relieved to get back to our hotel and get a long rest. At the beginning of the next day we are so excited to go back and see her again. I am trying my hardest to stay in the moment; relishing the experience of growing closer to her and drinking in the absoluteness of the love I feel when she is looking into my eyes and smiling at the funny sounds I make to entertain her.
At the end of the day, after Tala is asleep for the night and before we head back exhausted to our hotel, we get our fix of grown up time. Either we do take out or Kiel makes a delicious dinner and the four of us sit together in the warm Connecticut evening and talk as adults. The juxtaposition of experiencing our own son being a full on adult making a living and his own decisions with caring for that baby who looks and acts so much like he did 33 years ago is mind boggling. This experience pushes the boundaries of time for us. Now we are well aware of how quickly that time goes, how transient our lives are, and that makes the moments with Tala in this short two weeks so beloved.
This week-end the other set of grandparents will be visiting and we will have an opportunity to exist in a space with others who understand exactly how we feel. I imagine there will be many opportunities to marvel together both in the pride of our own children and in the delight of grandparenting magic.
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