Graceful Parenting in Austin

I was a little unsure of myself and how I would handle the whole baby thing. Noel is my step-daughter, when I married Blue Eyes, she was six, so I don’t have any previous baby experience. Would I know if she was tired or hungry by her cries? Would I be able to read her expressions and movements? What if she was bright eyed and sucking her thumb, is she awake or tired? Would I have the intuition and feelings that would help me know what to do?

I had my answer last night, when the family was in line at Amy’s Ice Cream…

Technorati Tags: babies, baby wearing, parenting

(By the way, I love living in Austin where it isn’t unusual for the family to go for ice cream in February. I also love Amy’s Ice Cream.)

Baby Girl was in her Baby Bjorn, facing forward. I like carrying her this way, she likes to see what is going on and I can kiss her head and rub her feet. But I can’t see her face and I miss that. I think sometimes about getting a little rear-view bicycle mirror I can strap to her head, so I don’t miss out on her smiles.

I see her right arm lift up and then come back down and I think, that looks like a tired arm. Just that one little movement, with no facial expression to help me out, and I knew. Soon after, she was rubbing her eyes. She was tired for sure.

We were home not long after that and I was feeding Baby Girl her night time bottle. It feels good to hold her and to know that we know how to talk to each other. I wonder if she can read my cues too, like when I give her lots of kisses or sing to her, does she know I’m saying ‘I love you?’ I think she does.