Cobs of Fun

I love firsts...it's just sweet to think about. First steps, first milkshakes, first glimpses of the ocean....such a broad horizon of possibility ahead, so many wonders to discover. And wonderful surprise: as parents, I've learned, we get to vicariously experience things for the first time again. And we get to think, man, milkshakes really are good (by the way, June agrees; when she clamps on to that milkshake straw, you practically need an army to pry her lips loose. My advice: don't share a shake with her; you'll never get as much as you want).

Here, we have first ear of corn. She ate a few rows and was done with it.

But hammed it up like it was her only favorite thing ever.

Other recent firsts, undocumented by photograph: first time floating in a swim ring without an adult holding on, first time sitting in a climbing tree (assisted), first taste of protein shake (Lloyd's unholy concoction of vanilla whey protein, milk, banana, frozen berries, and peanut butter. Nothing wrong with it in June's opinion).

Unavoidably, on the horizon are firsts that won't be so much fun or so sweet, but no less part of the whole gig. Things like first time being called a mean name, first time losing something especially cherished, first time really comprehending that life is truly and fundamentally unfair. I know we'll handle those when they come, but I remember the first weeks of June's life, when the thought that anyone could ever say anything mean to her just crushed me. Blame the backwash of postpartum hormones.

Speaking of hormones, I'm still pretty much a mess. Better than my worst, but far from the me I remember being just a few months ago. According to my OB things are going along just fine, so there's much consolation in that, plus the fact that there is a very clear endpoint to it all: no later than sometime next February. But my motivation is out the window with any energy I used to have and my formerly goatlike stomach, impervious to queasiness. So please forgive if you were getting impatient for more content. Thanks for checking in.