May 2005 Archives
I've been remiss in documenting Magda's progress. It sort of creeps up on you, all the firsts that she goes through.
She's a big girl now, and when you carry her, she puts her arms around you neck and sometimes hides her face under your chin when she's preteding to be shy. Last week she started sometimes patting me on my shoulder. Clapping is also a recent skill. You start clapping at her and she lights up and soon claps right back at you.
She still doesn't completely roll over on her own, but she easily rolls on her side to increase her reach. And when placed on her belly, she usually manages to roll on her back. Sitting is now routine for her, and she like looking up and over her shoulder to see what's going on, which often makes feeding her an extended chore.
But she eats well. She's been through rice cereal, oat meal, sweet potatos, carrots -- all mashed and mostly home made. She also eats pieces of bananas (easyly gotten at any restaurant). Today she had some pears, her first food out of a jar (during our breakfast at Whole Foods). And this afternoon she had her first "adult" food when we fed her some sweet potato casserol at our Memorial Day picnic. I think she liked it better than plain old mashed yams.
I did my first solo clothes shopping for my girl and it turned out well.
Somehow I can understand how Magda ends up with so much stuff. I was shopping at Costco the other day and came across cool, non-pink, baby outfits and just had to to get one for her. Jfer couldn't help mentioning that the orange jumper with an embroidered train that I got her looks a bit, er, masculine. Of course, I didn't see any girlish jumpers that had cool side pockets (and I bet Magda is going to love them when she notices them). Plus it's so much more practical than some of those two-piece things Magda wears, which are a pain to get off over her diaper. We did get quite a few comments on how cute our little boy looks in it....
Now despite the fact that it's fun to get her stuff, I still question the amount of toys that Jennifer keeps bringing home (isn't that what grandparents are for?) I mean, is it really necessary to be buying toys for "two years and older"?
(Oh, and I've really gotta stop shooting pictures in the middle of the day -- they always come out way too contrasty).
The last few days were a social break from my usual stay-at-home family life. Since the girls took off to Houston on Saturday, I took advantage of my bachelorhood to see my first movie in a long time.
So on Saturday I made my way to The Alamo Drafthouse and watched Kung Fu Hustle. It was a very entertaining movie. I probably get less than half of the movie references, but even so, it was fun and full of energy. I'm tempted to rent Shalin Soccer which is supposed to be just as good.
On Sunday morning I met A&J and S at Trudy's for breakfast. It was weird being there with Jennifer and Magda and while the company was great, the service sucked big time (and they weren't even busy).
Sunday night, I went to see a Czech play at UT, a Jára Cimrman production called "Africa: The Czechs Among the Cannibals". It was strange seeing a play performed by student's of Czech (they did a pretty good job, too). They had English supertitles, some of which were, literaly, "[Untranslateable Joke]", I find it totally bizarre that the professor gets away with basing a literature class on Cimrman. I say kudos to him.
Last night, after Jennifer got back from Houston, we went to the ALO to see the "Marriage of Figaro". It was a blast -- great music (no duh, it's Mozart after all) but also good casting, voice and character wise. Figaro is a total sitcom of an opera and I can see why the subject would have stirred quite a controversy when it was originally performed.
