Rebozo

Kayalá likes to be carried in a "rebozo" - the traditional Maya shawl/wrap/baby-carrier. I never really got the hang of it with Chely, and I still don't dare carry a baby on my back - I don't have enough practice and am too afraid she will fall out. But I do sometimes use the rebozo with Kayalá on my front. I can even nurse her while she's snuggled up in it.

Kayalá being carried by Great-Aunt Juana in a rebozo:

Chely news

With friend Julissa making stencil drawings:

On a sleepover with neighbor Maya:

Satisfied after successfully executing a magic trick:

Nostalgia

Kayalá is still so little, but already I find myself feeling sad and nostalgic at times, as her infancy slips away. Now that I've seen Chely grown from baby to toddler to preschooler, I know how quickly the time goes, and I want so badly to hold on to it as it...slips...away...

Of course I will be excited when Kayalá first stands up, says her first word, and so on .... and of course each stage brings its own gifts and wonders... but I feel no rush whatsoever, no rush at all to leave this period in her life. I don't even feel any rush to leave behind the more difficult parts - for instance, to be able to enjoy easier exursions out of the house without having to deal with potential blow-out diaper explosions ... because even the challenging elements are part of the package of this particular, precious time in her life.

This feeling of nostalgia is especially poignant since we've decided that Kayalá is our last child. Unless we adopt a baby, that is, which is a real possibility. But even if we have a third child, I am aware that for Kayalá, this special time of babyhood lasts but a brief moment.

I find myself completely treasuring this time, wanting it to last and last and last.

This is my last week...

...of maternity leave.

You will find me holding Kayalá, playing make-believe with Chely, changing diapers, nursing, gazing at smiles, delighting in sisters' laughter, and enjoying every precious moment.

Visit from Juana and Jacqui

Edwin's aunt Juana and second-cousin Jacquilin came to visit last weekend. Jacqui and Chely played a ton, and Juana took it upon herself to do some chores around the house. She'd been wanting for some time to meet the new baby. She said that Kayalá looks like Edwin's older brother -- and like his mother.



Great-Aunt Juana might take care of Kayalá for a month or so when I go back to work on September 14th. While I appreciate and enjoy my work, I am getting sad about having to cut back on my time with the children...

Hand-me-down dress

Chely asked me to put this dress on Kayalá:

Here is Chely wearing the same dress as a baby:

The sisters like to lie together on the bed and hold hands:

A love of reading

'Cause in our book it's never too soon to start reading!

Language poll results

The results are in!

The question:
What language(s) should Chely learn next?

The results:
Q'eqchi' Mayan won, with 8 votes. French came in second, with 7 votes; Chinese in third place, with 6. Portuguese got 4 votes. Euskara and "other" each logged 3 votes.

Thanks for voting!

Now you can vote in the corn-based foods poll, upper right section of the blog.