Mini Mozart

Things have been so crazy lately that I keep forgetting to share some of the awesome stuff that happens at our home. Time to play catch up...

Rae was giving a piano by her honorary grandma Robin. We were elated! She loves playing the piano. In fact we have two iPad apps, one toy piano that teaches colors/numbers, and one mini pink upright piano already. Being given a full size upright piano was the cherry on top of the sundae. Rae is able to sit in her wheelchair and push the ivory keys till her hearts content.

This is especially important for a couple of reasons:

1. She is completely engaged. When she is happy her touch is soft and gentle. When she is upset she bangs on them with all her might while sputtering baby curse words.

2. It motivates her to use her hands! This is critical for Rett girls because many lose purposeful use of their hands. As long as she will reach out to tickle those ivories then I'm going to encourage and enable her to do so.

3. Rae loves making music!

Tears and Giggles

As I sat anxiously in the hospital wheelchair, Rae in front of me soundly sleeping safely buckled into her car seat, waiting for dad to drive up to the door I gained some interesting insight into our little girl. She does not concern herself with the wails and sobs of others. The peaceful quiet in the hospital foyer was immediately disrupted when the elevators doors opened and the screeching cries of another newborn heading home shattered the silence. I turned to see if Rae was disturbed by this intruder...she was not. In fact, she slept through his high pitched wailing and I swear she let out an exsacerbated sigh (similar to the ones her father often makes). I jokingly told my mother that my child had no empathy.

I did not give it much thought after the sliding doors shut behind us, effectively ending his serenade, but her can't be bothered by tears attitude morphed into one that finds the sounds of sorrow to be amusing. The first time she laughed at my tears it made me cry even harder, which of course made her laugh more. Over and over she would crack grins and giggles at the sound of someone's sorrow. It also unlocked a tool for us to whip out whenever she is crying...and it works! During the middle of a tantrum, complete with crocodile tears, I will pretend to cry...heaving my shoulders up and down while wailing. She laughs. Sometimes it is a cry/laugh combo, but she laughs and I'll take it because it is enough to distract her from whatever she was pitching a fit over.

What is funnier is when she laughs at cartoons and sitcoms. Sometimes it is very subtle and other times it is a full blown belly laugh. My kid has very little empathy for others and it cracks me up. I have started telling her that the person she is laughing at is hurt, upset, or might need help, but I still can't help laughing at her wicked sense of humor.

Rae listening to Meg on Family Guy cry.

Calendar Girl

I used to aspire to be a photographer that traveled the world and captured those "unseen" moments that many people miss (you have to be very patient). I like capturing those moments.

I am not a traveling photographer. Heck, anymore I barely even call myself a photographer (my family would argue that point with me). My life went in another direction. I still travel, but usually really short distances like to the doctors or to visit family up north.

However, I do still LOVE photography and when Rae was very little (seems so long ago), I started a series (which I never finished) for a calendar. Every month I picked a theme and took pictures of Rae.

January 2011: New Year Baby

February 2011: Little Cupid

March 2011: Catching the Rainbow

April 2011: April Showers

(I was thinking April showers brings May flowers)

May 2011: Brings May Flowers

???

I never made it past April, but these are still some of my favorite photographs I took of Rae. The last two photographs were inspired by another Mom named Adele who writes a blog called Mila's Daydreams (she also has a book). Until I saw the images she created of her daughter I felt despair. How was I going to photograph all those images I dreamed up during my pregnancy when Rae couldn't sit or stand? Adele gave me another way perspectives for those photographs...an aerial view.

I encourage you all to take a crack at this kind of photography with your babies. It is fun and produces some imaginative images. If you don't believe me check out the fan art Adele inspired other parents to create. For an added bonus, you can do the photos while they are sleeping which is sometimes SO much easier.