We finally confirmed the definition of Lake’s word Baba. It’s been one of his favorite words in constant rotation from the very beginning. We thought he was babbling (and maybe he was). Lately however, it’s taken on a more prominent and clear role in his working vocabulary. In the morning often, or at other times, he’ll run through what appears his list of favorites: Mama, Dada, Nana, Baba, Jo “Doe”, so I started wondering who is Baba?

It’s not “baby”, cause he knows that one. Baby! Happy! Happy Baby! Happy! Baby! Me, he’s been known to enthuse.

Michael figured out, “it’s your chest. Lake sees his source of milkies as another entity unto itself. There’s Mama and then there’s Baba.” Really? Wow! That’s pretty special. He counts me twice! Does that make me a Double Tolle Americano?

I’ve been breastfeeding Lake since he was born. Keeping in mind the World Health Organization guidelines on global breastfeeding initiative: exclusively until 6 months, then until at least age two. I have never put any pressure on myself or Lake to meet these guidelines, choosing instead to simply breastfeed but not pump. Meanwhile, the WHO benchmarks have been there as a reference point and a source of support. The initiative silently cheering me on. So Lake has gotten plenty of breastfeeding in his life thus far. It’s a familiar regularity.

Then as the weeks passed and Lake continued to rattle off Nana, Baba, I began again to question the identity of Baba. It still was open to possibly in my mind. Was it Grandpa? A variation on Papa as we sometimes refer to him as for Lakes benefit. Before we could really go all in for calling my Dad Baba, we needed absolute confirmation from Lake himself.

I received that assurance today when I came home for Lunch with Lake. As we were getting ready for a milkies nap, he started saying Baba. Baba. I asked Lake

Who is Baba?

He gently patted my breast. Baba. Baba.

Okay, got it! It couldn’t be any more clear than that. How sweet is that? Baba equals the milk source. Michael was right all along.

I get counted twice!

We often shop at the University Farmers’ Market on Saturdays. It’s open 9am-2pm all year, which is fantastic! We love getting to know our local farmers and bakers and chefs.

We are definitely fans of the Farm to Table resurgence, which runs as a prominent theme in our home. Lake’s “farm to table” experience comprises all his favorite words: cow, moo, ba ba, hat (when, naturally you wear the container on your head), and now towel and Tisch, the German word for table. So we had fun at dinner tonight with Luisa!

Also, he is such a ham! Organic and free range of course!

The law of entropy is definitely at work in Lake’s sphere of influence. Entropy: the trend toward disorder. Lake can help a bit, but I feel I spend a daily amount of energy returning order in the closed thermodynamic system that is our household. It’s invaluable to have the calming presence of the cats and Luisa and Michael, all very much in contrast to Lake’s uncanny ability to scatter an organized set of absolutely anything. And he seems to have so many sets of toys that are meant to stay together but are designed to come apart. Stacking blocks, and stacking rings, Legos and Mega Bloks, and bath animals and a fishing set, wooden puzzles, and a picnic set with sliceable wooden fruits and vegetables which also come apart. Even when each set has its own bag or box or basket, by the end of the day there is inevitably an equidistant scattering of equivalent size homogenized objects littering all Lake accessible areas. The fish are with the blocks are with the rings are with the Legos. What can I say: he likes to mix things up! And it’s somehow still a perfect day.

So you know you’re living life to the fullest when you’re so tired you…

…place toothpaste on the palm of your hand to apply as your face cream.

And still, or maybe because of, this is a perfect day.

This time our twinning was serendipitous! Lake’s new Au Pair, Luisa, dressed him after I had already left for work. We didn’t have much time to speak in the morning as I was running out the door and she was rolling out of bed. She didn’t really notice my outfit as we did the Lake handoff in the bleary hours of the pre-coffee morning. It was a delightful surprise when they arrived at Harborview for lunch and… we match!

Lake walks around these days saying,

Happy!

clear as a bell.

My heart? It is absolutely singing.

Lake loves a good apple. Michael taught him to say it, and now he calls them an

Aah-ppoo

Its a proud declaration.

You are the cat’s meow!

I said to Lake.

Reow

He answered.

The cat’s meow!!

said I.

Reow!

He responded again.

You are the cat’s meow, Lake!!!

*gales of laughter by both parties ensue*

We couldn’t have dreamed of a more beautiful snowy holiday for Lake’s first memorable Christmas. It was very special timing and heightened the sense of festivities. Look, Lake… it’s snowing!

Michael was the most excited! We went out for a Christmas Eve romp in the snow. We tossed snowballs and stuck out our tongues. At first Lakes didn’t know what to make of it, but as he warmed up to it he had a great time playing in the snow and visiting with friends and family. All the neighbors were out on Christmas Eve and an impromptu sledding party ensued. Mummy and Daddy gave it a go, but Lake drew the line at sledding… not for him; not this year. He likes to watch the snow from his high-up perch!

In the morning the city was still blanketed in a glittering icy shawl and we celebrated our Christmas joy with a run. I ran to yoga with Jodi Boone and Michael continued on his run around Greenlake. A special Christmas Day.

In the afternoon we were more than happy to sit around the fireplace feeling cozy and content. We ate all the delicious food that Nana prepared and caught up on stories with each other. I told Lake the story of the Christkind, and how he has all of God’s love inside him too. A perfect day; I’m glad I spent it with you!

Merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten!