The best sound(s) in the world

Raviv's giggles are some of the best sounds in the world. To have the ability to make a little baby giggle makes one feel so good. This morning he was very happy. Bil has been in NYC for the last two-ish weeks and came home for a long weekend. While he was gone Raviv was out of sorts- he seemed to be whiny and needed to be held a lot. Since Bil has been back, Raviv has been his normal happy self. I didn't think he would (could?) miss his Aba so much and it is nice to know that he really sees us as his family, even at five months.

I really love my family. Shae (the fat cat) and Raviv are starting to bond. Shae joins us for bedtime books every night and in the morning while Raviv plays on the floor while I shower, she lays in front of him and watches. It is really sweet given that Shae was so jealous in the beginning. Shae wanted to be the baby- when I would put Raviv on the nursing pillow (unfortunately called "my brest friend" however that is an apt description as it really is an amazing invention- much better than the boppy) Shae would climb up onto the pillow as well and perch her fat self on the other side of Raviv. Given that Raviv was born in February and Shae is fat, warm, furry and purrs I decided it wasn't a problem. Tuli (the not-as-fat cat) has been very maternal to me. She sits with (and by with I mean in the same room) as me when I'm feeling especially worn out or overwhelmed. Animals are so instinctual. Actually, while I was in labor, Tuli hung out with me and wasn't phased at all by my sounding (moaning/chanting) and I found that to be reassuring and calming.

The other best sound in the world happens just after I insert the squishy foam earplugs into my ears. As they expand, and drown out the rest of the world, I feel that I can finally relax. I don't get an opportunity to use them often, and never needed them until I had a baby. I find that I always have "one-ear-open" for Raviv and so even when I sleep, it isn't too restful. Bil doesn't notice Raviv calling to be fed in the middle of the night, I think because he doesn't have to. So when Bil is home and can watch Raviv while I take a nap, I have to completely block out the sound. I relinquish all responsibility for those few minutes and it is fantastic!

I want to comment on something else and it has to do with movie previews- and since this is my blog I will (having a blog is so self-indulgent isn't it?). Last night Bil and I went to a movie. I had wanted to go see "Food, Inc" because I just finished Michael Pollan's book The Omnivore's Dilemma and wanted to share what I learned with Bil. I know he won't read the book so I figure a film would be much more effective than me lecturing about the amount of corn and petrol we ingest and how "organic" doesn't necessarily mean Eco-friendly or healthier. I have always tried to eat organic/local but now I am committed on a whole new level. Especially as I think about Raviv and how I want to feed him*. Anyway, given that we rarely go to the movies, and that Bil doesn't like scary movies (and I think Food, Inc. will probably be scary, but not in a slasher way) we decided to go to a comedy. We purchased our tickets to "the Hangover" and took our seats. Now, for those who have been to the movies with me, you know that I LOVE previews. So I was very excited to see what was coming up (granted, I go to one or two movies a year), expecting to see previews for other comedies. If you recall from a few sentences ago, Bil doesn't like scary movies (and frankly, neither do I), so you can imagine our displeasure when the first preview is for some horror movie. He closes his eyes and I tell him when the preview is over and it is safe to look. Unfortunately, four of the six previews were for bad horror movies. I didn't realize that the market was big enough to have four coming out so close together, but clearly whoever is in charge of marketing doesn't really know their audience too well anyway- why show so many of these previews at a comedy? We had begun to think we were in the wrong theater and almost went to out to check the marquee (although that would have required opening our eyes). Anyway, our jovial date-night fun mood was somewhat ruined before the movie started. Given that it wasn't that funny of a movie, it took a while for us to recapture it. Bil didn't like the movie much. I thought it was okay, but don't rush to go see it.


*As I wrote this I was steaming some organic baby beets I got from a local farm stand. I was so distracted that I let the water boil down and the house got all smokey. Luckily our fire alarm didn't go off, which is strange since it is so sensitive, or Raviv would have woken up and cried. His crying is NOT a sound I enjoy.