Firsts

One of the things that has surprised me the most about fatherhood is how truly amazing it is to watch Maya discover the world around her. Yesterday she had a big day. We fed her food for the first time. The rice cereal we fed her didn't look terribly appetizing, but nonetheless, it was so cool to see her reaction at this new food that had been placed in her mouth. At first she didn't know what to do. The taste was entirely new, the texture was novel. You could see her mind processing it as the cereal touched her tongue. What must that be like? To taste food for the very first time, to feel a texture on your tongue that you have never felt before. I could see the wonder in her eyes, like she was instantly realizing the world of possibilities that lay ahead.

Later that night, I was giving her a bath, and she accidentally kicked the water and splashed herself in the face. At first she was startled, but after the initial shock wore off, you could see her thinking about what had happened. She got a little smirk and her face, cocked her leg back, and kicked the water again... and again... and again. She has been taking baths for almost five months, but this was the first time she had realized that she could use her own body to affect the direction of the water. It was awesome to see her put that together in her mind. She kicked her legs and splashed some water in my face, and looked at me and smiled. She was having so much fun, so I just let her kick and kick for about 20 minutes. By the time she was done, my clothes were wet, there was water on the ceiling, and there, laying in the bath was the happiest baby I had ever seen. I know this is just the beginning of new discoveries, and that's what makes it so fun. Hopefully every time she discovers something new and good about the world, it will bring her as much happiness as the time she learned how to kick in the tub.