Actual first smile was a couple of weeks ago, but this is the first one captured on camera. Beyond the thrill we get for obvious reasons, the smile is always great to see just as a sort of benchmark that for that moment, at least, everything is OK so far in our daughters' lives; a "so-far-so-good" reassurance with respect to our parenting skills.
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10 comments:
Thank God for photograph technology. Beautiful shot!
Thanks and thanks. As adults, its hard for us to know what about our comforting embrace will, at one moment, bring a smile and at another moment bring meltdown. And when the smiles come, we're still not exactly sure what's going on in their little heads. But MAN, those smiles can make it all so worthwhile.
Strange that we should suffer so much fear & doubt over so small a thing.
It's an odd thing, the smile. Why is that the 'universal' symbol for 'life is good'? What are the mechanism that are involved and why do they develop so quickly?
Perhaps we as humans will evolve more toward the thumbs up.
As we (over here in Iowa City) make the initial plans to have children (nothing yet, so nothing to report there), it's a great thing to see pics like this.
Coincidentally, This American Life recently did a show on unconditional love, and did two long stories on parents faced with huge parenting challenges (one child with autism, another child with an adjustment disorder). Fascinating to listen to, particularly to hear first-hand from the parents how they sought ways to provide the environment for their children despite huge odds.
Certainly parents in general, but especially parents of special needs children are remarkable.
Wonderful looking little girl Dan! You are a blessed man indeed. I am sure that you will provide your two daughters with so much joy that you will get many millions of smiles in return.
T-Clog: Thanks-so far so good.
On the other discussion; there's a test you can do along the way during pregnancy to see whether your child will have down syndrome. We elected not to do it. It's one of those things thats like-what, what are they suggesting by offering that test? It kind of makes me sudder. Obviously, you feel amazingly happy & blessed to not have a child born with special needs, but we were fully prepared to play the hand we were dealt.
But I've always thought it's one thing to take care of your own special needs kid, but can you imagine being one of those amazing people that adopts not a beautiful little bundle of perfection, but a cocaine baby or a baby out of child protection services or something like that? These are some of the biggest heroes in the world-doing something I can't imagine doing.
Shudder, not sudder.
A benign explanation for the test would be that it would allow you to prepare, both mentally and more practically.
Agreed that people who volunteer for such things amazing.
I hope that's it.
Though the reality is profoundly retarded newborns and regular newborns are pretty damned similar in behavior. Sleeping, feeding, diaper changes, and comforting.
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