It is hard to capture Yasmina's smile. It flits about her face unless you are right there talking back to her facial expressions, answering her coos.

It is even harder to coax her laughter. Her first laugh made its way into our lives on the Tuesday of that week that Rich was working so late. I was holding her and alternately talking to her and nursing her, when she looked up at me and bubbled up a laugh. Poor Rich had to get a phone call to hear about it.

Her next good laugh came on the Saturday night after that when our friends, our bishop and a deacon were leaving our house. I was at the door with Rachelle telling her we'd try to be at church on time the next day. We have been late (egregiously so on several Sundays) just about every Sunday since we've had Yasmina, and not only are we responsible for many things that need to be brought to church, but we are also a large part of our weakened congregation now. That Sunday, Rich was being installed as a lay eucharistic minister and licensed to dispense the reserved sacrament. We needed to be on time. As I was saying this to Rachelle, Yasmina laughed. Out loud. Not a chuckle or giggle, either, but a full on laugh. Rachelle tweaked her baby cheeks and told her that it was her fault that her parents were late to church.

It has only been two and a half weeks since that first laugh, and she is already cooing and babbling and laughing to communicate with us. She and I have sweet conversations at night when she wants to sit up and be with me without eating. She has her quality communication with her father at around 4:00 a.m. Sweet man! He is so good about walking the floors with her, bouncing her and just having conversation when I am exhausted, and he needs to sleep, too.

Jerome not only laughs at the drop of a hat, but also the donning of one (or two):
The blue hat belongs to Jerome, but it is too big. When we got the cream one, we thought we'd put the blue one away until it fit him, but he prefers us wearing it. In the morning he had me put it on, and when Rich came home from work, he put it on his father. Then he asked me to take a smile. Which is what he says when he wants a picture taken.

Labels: Family