Someday video now on Vimeo

When do we first fall in love with our kids?

Photojournalist Michael Forster Rothbart tells his story.

This story first appeared in THE MOMENT, a book of wild, poignant, life-changing stories from artists and writers famous and obscure, published by Harper Perennial in 2012.

Someday: one father's story from Michael Forster Rothbart on Vimeo.

Earlier this year, my story was published in The Moment, a collection of personal essays. Today I finished editing this video, to be shown on the Smith Magazine website and at book readings.

Natalie meets Timmy

Natalie is now 19 days old. She was due to be born in just 5 more days. She is doing well. Passed her birth weight and clocked in at 6 lbs 3 oz. last we checked. That's already half as big as our cat!

We're all doing fine and one of us (Jacob) is sleeping normally.

Here Natalie meets Timmy the Sheep. She was fascinated, and just stared and stared and stared. Before Natalie, Jacob always seemed normal size, but he grew three sizes the day she was born. Notice how huge his hand looks in relation to Natalie.

Welcome Natalie!

Please welcome Natalie Claire Forster Rothbart to the world.


Natalie was born on May 24. She surprised us all by arriving 3 weeks early. Although she is just a petite 5 1/2 pounds, she is big enough to stop everyone in their tracks. Here is Jacob, very proud to hold her for the first time when Natalie was 9 hours old.

Happy New Year!

Jacob and I built and photographed this winter scene together. Jacob is already 4 1/2, and says he wants to be a photographer when he grows up. Or a fire dog. Or a T-rex.

2010 has been a very full and wonderful year for us, and we hope it was great for you as well.

In the coming year, I pray that our lives (yours and ours) are full of activities and people that bring us joy and happiness. May our days be free from worry and our nights free from fear.

It may sound cheesy but I mean it. Happy new year!

10 Reasons Why

We Don't Have Time To Blog Anymore

1. Amy is trying to finish her dissertation.
2. Mike is trying to write a book.
3. Jacob is trying to get someone to play with him.
4. Jacob is now a train engine named Hiro.
5. We're tired.
6. We're poor.
7. We're huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
8. We are moving August 1st.
9. We are traveling to Vermont and Maine and Michigan.
10. We can't even finish this list, never mind finding time to blog.

Maybe in the fall.

Jacob and the bats

Photo by Jacob Forster Rothbart

This is Jacob's own photo of the bat puppets he made with his grandmother Irene and aunt Sarah. They used black socks and felt.


Jacob shows off his best bat grin.

Happy Halloween!

Green Thumb

Jacob waters his tomato plants on our balcony.

Mike and Jacob planted tomato and basil seeds in old water bottles back in May. They are thriving in our greenhouse-like balcony, which gets too much hot sun to use it for anything else. Jacob has been diligently watering and tending his plants. The basil is producing well and the tomatoes have buds, but we are unlikely to actually get any ripe tomatoes before we leave Kyiv (in a month!)

Davy does 20/20

Hi all,

We are breaking our long silence here to announce that Jacob's uncle Davy will be featured tonight on ABC's 20/20.

Read the article here.
See the video here. (Sorry, you'll have to suffer through an ad first).

So why our silence on all things Jacob? Honestly, we are all too busy living to spend much time recording our activities. Unfortunately.

We will be in Ukraine until the end of July and then moving to Oneonta, New York in August. Once we return to the U.S. maybe (hopefully!) we'll start blogging more again.

M

Happy Valentine's Day

How sweet it is. Photo by AFR

Jacob enjoyed helping with baking on Valentine's Day. He helped roll the dough and cut out cookies. By the end he was covered in flour, down to his toes.

The months fly by. I am very happy that my valentines are soon coming to me. Amy and Jacob will move back to Kyiv on March 1st. Ura!

Happy Hallowe'en

Photo by Irene Forster

For Hallowe'en, Jacob was a lion. He marched (or ran, actually) in the Hallowe'en parade and helped aunt Sarah pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters. And he roared at all of them. In fact, he is still roaring a day later. He also discovered those dangerous gateway drugs, M&Ms and Smarties. Roar!

mane attraction

Photo by Amy FR

Jacob and Amy got their hairs cut yesterday. Jacob's hair is no longer in his eyes, and he still has his curls, but hopefully they will be out of his face.

Yes, he is, in fact, sitting on a monkey.

separation

Last week I moved to Ukraine. I'm excited to begin my Chernobyl project, but while I am working in logistics it is very hard to be so far from my family. I must confess: last night, I was missing them so much I got up at 2:30 am to look at photos of Jacob and Amy.

Now that I am an absentee dad, maybe I'll find time to post more recent photos of Jacob. But let me tell you, it's not the same as seeing the giggly sweet lion-roaring truck-rolling boy in person.

Mike