Saturday, July 31, 2004


Grandpa and Grandma Harrington have arrived Posted by Hello

Grandma loves to hold me Posted by Hello

I match my diaper bag. I'm stylish. Posted by Hello

We share a love for naps Posted by Hello

Frogs! I have frogs on my clothes! Posted by Hello

Monday, July 26, 2004

Mercy, it was hot

Over the weekend, it hit 95 degrees here, in a city where most people don't have air conditioning.  It was easily a record high.  We retreated to the attic room, which usually isn't the coolest, but where we have a window-unit air conditioner from Great Grandpa and Grandma H.  One of us was down to her diapers even, and drank lots of milk to stay hydrated.  We did venture out a little, to the farmer's market and to Home Depot. 

Yesterday we did a LOT.  We walked three miles around Green Lake, we went to the giant baby store, and we made a 10 pm run to Ben and Jerry's.  The beanlet was strapped into her car seat three times in one day.  All these trips would have been inconceivable a week ago, so we are definitely (all of us) making progress.  The baby did well, mostly sleeping while strapped in her "BabyBjorn" front-pack carrier or in her car seat.  I think she likes the rocking motion.  As another sign of our progress, S. carried the baby herself for over half of the walk around the lake. 

I began paternity leave three weeks ago tomorrow.  It has been great.  I realized I had not taken more than a day off here or there since last July, so I was certainly due.  I am taking another 6 days off, and then it is back to work.

- M.

Thursday, July 22, 2004

The Perfectly Proportioned Baby

Today we took another trip to the pediatrician.  Claire Helen is at the 90th percentile in each of the three baby measurement categories: height, weight, and head circumference. Exactly. Which means she is 21.5 inches, 10 pounds (again, exactly), with a 15 inch around head (this means the diameter is about 4.37 inches. You know you were wondering.).

Everything else checked out, too, which was relieving.  Her belly button was healing a bit slow, so they put some silver nitrate on it.  Our pediatrician is really nice, and seems very good.

Grandma Ann left today, departing on her 12 hour drive to Nevada City at 7:30 this morning.  After she was gone, we all looked at each other and said, "Now what?"  It won't be easy to keep things going around here (not least in the baking department) without her help.  But reinforcements are on the way!

Tuesday, July 20, 2004

Claire Helen is two weeks old

At night, Claire sleeps about two hours at a time.  Though one night this weekend, she slept in two four-hour chunks.  That was nice.  She also sleeps much of the day.  But when she is awake she is very alert.
 
The animals are adjusting pretty well.  Sadie ignores the baby, Mishka is pretty sure the baby wants to eat her, and the dog is sometimes a little insecure.  About what we expected.
 
We have had a lot of visitors lately-- friends, neighbors, and relatives.  Claire handles it well.  We hope to add a page to this website for "Claire Helen's friends" to show her with all these visitors.

Walking to the bluff Posted by Hello

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She is skeptical Posted by Hello

We had a picnic Posted by Hello

Discovery Park Posted by Hello

Claire Helen goes to the park Posted by Hello

Grandma is keeping us well fed Posted by Hello

Tuesday, July 13, 2004

Claire Helen is one week old

Things are starting to settle down here, or at least the chaos is becoming routinized. Dave Barry says that though people try to make babies out to be very complicated, they really only have three moods: about to cry, crying, and just finished crying. The trick to prolong the third one as long as you can.

Fortunately, however, our baby is pretty good natured. She only cries when she wants something. And since she only ever wants to be fed, to be held, or to be changed (mostly the first one), she is easy to please. It's hard to believe she doesn't know how to smile yet, because she acts like she's smiling all the time. Her coos warm you up, and there's nothing softer in the world than our baby's cheek.

It has been incredibly helpful to have Grandma Ann here. We wouldn't be nearly so cheerful about new parenthood without her help. She does all the cooking, grocery shopping, kitchen cleaning, helps out with the changing and laundry, and is great company. Most importantly, she exudes "new grandma." We also REALLY appreciate how she takes the baby after 7 am, so we parents who were up late can catch up on sleep.

Little Claire is already changing before our eyes. Her face is more expressive, her head is reshapen, and her cord fell off yesterday.

- M & S

Sunday, July 11, 2004


July 10, showing off her baby blues Posted by Hello

Baby appendages Posted by Hello

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Three generations Posted by Hello

Grandma Ann arrives Posted by Hello

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Day Three Posted by Hello

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Thursday, July 08, 2004


Arriving home the next night. Posted by Hello