And we're back!

We've had lots of visitors lately and now it's time to return to the blog!

The first visitor was Nana (also known as Jim's Mom/Mindy).


It turns out that she has a lot of experience with babies. Evie is her third granddaughter!


Nana/Mindy/Mom had never been to Hampstead Heath before, so Evie wanted to take her for a walk. It was a little chilly, but Evie made sure she was warm and cozy in her baby Bjorn and she ordered her Dad and Nana some coffee before we headed out:


We walked and walked....


And then we went and ate some huge pieces of cake at a Hungarian cafe at which point Evie demanded that we go home and proceeded to scream loudly for about two days straight. Fortunately Nana was there to save the day and the night!


In addition to lots of love from Nana, we employ other techniques to help with Evie's difficult periods. This is one of the most effective:


Fortunately, in due time, things got back to normal. First she smiled:


Then she once again took an interest in her personal fashion (outfit courtesy of Aunt Mendy, Olivia and Jenna):


Just in time because Papa came to visit, too!


Even though he was pretty tired from the flight over, Evie insisted that he see her neighborhood, so we went to lunch.


Of course, when it comes down to it, Evie's lunch really comes before everyone else's.


Lucky for her, she everyone wrapped around her little fingers, so no one really minds eating lunch after it's gotten cold:


But her favorite meal so far is Nana's Bulgogi. YUMMY! She especially likes when everyone breathes on her with their kimchee breath.


Like Nana, Papa knows all the moves. First he told her she was beautiful


Then he held her for a long time:


He fed her (always a highlight in Evie's life):


And he gave her a Swedish massage:


What a lucky girl! We were all sad when Jim's parents went back to Houston, but it was a great visit!

There's a new chair in town!

...and it vibrates!



Evie inherited a vibrating chair which seems to be providing her with a little peace and is getting her out of her sling (which I have begun permanently wearing because it seemed like the only way to appease her, thus perpetuating the Princess Leah as Jedi Warrior look). The vibrating chair seems to make her happy! She is smiling (sort of)! She squirms around happily as evidenced in the picture above (actually, she is squirming OUT of it in that picture..but don't worry grandparents! I have fixed that.) And it also might give us a break from furiously bouncing on the yoga ball at all hours of the day and night! Hooray for the vibrating chair!

Valentines Day

This year we had a little more to love on Valentines Day. Evie was so excited, she wanted to get started at 3am! By 5:30 she had everyone up (cats included), but fortunately, as part of his Valentines gift to me (and weekend duties), Jim took over the beginning of Evie's first Valentines day and I went back to bed for a few more hours. I love when Valentines day falls on the weekend!

Part of the reason Evie was so excited to get Valentines Day started was that she knew she would get to wear the Valentines dress that Gram got her. Although she is a fashionista, she is also practical and chose to wear the dress over her warm green pajamas. What a trendsetter!


A few screaming minutes later, we were off for a walk and lunch at a pub.


Jim got Evie a balloon for her stroller. She screamed with joy (Note: she might only be one month old, but she LOVES balloons. We tie them to her changing table and they are a great distraction):


At the pub, they said she had a 'cute' cry. We were glad they felt that way. Once she got her milk, she was cute and QUIET (which makes her extra cute). She was mesmerized by the giant TV and placed some bets on horse races.



She asked that she have her picture taken alone at the top of Parliament Hill. She strives to be independent:


But then I insisted that she let me pose with her because I wanted to see how my red sweater turned out in the artsy picture. She did not protest, but slept peacefully.


It was a fun Valentines Day. In the evening, Jim grilled us steaks, asparagus and mushrooms and we managed to get Evie to sleep long enough that we could eat dessert at the same time--chocolate fondant and ice cream! YUM.

Annoying

I was really excited because I downloaded Picasa and the program put the pictures on my blog SO FAST. I thought it would be a great way to blog. Alas, there seem to be some technical difficulties, so I will try (Evelyn permitting) to re-post all of the pictures the old fashioned way. Stay tuned....

UPDATE: it's fixed (by me).

Don't forget the cats: By Finch and Jack

There are some things that never change.

1. The front window is where all the action happens.


2. One day I (Jack) am going to develop super-cat powers and get out of the front window. At that point, I am going to KILL that black and white cat. Until then, I'll take my frustrations out on Finchley.


3. I (Finchley) still think I'm part obese merekat.


4. Clearly we are the superior beings!*


*Her parents made us disclose that she isn't really cross-eyed. She just was looking really closely at one of her jungle gym toys. And we also are being forced to say that even when her eyes are crossed, we think she's still really cute. Gag.

New kind of social life

Never fear, all you people who are getting sick of reading about Evie. Although she will still be front and center, we ARE planning a trip to Barcelona over Easter. So that's the good news. The bad news is that Easter is still a ways away. Hopefully we'll get out for some walks or something between now and then.

We do have somewhat of a social life, although it still revolves around Evie. On Sunday we got together with our prenatal group for lunch at a pub. The last time we were all together, was before we had our babies and even though the Moms had gotten together for coffee, this was our first time to see all the Dads in action. Plus there was a big football game on and a big Rugby tournament (the six nations or something like that). So, it was pretty funny to see a bunch of couples with tiny babies and strollers in the middle of the pub. Everyone seemed pretty relaxed and happy.

Alan and Caroline with Sorrel:


Richard and Anu at the bar:


Jim fed while I ate. Then I proceeded to drip parsnip soup on Evie's head (it wasn't hot and it gave her a new smell for the day):


George demonstrates how to burp a baby and drink a beer at the same time (very important skill to master):


Kate and Toby tag team on the feeding/eating thing (this is also how we eat dinner at home these days--one eats while the other holds Evie):


Joan and Niah:


Evie's favorite spot:


Chatting with Marjorie and Zoe:


It was fun to get out and socialize with our new friends. After that, Evie and I went for our first walk together in Hampstead Heath, where I discovered that pushing a stroller up hill is really hard.

Vintage snowsuit

Jim and Scott both wore this snowsuit when they were babies. It's still keeping Evie warm over 40 years later. They don't make things like they used to!