With a few extra towels, just about any kitchen sink can be turned into a bath. Over the holidays, Lucie (top/left) and Ryan (bottom/right) bathed in sinks at multiple locations. Here they demonstrate the versitility of my parents' kitchen.
And what a first Christmas it was! Lucie and Ryan had many adventures over their holiday vacation. Highlights included spending Christmas day with their entire extended family (Aunt Rach and Uncle Greg pictured here); cutting down a tree at the Christmas tree farm (they spent the time in the warm office eating lunch with two big dogs); their first plane trip and road trip; and meeting many family friends of all ages.
Lucie was at her best after a recent feeding. She must laughed and giggled for 10 minutes or so while Megan and I made faces.
At nearly three months age, Lucie and Ryan demonstrate a wide range of emotions. While there has always been plenty of fussiness (particularly in the evening) and crying (especially when hungry), they now have increasingly frequent bouts of happiness, curiousity, and day-dreaming.
The sling dates back to a more primitive time before batteries and plastic. Vibration is provided by the sway of natural motion and music comes from the parental heartbeat (or dad's indigestion as the case may be). It's just you and the baby as Lucie demonstrates in our New Native Natural Baby Carrier.
We've heard some parents bathe their babies every day. Wow, I'm impressed. With the assembly line we have to set up, we're lucky if we manage baths twice a week.
Lucie and Ryan are starting to self-sooth which means we often don't have to go through the hour-long routine to get them to sleep. Wonderful development as it makes nap-time a more frequent event. But it does mean that they aren't always swaddled when they sleep -- leading to some very interesting sleep positions...
Sleep, our long-lost friend, has finally returned.
One of our earliest gifts, the Carters Bouncer, has proven to be invaluable. Once again, it's amazing to see the technology included in baby products -- vibration (an absolute must), 4 songs, volume control, and two positions. This chair has more computing power than the Apollo mission.
I have a cousin who smiled so much as a little boy that most people still call him "Smiley" 25 years later. Based on her early photogenic nature, Lucie and Kyle may have to start sharing that moniker.
Just like Mr. Brown in their favorite Dr. Seuss book, Ryan and Lucie are learning to make all sorts of wonderful noises. This morning I heard squeeks, coos, giggles, and something that Chris swears sounded like "hi" out of their little mouths. It's so much fun to listen to their little conversations and smile and coo along. Next thing we know, their vocal cords will be warmed up and just like in the book, they'll be responding to, "What does a cow say?" I think they'll do a rousing "MOO!!"
One of the most recent additions to our baby arsenal is the Fisher Price Cradle Swing. This is not your parents' swing. It comes complete with 6 speeds, electronic mobile, 4 built-in songs, 2 position cradle, and side-to-side or front-to-back motion -- all powered by 4 D cell batteries.
Why is it that the diapers get less expensive as a baby grows? The NICU used Pampers and we've stayed loyal to that brand, but Premies (P) cost $6.99 for a 20 pack (35¢ each), Newborns (N) cost $12.99 for a 40 pack (32¢ each), and Swadlers (1) cost $17.89 for a 100 pack (18¢ each).
Within the stroller stride community, the zoo is known as a great place to take babies. With miles of even pavement, plenty of bathrooms and benches, and lots of snack options, there is something for both parents and babies. Based on our visit, we'd agree even though Lucie and Ryan slept through the entire trip.
