Eve likes vacation

Eve is having a good time. She likes the warm air, the ocean sounds, and the constant attention from a large number of people. Because it's vacation time, she's decided to eat a little more than usual. My mom commented that she's never heard a baby slurp breast milk with such loud contentment. We'll be interested to weigh her when we return on Saturday.

We (Martha, Eve, and Daniel) have been mostly hanging around the pool and relaxing. Other members of the family view vacation as time to be active, and have been snorkeling, scuba diving, and working out. Time will tell which type of vacationer Eve is.

the power of perspective

By occupying the foreground, Eve hides the fact that she is less than 60% the size of her cousin Eli.

buenos dias de Mexico

Eve seems to like it down here. Yesterday she met her uncles, aunts, and nephew on my side of the family, and celebrated her 2 month birthday. She's especially excited about trying out her warm-weather clothes. Below you can see her UV-proof swim wear.

Eve will feel the warmth of the sun...

for the first time in her little life. We're off to Cancun tomorrow morning. 20 degrees here, 80 degrees there. We'll post updates!

guess who dressed her today

Eve can go to Lake Wobegon

Eve is now slightly above the median in weight for girls her age (11 lbs, 3 oz at 8 wks). Quite a comeback from being born around the 20th percentile. She's barely fitting her into her newborn and even some of her 0-3 month clothes. I guess she is now welcome in Lake Wobegon.

Valentine's day bath for cherub

Popeye arms

good times

Last night started out well for Eve and then it got even better.

she doesn't choose what she wears

big night of sports viewing

Tonight is hands-down Eve's biggest night of sports viewing yet.

At 7 pm the U.S. plays Mexico in a World Cup qualifier. The U.S. is in good shape to make the World Cup (to be played in summer 2010 in South Africa) regardless of the outcome, but Mexico is their biggest rival. The U.S. hasn't lost at home versus Mexico in many years.

At 9 pm another pair of rivals face each other: UNC versus Duke in college basketball. Eve's first UNC-Duke game...if that's not a big deal, I don't know what is.

right back at you

baby sounds

yawning with effort

waking up

the half smile

the secret to Eve's sleep?

Eve cried a lot more than usual yesterday evening, but then had her best night of sleep yet (six straight hours to begin the night). So we're thinking that we just need to get her good and pissed off before bedtime every night.

There wasn't any obvious reason for her crying last night. She was warm and clean and fed and without apparent digestive problems. We figure that she is becoming more and more attuned to day and night, and when night arrives she feels so tired she just can't stand it.

Another exciting development is that she is starting to make new sounds. Nothing remotely intelligible, but clearly distinct from her usual infantile wails. And her smiles are becoming more convincing. I think within the next week they will be unmistakably real. We haven't exactly figured out how to make her smile, but she definitely has us figured out.

homemade jacuzzi

thank you to Oma E and Opa E

My parents left yesterday after a one week visit by my dad and a 2.5 week visit by my mom. We want to thank them again for all the wonderful help and care they provided, including great food, babysitting, and help with projects around the house. We are grateful for all the support and care from both sides of the family during this beginning of parenthood. You have helped us get off to a great start. Thank you! love, Daniel, Martha, & Eve

weight check

10 lbs 7 oz (with 3 or 4 oz of diapers and clothes).

Martha is starting to call her "little chub-chub."

Eve is not the only one with a winter birthday

Eve charming us all

surprise at the end

sleep versus Eve

heading for double digits

Eve is now at 6 weeks and 9 lbs 14.5 oz (including about 3 oz of clothes). Way to go, little girl. We are eagerly awaiting her first real smile...her half smiles and pump-fake smiles quickly turning into looks of disgust are not going to cut it. Otherwise her company continues to be a pleasure. She is sleeping and feeding well, and rarely cries unless she's hungry. I just jinxed us, I know...

Opa E has joined Oma E at our house, and they'll be visiting until Friday. Just long enough to celebrate a certain someone's birthday on Wednesday the 4th.

Today felt like spring, as the temperature reached over 30 for the first time in weeks. Opa E and I went cross-country skiing in the Arboretum, which is a park very close to our house. This was my second time going cross-country skiing, and it felt like I was learning to walk. It's good exercise, because my novice form requires about 10 times more energy than it should.

We didn't watch much of the Superbowl, because we've been more into Carolina basketball and Spanish soccer lately. FC Barcelona is just amazing to watch (sorry Ana!). Whenever Martha catches me watching soccer on TV, I explain to her that I'm watching "one of the best teams in the world," no matter which teams are on. But now that I'm mainly watching Barcelona, it's true...they are making soccer into an art form.