getting some Exersauce

mama mia

recent photos (yes, we need more of Mom)

more photos from AR trip

photos from Arkansas (more to come)

hot springs, chiggers, hurt knees, and rice cereal

What do chiggers, hurt knees, and rice cereal have in common? They were all part of an interesting week for us. We had a great time in Arkansas visiting Martha's family. It was the first time for Eve to meet her Opa Bill, her Uncle Ben, and her great-aunt Nancy, and a second time to see her Oma Anne, Aunt Hannah, and cousin Elijah. We visited the once-famous hot springs bathhouses (Hot Springs was the Vegas of the early 20th century), we played golf and baseball and a board game called Apples to Apples, and we relaxed. Eve had her first solid food--a bit of rice cereal mixed with breast milk--and seemed to enjoy it. She was charming 30% of the time, fussy 20% of the time, and sleeping (while still being charming) 50% of the time. The fussiness seemed to be mostly related to teething and gas. I had my introduction to chiggers, the most vile little insects known to humanity. They leave bites that are itchier and more lasting than mosquito bites.

The only truly unfortunate news of the week is that Martha hurt her knee playing soccer last night. This was her first time playing in over a year, and her excitement turned to sadness and pain about five minutes into the game. She felt the knee give way when planting to change directions. We suspect that the injury is similar to what she had two years ago, when she sprained her MCL. There may also be problems with the meniscus and/or patellar tendon. She will see a sports medicine doctor on Thursday. For now she is on crutches. The physical pain is not too bad, whereas the psychological pain of knowing she won't be mobile for a while is worse.

Back to happier topics: pictures from the trip to come soon...

the cameraman must be awfully funny

scenes from the wedding last weekend

everything's aye oh-Kay

Here's Eve with our nanny Kay, who has been a wonderful caretaker. Also in the upper left of this picture you can see a print--given to us by Martha's Uncle Tom and his partner Taryn--that Eve smiles and laughs at whenever she looks at it. There must be another layer of meaning that only a five month old can appreciate.

she likes new clothes

weekend's festivities

On Saturday evening Martha and I went out for dinner without Eve for the first time since she was born. We went to Knight's, a casual steakhouse that seems to be a favorite with the locals (note: by locals I'm talking about born and bred in Michigan, with the Midwestern accent and everything). We had a great time talking about things other than Eve. Makes you realize how much of an attention hog Eve is (not that we mind--if you're that cute and smiley, then undivided attention is your birthright).

On Sunday we brought Eve to the wedding of Martha's colleague Stephan and his bride Fani. The wedding was at a picturesque resort on a lake about 30 miles north of Ann Arbor. Eve behaved very well and as usual enjoyed the attention of admirers (last week she had stranger anxiety for a few days, but she seems over that for now). Martha took her onto the dance floor for the Electric Slide. Photos and video to come...