Brewers on Deck

Every January the Brewers have their fan festival called Brewers on Deck. It's a chance for fans to start getting revved up for the new season. It's mostly activities for kids, but I got free tix from one of my vendors so we went today. The biggest kick was putting Genevieve in her retro Brewers jacket, which in fact belonged to her daddy-o back about 28 years ago. Pretty cute stuff.

This is for the G's

Genevieve has this thing about hiking up her pants leg. She's so city.

Four Months

Genevieve had her four month appointment yesterday, where she weighed in at 15 lbs 4 oz and measured 25 1/4 inches tall. Although I thought for sure she'd be over 16 pounds, the fact is that she's at the 90th percentile for both height and weight. She's starting to outgrow some of her 6 month stuff and move into 9 month. Unbelievable.

We have also been battling a wicked case of cradle cap since she was born, so we came home with a prescription for some melon oil, along with a prescription for what we thought was super dry skin but is actually eczema. Poor itchy Squishie!

Here are a couple random shots from the last week - bath time is always a fave.

Sporting a shower cap, lest we mess up the 'do

Splish-splashing while trying to moisten up her dry head


Rolls-a-plenty!

And of course, the monthly glamour shots:

Giving the camera her best coquetteish gaze


Notice the drool rope


Growing bigger than Mr. Bear


Her curly hair isn't long enough to fall down yet, so instead it sticks straight up


Practicing her slalom skiing form - winter Olympics, here I come!

We're heading to Rochester next weekend to visit with Grandma and Grandpa, along with little friends Ethan and Miles. Brace yourselves for photo overload!

Photo Bonanza

Believe it or not, we're still alive out here in the hinterlands. It's been rough going in the historic deep freeze we've been enjoying the last week or so, but today we're reveling in the tropical 20's. Just your normal 40 degree swing over the past 48 hours. Ralphie might even get a walk today which is good as he's starting to get, ahem, a tad destructive (see below).

In the meantime, Genevieve has been doing lots of growing, drooling, and playing with daddy. She has her four month appointment on Thursday and the betting is currently open regarding her height and weight percentiles. I hear the average baby is supposed to double their birth weight by six months but our money's on the four month mark.

So here are a boatload-o-pics before the inevitable four month beauty shots next weekend!

Bug feet - a delicacy


Genevieve is going through about half a dozen bibs a day.
I knew we got that high efficiency washer for a reason.


Spending time on the legs - a new favorite!


Kudos to dad for capturing the smile!


Hanging out with Grandpa Maio


Hat? Check. Links? Check. Fingers? Check.


Ralphie's hot stock tip for 2009 - invest in Gerber as mom and dad are single handedly buying them out of pacies.


Here's what I think of tummy time, dad


Two lunkers


Genevieve loves sitting up or standing, and if we try to lay her down she does baby crunches to try to sit up. Maybe she learned some Pilates in the womb.


Dueling tongues


Standing tall!

Back in the Saddle

This past Monday was the day I've been dreading since September...going back to work. The week actually hasn't been as bad as I anticipated, surely because I know Squishie is home with her dad. We are SO lucky to have Matt taking paternity leave this month, and I'll be working a flex schedule for the rest of the concert season which allows me to work from home Wednesdays and Fridays. We'll see how that goes. In the meantime my hubby has been embracing his role as Mr. Mom with great gusto. On Monday I came home to a spotless house and dinner cooking. Tuesday morning he got up and started my car for me, and when I came home there was a beautiful roast was bubbling away in the oven. Hey, maybe this isn't so bad after all.

I do, however, have to question his methods of bonding with the baby while mom's away:

Taking upside-down pictures with a diaper on her head. His version of art?


Attempting to launch herself over the Boppy


Eating bugs - always a favorite


Learning to razz (and going through about a dozen bibs a day)

Happy New Year - Anniversary Edition

Three short years ago Matt and I had a rockin' New Year's Eve. We had a lovely wedding ceremony, followed by a party where the adult beverages flowed, the dancing didn't stop, and everyone looked gooooooooood. For our first anniversary, I got a diamond watch. For our second, we spent a long weekend partying in Chicago. For our third, we treated ourselves to a 4-star restaurant that accepts babies: Chez Maio.

Dinner at home...the times, they are a'changing!

Genevieve went down hard at 7 (hallelujah!) and from there Matt and I tag-teamed in the kitchen. We started with mixed greens with warm goat cheese, followed by steaks with garlic butter and a fantastic penne ala vodka, and ended with fresh strawberry gratins and champagne. The marsala sabayon in the gratins was enough to clear anyone's mid-winter cold, so if you're feeling stuffy just c'mon by and I'll whip one up for you. After our gastronomic adventure we watched our wedding video and by some miracle were able to stay up until midnight (was anyone else feeling a little sorry for Dick Clark??). So while it wasn't a swingin party, it was fun to re-live the memories of our wedding and then head upstairs to see our little sleeping Squish.

Fortunately Chez Maio does not have a dress code

One of my New Year's Eve traditions is putting my wedding dress on. First to make sure it still fits (it does), and second because I am still totally in love with it and firmly believe it should not spend its entire life packed away in the closet. Although not that apparent in the pic, Genevieve was smiling and talking when I asked her if she liked it. Smart girl.

Happy 2009 to you all!

Tis the season

Genevieve spent her first Christmas traveling here, there, and everywhere, and getting totally spoiled with presents ('atta girl!). Matt put his fancy sheepskin to good use by expertly packing the Pilot several times over the last week, starting on the 22nd when we headed to Rochester. Genevieve was very good on her first long car trip. She slept only part of the time but kept herself entertained when awake. Grandma and Grandpa Martin got tons of baby time and Miss G met her uncle Grant for the first time. Grant could work for a sound effects company, and his crazy noises kept Genevieve pretty entertained. On Monday night Matt went to hang with Kyle (of Kyle & Robin fame) and baby and I went to my mom's department party. The baby was hijacked from me and paraded about. Everyone there said, "Oh, I know you from your pictures". For those of you who are reading this now, you are wonderful colleagues for politely pretending to care.

Holiday ensemble 1 of about 20

Tuesday night brought a little party at my parent's house so all of the neighbors could meet the wee one as well. Kyle & Robin came over with their tot, Miles, and it was amazing to see how fast he is growing up. He's rolling like a champ so we tried to get Genevieve to watch and learn...no such luck. Miles has two itty bitty black dogs at home, and was quite taken with Ralphie. He wanted to crawl toward him so bad...just a few more days and he'll surely be motoring all over the place.

Trading babies


Auntie Robin helps Genevieve open her present


Hey, a pic of me and my buddies!


Dude, who needs blocks when there's paper to chew on?


Seriously mom, this is so uncool


The glorious Bumbo!


Checking out her new piano with daddy

We came home on Friday and spent Saturday at the Maio family Christmas, where Genevieve got to meet yet another pack-o-family. She behaved very well and was once again loaded down with gifts from Grandma & Grandpa, including a Baby Einstein bouncer seat which I can't wait for her to use.

Sporting a gift from Uncle Ken


Hanging out with cousin Dylan


Goodnight Gorilla - you get one guess who that's from