Jamherst’s Weblog

Wow – I guess I’d better update this before her 7th month is over!!!

The 6th month was pretty exciting.  She has a visit from good friends Bryan & Caroline who helped her bounce and make her smile.

This month we moved her crib into our room – it still serves largely as a storage unit, but someday soon, she’ll sleep in her lovely bed…

March 10th was quite a day for baby V – the teeth that she’s been brewing for so long finally crested the surface and boy was she happy (so was mama… until she learned how to use them?!?)

V’s first flight was quite a success – she slept through the whole thing & didn’t make a peep!  Perhaps she was storing up her energy for the reunion with her big cousin A.  It was A’s second birthday and V couldn’t bear the thought of not being there to celebrate with her.  So V was a big girl and nursed/slept through her flight and even gave mama & daddy a break when they were figuring out how to install the carseat that the rental car came with.  We made it safe and sound.  On A’s birthday itself, we made a big trip out to the Museum of Natural History which was a ton of fun as well.  Nothing was better than spending time with big cousin A (though Auntie K & Uncle B made her pretty happy too:)

GB made a surprise appearance – she just couldn’t resist an opportunity to see both girls at once – they were pretty tickled too…

While we were in the area, V got a chance to meet her little (2nd) cousin H and one of daddy’s cousins.  They had a great time seeing each other and got to conspire about trips to the river this summer!

One day the weather was so nice that we went for a walk and took some pics outside – here are a couple of shots with mama & daddy…

And to round out the month – this is her at 6 months – i think she’s got something up her sleeve;-)

Little V has had quite a time of it for the last couple of months – I’ll try to remember what I can, though the details get fuzzier every day.  Shortly after the last blog update, I believe we inaugurated a new president.  Little V was kind enough to sleep during just the right moments so that we could watch it in real time as a family…

On the day that she was officially 4 months old, we did a little photo shoot to celebrate the occassion.  Here are a couple of highlights!

 

No special occassion – just hangin’ out and looking cute in yellow!  This is an outfit that my Auntie Julia gave me after my friend Charlotte had outgrown it – thanks Charlotte!

From the looks of this next picture, you’d think that I’m super excited about solid foods…

but… you’d be wrong.  Even though I stare at my parents food and lunge for it, I’m not that jazzed about the idea yet.  I know my doctor gave me the thumbs up for solid food at my 4 month appointment (after all, I already weighed 16lb by then), and I know I gave my parents all the signs that I was ready, but the picture below is a better illustration of how I feel about food.  My most characteristic facial  expression with regards to food goes by the title of the “stinkface”.  The photo below is not the stinkface, but I think it captures my attitude pretty accurately…

Later in the month, My Grandy, Grandpa H  and puppy pal Charlie came down from the blustery north to visit me.  It was a quick visit  & we didn’t take many pictures, but here’s one of me with my Grandy…

That pretty well sums up my month in photos.  Aside from what you see, I spent some time practicing rolling over from my tummy to my back.  My favorite thing to do (aside from play with my parents) is to play in my doorway bouncer and my exercaucer.  I guess you could say, I love to bounce!  Sorry again for the delayed blog update.  More photos are coming shortly!

   

 Well 2008 has come & gone and it’s been quite a while since we’ve updated the blog.  The primary reason for the delay is also the primary reason for the blog, that is, Lady V…  You see, almost immediately after the last entry went up, Miss V discovered the world.  The baby who could have slept through a superbowl halftine show was replaced by one fascinated by the outside world.  Two of her favorite objects in the family room are the ceiling fan and the wood beams.  They’re even exciting enough to distract her while she is nursing… and this little girl lives to nurse!  In any case, what follows are some highlights from the last couple of months including her first Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year celebrations…

In mid-November she had a visit from mommy’s friends from Boston & Chicago – that was one of the first nights she really fought falling asleep… you couldn’t tell in the picture!

There was also a lovely visit from a friend of daddy’s… They hadn’t seen each other in over 20 years!

Thanksgiving was great fun.  We had a turkey that was just about as big as she was at the time!  We were able to enjoy the holiday in great company with Grandy anf Grandpa H.  And in what was either a minor miracle or an act of grace, we all ate at the table together with little V content in her swing chair. 

  

 

  

The following day was daddy’s birthday.  He chopped some wood for next winter and then we celebrated with a pseudo-surprise gathering of family, friends, a big pot of turkey soup (courtesy of Grandy!) and many tasty desserts! 

 

 

           

 

Christmas came faster than you can imagine, and with it a lovely blanket of snow.  We were blessed with yet another visit from family.  GB, Grandpa, Auntie K, Uncle B and cousin A all braved the New England winter to spend some time with us.  Cousin A was especially excited to see little V again as they have formed quite the mutual admiration society.

    

 

  

    

 

As one might suspect, New Years was fairly quiet since mama and V were in bed by 9pm!  Aside from that, the new year has brought mama’s bittersweet return to work and her introduction to the world of working/pumping motherhood… sigh.  Daddy has also started work at his new job which promises some new adventures as well.  As for baby V, she has been introduced to daycare – fortunately she won’t have to go more than 3 days a week (and some weeks, not at all).  The staff are all quite loving and excited to have her join the room full of cuteness where she’ll spend those days!  That’s all for now.  We hope everyone has some champagne or ice cream ready for inauguration day!

The latest installment of cutie pie pics.  Oddly enough, it seems that we get some of our best pics of her during diaper changes.  It must be the joy of getting a clean bottom:)

The big people in the house are doing well.  Sleeping when we can and still overjoyed by the election results.  We’re looking forward to upcoming family visits and have continued to see good friends frequently.  The woodstove is doing us proud and our driveway no longer features a ravine!  With no further ado, here’s the main event…

Hope everyone is doing well.  We’re hopeful for tomorrow’s election and looking forward to taking little V to vote for the first time in her short life! 

We hope you enjoy these pics, taken over the last week or so.  She got to go on a Muchkin Hayride for her very first Halloween, though she nursed for the first half of it and slept for the rest of it.  We’re sure she got the general idea though:) 

She’s growing like a champ and is already pushing the limits on her 0-3month wardrobe! 

Little V is 1 month old today and doing great.  She had an appointment with her pediatrician today and he said she looks good!  She weighed in at 9lb (for those keeping track, that’s a 3lb, and 50% body weight gain in 4 weeks – WOW).  She is now 21″ long, up from 19 1/2 at birth.

She had another milestone today – after allowing mama & daddy to eat brunch at a tasty local cafe, mama pumped some milk for the first time and daddy fed her!  What a day!  Til next time…JK&V

This was a busy week for little V! Before coming home from the hospital, she had a special visit with Judy, the midwife who helped bring her into the world.  Then it was time to go home in a seasonal autumnal dress!  GB had the house (and some great food) ready to begin her month of spoiling the new family of 3. 

There have been lots of visitors coming to see little V!  Mama’s friend J came to visit her on our first full day at home.  The next day brought a great visit from Aunt L, Uncle G and cousins T & G.  A lovely time was had by all!  We also got to see a friend of mama’s from work - she even brought her daughter to greet little V.  

We’ve had the chance to make some observations about the little girl including a striking resemblance between her hands and feet & daddy’s hands and feet.  As for her face, she seems to look quite a bit like mama – we’ll have to see how she changes over time.  She’s pretty edible right now, that’s for sure!  JK&V 

Little V is one week old now and growing like a champion. She had a doctor’s appointment towards the end of this week and already weighs in at 7lb 5oz (up from 6lb on the day we came home from the hospital)! She’s a great eater, so it’s not terribly surprising.

She got to meet more of her family this week with a visit from Grandy & Grandpa H. We had our first outing, which was a trip to the Summit House on top of Mount Holyoke. It was her first diaper change in a car and her first time nursing in public – she did great! Later in the week, GB, mama & little V went for another little excursion – this time to Magic Wings in Deerfield. GB and mama both had butterflies land on them, but GB took the prize with 3 landing on her all at once!

This was a pretty great week for little V and family. She got to meet Grandpa D and Aunt K, Uncle B and cousin A! Cousin A took to her immediately and was very loving and protective. She was very concerned if little V ever cried and covered her up if she thought she might be chilly! Aunt J came by again and introduced her to future friends Charlotte & Will.

We took a daytrip to Mount Holyoke again to see the Summit House and the changes in the autumn leaves. The colors were brilliant and the day was gorgeous. Little V slept through most of it again, but she’ll see the pictures another time. We hope you enjoy the pics below! JK&V

This has been another exciting week…

Unfortunately GB left to return home to Florida, but 10 minutes after dad left with her to go to the airport, lots of family arrived from Pennsylvania. They took a long drive to meet the newest little one in the family and especially to introduce her to her great grandfather! The visit was brief, but fun for all.

The night the Pennsylvania crew left was our first night home with just us and little V. Before that, however, we went to a neighborhood pumpkin carving party. We took it easy the next day at home to regroup and start getting used to life as a family of 3. Little V is doing great! From our estimates, she probably weighs around 9lb at this point – we’ll get an official number at her next doctor appointment later this week.

Please enjoy the photos with highlights of the last week.

Love, JK&V