More Famouser Than Me

Guess who's on the front page of the Boston Herald's Business section today? (And a blurb on the front page, no less.)

Christi and Derek have done fantastic work on Zyrra over the past couple of years. They've also both had first babies this year, just to make things easier (Derek's little boy Miles is a few months ahead of Margot).

I won't put a lot on here, but I know a lot of you know a bit about what Christi's trying to do, and have been great supporters. (If the Herald can make puns, I can make mine.) It's not always easy to keep people up to date with what's going on, but there's a lot of great activity for Zyrra and exciting things happening, so hopefully this is just the beginning of the drumroll....

Congrats to Christi and Derek for pulling so much together. Good luck!

Bjorn Again

So, normally when we've taken walks with the family over the past few weeks, it's looked like this:
However, while we had tried it out before, today we had our first really good walk with the Baby Bjorn:
This is pretty nice 'cause we don't have to have the stroller out, and you're more flexible about where you can go. It was a really nice day today, so it was good to get out for a reasonable walk . . . and after a couple of days of low movement, Jolly was happy to get out for a bit.
And, yes, Margot's wearing the hat the Christi knitted for her (even if she's not quite wearing the expression it might deserve):

Some Quick Pics

Hi all - I figure I better keep the pics coming. We don't always get a chance to shoot a lot, but here are a few recent ones. We've had a good few days including a mostly relaxed weekend, very nice.







































Flailing robot shirt courtesy of Sam. Thanks!

Yarrr Mateys

Marrrgot was wantin' me for to send all y'arrr lubbers a greetin'. Avast there, and we hope yarrr International Talk Like a Pirate Day shiverred y'errr timbers!

Two Weeks and All's Well

Hi all -

We went to the pediatrician for Margot's two-week checkup, and all's well. She's gained a pound since last Monday, and is up to 8lbs 15oz (although I think she'd had a recent feeding). She's much more active with her hands now, and spends long times (relatively speaking) during the day with her eyes open and "looking around" (although I know she still can't focus on anything very far away from her face). She's also differentiating her daytime and nighttime schedule - feeding more oftenduring the day and sleeping for longer periods (again, relatively speaking) at night. A couple nights ago she fed at 10PM, 2AM, and 6AM - which means something not too short of 4-hour sleeps for me, and three-plus hour spells for Christi which was (relatively speaking) grand for a couple of nights.

What else? I've been working since last Wednesday, although I'm able to do some of it from home, which is good since I can mostly get work done, but occasionally watch or handle Margot when Christi needs a break.

I don't have any new pics on this computer, so you'll have to hold out for a bit. Maybe tomorrow I can add more. Margot has tried on many more of her clothes now, and has a repertoire now including pants & shirts, onesies, sleep gowns, hats, mittens, and socks - not to mention the cutest little jacket with lamb-ears you've ever seen (softest, too).

That's all for now - time to get Margot's furry brother out for his evening eliminations! Ooh, maybe I have a picture of him I can add . . . nope, dang.

Well, then, here is the finest photograph of Margot 'n' Mooo that 45 seconds with the Mac's built-in camera can produce:


(You don't want to know what Margot was doing while I took this.)

G'nite!

You Asked For It

OK, so I finally got some more photos online. They're over at my gallery, under "Margot's First Days". I tried to use mostly things I hadn't put up before, but you'll recognize some of them. These are most of the best of our pictures from Margot's first five days, and the best representation I can give (in photos) of a fraction of what went on.



Since those first sets of days, things have quieted down a bit and we've settled towards something resembling a routine . . . and naturally the camera doesn't come out quite as much. I will try to keep taking shots and get some documentation of what's going on, since as anyone will tell you, Margot is changing amazingly quickly. Meanwhile, I'll also try to do a couple of posts on the first couple weeks, and get down in writing what we've been up to and how it's gone.

But for now, you've been asking for it, go look at those pics!

Thanks Again

It just occurred to me that I've sent news of Margot's birth to friends and family across the country and on four continents. I've gotten responses within minutes to messages, and shared pictures with people all over the place. I already commented that we had wireless internet access in the hospital room. I've uploaded photos to a web service and had them send film-quality prints to relatives within days, basically for the cost of shipping. Not to mention all of the baby information and even, yes, consumer product information that I've gotten from the 'net.

We've heard over and over in the past nine-plus months that being pregnant, giving birth, and raising children just isn't the same as it used to be. The breakdown of the physical proximity of most families, of the connected spirit of local communities, supposedly has interrupted our connection to the knowledge, experience, and love of our elders and peers.

Well, lemme tell ya - it has been absolutely incredible to feel the outpouring of spirit from everyone who's been connected here or in email or otherwise. The gifts and advice and just plain help we've received from all quarters - the closest family members, to folks who really don't need to go out of their way but do - all of this just really adds up to a deep feeling of gratitude and connection. So, hopefully again, THANKS! It really matters, perhaps especially when we're on the tired end of the day. Hopefully soon we'll have a bit more external energy to share some more detailed responses and news with more of you directly . . . we can't wait for Margot to meet you all!

Now, who knows someone I can email on those other three continents? (South America, Africa, Antarctica)

It's Official

Margot just spit up on me.  I think I'm officially a Dad.  Snif.

Counting the first real diaper-escaping poopsplosion this afternoon, which Grandma Smith was holding her for but Christi discovered (how'd THAT get on her SHOULDER?), I think we're both in.

Milestones.  Snif.

Home and Busy

All -

Time is relative, and the few days since we came home Thursday morning have been simultaneously a quick blur, and amazingly full and long. Briefly (something I find myself saying a lot these days, but frequently not achieving):

• we are home
  
• we are healthy (in Margot's case, this is the pediatrician's opinion, as well as ours)
  
• we are happy (beyond words, most of the time)
• we are settling in to figuring out how this might actually work
• yes I'll post some more dang pictures soon

We have had great visits with many of our family and friends, and tremendous amounts of help from (among others) Christi's mom and stepdad (now, "Pop-Pop") who are staying with us. Margot is being sweet beyond hope, not fussing overmuch, and even letting us sleep a marginally acceptable amount as we figure out some things about managing her. (Yes, you should ignore the fact that I'm apparently insomniac after the last feeding, 'cause it's working in your favor.) Christi is a tremendous trooper, dealing with her own physical recovery, more changes in her body, and the schedule demands of breastfeeding (meaning that her sleep will always be less than mine, until Margot is firmly established on breastfeeding in a month or so). It's been said before, but I don't know how I'd handle half of it, if it were me (nor how moms who've had a c-section etc can manage). Even Jolly's being amazingly well-behaved, considering (and he seems to be mystified by Margot, especially when she's at face-level).

So stick with us, and we'll try to surface soon. Be well.

Proper Introductions

Our new baby is Margot Louise Andersen-Smith.

Margot, this is Everybody . . . Everybody, this is Margot!

One Day!

We've been parents for a day! Even with all the help and great folks in the maternity ward here, it's a weird mix of "we're doing this strange thing ourselves" and "they can't really be intending to let us leave the hospital".

We did each manage a few hours of sleep in pretty good tag-team fashion. And, Daddy's getting less terrible at changing diapers, which seems like a plus.

MOST IMPORTANTLY (to y'all), I've gotten a first round of pictures up, mostly from post-birth and the first little while in our recovery room.

Go to our Photo Gallery for the first installment. More batches soon.

Here's a teaser:

MiniMooo Makes Her Move

Dear Friends and Family -

Just before 7AM this morning, our new baby girl joined us, after a several increasingly intense hours at home and less than half an hour after making it to the hospital. She's 7lb 14.4oz and 20 inches, and healthy, and Christi is tired but recovering. Me? I had the easy part.

Missing something? Nah - who needs a name . . . we're matching our ideas to this actual little one, and letting the likely choices settle in. Got to keep you string along somehow, don't I?


Ten minutes old and nicely swaddled!

In this moment of rest (believe it or not she's napping), we want to say an immense thanks for everyone's support so far (and, in advance). Having everyone's help has made this feel almost sane. Almost ;-).

We're Still Here (and no one new)

Hi!  We're still hangin' at home - and a be-ooo-tee-ful day it was in Acton, too.  Lazy, for us.  But hey - it's Labor Day weekend (pun impending).

So - Christi has apparently run out of totally necessary things to do before the baby, and has moved on to the excessively cute.  After a quick effort over the past couple days, our little rapscalion will have some appropriate headwear when he/she comes along.  (Modelled here by Snoopy!)



Hang in there, we're hoping for real news soon ;-).