Squirrel Poem 1

'Tis Autumn, and the squirrels abound
Not just "about", but all around
What Paradise has Jolly found!

(stupid squirrels)

The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers

Bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!

Up until this week, Margot has hated her bouncy chair. Now that she can see all the way to the toys and focus on them (two developmental feats that we're very proud of!), she's content to sit in the chair. I wouldn't say that she loves it, but it provides something interesting to stare at apart from the perennial favorites: light bulbs and windows.


Here she is being very focused. Obvious next steps are:

a) reaching out and playing with the toy
b) moving the toy with the power of her mind

While B would be cool, it might be too spooky to have a telekinetic child. Only time will tell.

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.