Eliza: 8 weeks old

Eliza is 8 weeks old today. Time really goes by fast. We've been spending our time indoor because it's too cold for babies to be outdoors, even with gloves and hats and baby fleeces and being wrapped around Mommy's new Kindercoat (it's a baby wearing coat that I'll have to post about later).

We've been in our nice warm apartment spending all sorts of quality time together. We pack our day with lots of activities that help with Eliza's development. So far, Eliza can do the following:

- follow objects with her eyes

- concentrate on people's faces

- hold her head at a 45 degree angle while on her tummy (even if she doesn't like it) and hold her head up even higher when she's doing tummy time on Mommy's tummy

- she's beginning to reach up for objects that are hanging above her

- she can open up her hands and grasp objects, usually an adult's finger or her pacifier

- coo and ah

- can respond to and hold a "conversation" with Mommy for up to 5 minutes or so

- smile and is starting to giggle

- straighten out her legs when lying on her back

- straighten out her legs and put weight on them when she is standing up with the assistance of a parent

- sleep for up to 5 hours at night on a pretty consistent basis

- is growing like a weed and is gaining weight like a pro (she must be, she eats like a starving bear)

- likes listening to music; classical, lullabies, jazz, and folk are amongst her preferences

- is recognizing that activities like diaper changing and bath time are pleasant, good opportunities for socializing and behaves very well for Mommy and Daddy during these times

I can't believe my little girl is growing up so fast. I want her to be little forever, but I also can't wait for her to learn to sit up, roll over, crawl, stand, walk, talk, read, and all sorts of other activities that come with growing up. I'm such a lucky Mommy to be able to experience her growing up before my eyes.

Who's that?

Daddy and I really like this particular nightgown. Eliza finds it comfortable, she's got room to kick her legs, and it's just plain adorable.

But, she reminds me of someone when she wears it. Who does it remind me of?

Oh, that's right! Not who, but Who!

Just the smallest Who in all of Whoville. Cindy Lou Who.

Cindy Lou may be the smallest Who, but I've got the cutest Who. Eliza Regan, that's who!

Baby rewind

I'm sure you have noticed that, all of a sudden, there are a bunch of new posts. Yes, Mommy spent the better part of a day playing catch up on the neglected blog while Daddy played with Eliza. Sooooo jealous. So, I hope you greedy Eliza-watchers are happy!

I encourage you to go back, way back, far back into the year 2009 (okay, only since November) to see the forgotten posts. Christmas, weekly birthdays, and visitors have all be documented and updated.

With that being said... I'm going to leave you with another picture of Eliza while I get to play with and entertain the real deal.

2009 Year in review: the Aunties

The nice thing about being apart of a community like the performing arts is that babies inherit lots and lots of "aunties." Friends of Mommy and Daddy who under normal circumstances will not visit your home because it's in a borough that's not Manhattan or downtown Brooklyn (we're closer to midtown than most of ya'll!), but will travel great distances in extreme temperatures to visit a baby. And because of that reason, all is good and Eliza has a serious cult following.

So, we memorialize all of the "aunties" of 2009 (in no particular order). Note: this post will have a better effect if you play a Sarah McClachlan song while reading it.

ZipBaby

Yesterday, we took our first ZipCar out for an afternoon of errands. Eliza, in the past, has liked car rides and we figured that she'd be asleep most of the time. And she was... when the car was in motion. When we parked somewhere, like at the Babies/Toys-R-Us, Mommy ran in to do what was needed and Daddy stayed with the sleeping baby.

Well, the baby didn't sleep for long. Within minutes Eliza would cry. Diaper? Gas? Hunger? All of the above and then some. Mommy was summoned back to the car, via cell (and thank goodness for the cell phone) only twice (because that number happens to be one less the total amount of trips Mommy made into stores leaving Daddy and Eliza alone. Shame on Mommy. In all fairness, the two places I ran into where the ones with the longest lines. So there!).

All in all, I think Eliza liked the trip. After Mommy ran back to feed an upset Eliza in the car after her first crying bout, we all went inside the Babies/Toys-R-Us (where we happened to be) and divided and conquered our to-do list (returns and purchases), Daddy was able to pick out some very nice clothes for Eliza from the sale rack while Mommy finished feeding Eliza in the Maternity Room Babies-R-Us puts in all of their stores (thank heavens). It took up a big chunk of our day, but I guess that's the reality of having a baby. Everything takes twice as long to do. Which is okay, because we have a twice as cute baby.

A picture would have been added, but Mommy took one with her cell phone's camera and it didn't save because her phone's picture capacity was maxed out with other photos of the sweetpea. How forgetful of Mommy. However, it wasn't Eliza's first car trip. So as far as milestones go it, wasn't in the top 100. On the bright side, it's a good thing there are many more car trips in her future to document, and she'll only be more compliant and less hard on Daddy next time. All the better for more picture taking moments.

Lazy Sunday

On a recent warm Sunday (in the 40's no less) and after much pleading by Eliza and Mommy, Daddy took his girls out for a walk around the neighb'. Although Daddy did the driving (of the stroller that is)...

...there was someone else in the lead. Can you guess who it was?

It's no surprise that Eliza was at the helm. All nice and bundled up, Miss K enjoyed the sights of her surroundings.

She didn't quite enjoy the sounds. We may live in Queens, but this is still New York City, complete with New York City sounds. When we arrived at the busy section of our neighborhood, Eliza got a sour look on her face, as if she wasn't impressed with the big crowds of people and the honking car horns. She looked a little disgusted and disgruntled. Already a true New Yorker.

But that won't stop Eliza from venturing outdoors. The below freezing temperatures might, but not the sounds.

Eliza: 7 weeks old

Sorry that we haven't blogged in a long while, but we've been busy taking care of Eliza and playing with her and feeding her and changing her diaper and entertaining so many visitors that the last thing on Mommy's mind is the blog. I could blame it all on Daddy, but he reads this blog and Mommy has to live with him and I don't have to tell you the rest.

So... I wanted to make up for the lag in time by sharing a picture of our darling sweetpea.

Eat your hearts out.

Eliza: 6 weeks old

Does my fist have to remind you who's the boss around here?!

Baby's 1st Christmas

Eliza and her parents spent their first Christmas together as a family this year. Mommy didn't have a whole lot of energy or time to deck the halls, but since it was Eliza's first EVER Christmas it was important to have some semblance of what looks like a holiday in our house.

What did it take to have a Merry Christmas for our baby? First we needed a tree. And lots and lots of presents from Santa, of course.

One adorable Christmas themed outfit to be worn on one adorable infant.

Help opening said presents from a loving parent. While the other loving parent takes pictures. Age-appropriate gifts from loving relatives are also a must. The rattles pictured above are from Eliza's Aunt Jenny. And these books were from her Uncle Johnathan. Excellent choices.

Clothing is always an acceptable gift for a beautiful little girl.
The outfit was from Mimi and Grandpa. Look at those big girl shoes!

Then there is the changing of the outfits. And the reading of the Seuss. Hop on Pop?! How mean.

And no holiday is complete without ornaments. And Grammie, who is famous for her ornament giving, provided Eliza with her very first ornament.

Baby booties. How perfectly appropriate.

Of course Eliza received toys, clothes, and money from her grandparents, Mommy and Daddy, and Santa (she was a very good girl this year).

So, how did Eliza like her first Christmas? See for yourself:

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Eliza: 5 weeks old

I don't know what makes Eliza look more tough; the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball cap or the Winnie the Pooh jammies.