Ode to My Daughter

I love the fact that I no longer need an alarm clock but instead awaken to Eva's coos and vocalizations. My favorite part of the day is the moment where I lean over to her bassinette and say "Good Morning, Eva." She flashes her million dollar toothless smile as she wriggles in her swaddle. It's as if she's saying "My hero; you rescued me again!"

I adore watching her tiny hands move in undulating patterns when she's in that drowsy dream like state as she nurses.

I love our nap and nighttime routine. I adore singing her lullabies and love to see her face light up as I croon along with Rene and Jeremy. Sometimes, right before she goes to sleep, her eyes soften and she gives me the most loving, adoring smile. When it happens, it's magical. There's really nothing like it.

I love giving her baths. If I had my way, we would do it every night. The best part is the end when I hold and cuddle her and take in that "new baby smell."

I love dressing her in all her new precious adorable girlie outfits. Now that Eva is not so fussy, we can actually get her into more than just a snap t-shirt and a diaper. She looks like a little doll in all her new dresses and outfits.

I love watching the world through her eyes. Now that she's waking up to the world you can literally see her taking everything in with wide eyed fascination. I try to imagine what she sees as she beholds each object or person for the very first time.

I love being Eva's mom. Each day I settle more into what this moniker means and dig in to the rich complexity of motherhood. I love seeing my confidence grow and my Momma Bear instincts come out as I take her out into the world.

I love Eva. I try to tell her her so when she awakens, when she goes down for the night, and with every diaper change, bath, and feeding.

I love watching Jeff embrace fatherhood and what it means. I see a bond developing between them as they play and interact with one another. Before long she'll be daddy's little girl and have him wrapped around her little finger.

I look forward to what lies ahead as Eva grows, develops and becomes our little girl. In the meantime, I try to take in each moment of her infanthood and witness each milestone with a sense of awe and reverence.

Eva's New Friend

Today Eva met her new friend, Claire Patricia Walsh. Our friends, Sean and Julie, welcomed her into the world three weeks ago. It's incredible to see Claire next to Eva and imagine that she was her size just two months ago. Everyone says that time goes by so quickly but it really does! We are thrilled that so many of our friends are having their first and second babies around the same time. Eva seemed to do pretty well with the drive and all the Sunday visits today.

Visit with the Oswalds

Last Sunday, our friends, Kjell and Kelly, invited the Walker clan over to dinner. The Oswalds welcomed Bjorn Oswald into their family a month and a half ago. Their daughter, Annika, was very sweet and helped me soothe Eva with "shushing" and even covered her with a blanket when she got cold. We had a great time enjoying the cool evening weather while we ate, drank, and tended to our babies. We really appreciated the kid friendly atmosphere to get out and enjoy ourselves. Also, an added bonus, Eva fussed minimally on the way there and only half the way home. Hopefully, she will get acclimated to her car seat over time.

First Weeks Class

For the last twelve weeks Eva and I have been going to a drop in parenting class called "First Weeks" at the Yoga Tree in Issaquah. It's led by a nurse-educator, Diana Solomon, and is loosely affiliated with the Seattle shop, Birth and Beyond. We've loved going to these classes for the past three months. Not only was it a great nudge for Eva and I to get out of the house, but it was also a great forum to hear what other moms were thinking, doing about different challenges that come up during the newborn stage. Since Eva is waking up to the world, she also has been enjoying all the stimulation of the class. She loves seeing all of the babies and watching the action going on in the room. You can see here in the photos above being held by Diana and also hanging out on the rug with her buddy, Lennon. We hope to create a follow up class on Friday evenings for those of us who would like to continue attending the class once we go back to work.

Work? Did someone say work?? Yes, I go back to work on Monday. I cannot BELIEVE how quickly the last three months went by.
It will be very hard to leave Baby Eva.

Roll, Baby Roll!

I didn't get to witness this developmental milestone but her Daddy did. While I was out for a run, Jeff snapped some photos to prove that our baby can indeed roll from one side to another. He later admitted that he did give her a bit of help. );

Stroller Ride

Last week Eva and I went out for a walk. Now, this may not seem like blog worthy material but if you know a little about her history , it certainly was a landmark event. Since her stroller is really the car seat with a frame, she throws a fit every time we try to take her out in it. Lately, we've tried to bring it out again and refashion it so that it looks more inviting. So, I added the luxurious pink blanket that her Great Aunt Patsy made for her and added a few toys as well. We got out of the door OK with her sweet ride loaded up with goodies. I locked the door and felt a momentary feeling of freedom and joy. Only then I realized that I had left the keys inside. Fortunately, Daddy rescued us and left the office to unlock the door again. I guess the important thing is that we got out and enjoyed some fresh air for a while. She did fuss a bit but I just stopped and rocked her a bit every few steps. She really gives a whole new meaning to interval training. All in all I'd call this venture a success!

Take Baby to Work Day

I took Eva to visit Jeff's co-workers at the University of Washington on Monday. She cooed, smiled, and gazed lovingly at everyone and made us out to be big fat liars about her fussiness and inconsolable cries. We dressed her up in her finest summer duds and worked hard for several days on her updo. Jeff had a great time ushering Baby Eva around his office introducing her to co-workers who have heard so much about her. Eva was especially smitten with Chris, Jeff's colleague who also has a baby that is nine months old. I'm not sure if babies are able to sense baby people in the way that dogs can but she sure was crazy about him.

Though Eva kept it together for the hour long visit at UW, she completely lost it and wailed for the entire car ride to UW and on the way back. It's a forty minute car ride so I was in complete hell wondering if I should pull over or if it would just prolong the agony. I called and left a voice mail message for Jeff with the sounds of our beautiful little Eva screaming as if she was immersed in hot oil. He offered to let his colleagues hear the message when they doubted his tales of fussiness. Chris, the one who charmed Eva, thought about it for a moment and then replied, "No, I'd rather remember her as she was today." I love that comment. Smart Man.

I'm glad that his colleagues got to see her in her best state. It's our worst nightmare if we take her somewhere to show her off and she flips out. If any of you seasoned parents have any suggestions for getting her acclimated to the car seat, we'd appreciate your tips For now, I have sworn off any road trips for more than ten minutes in length. So, to all of our friends on the other side of the lake, you will have to venture over the bridge to see Fussmunchkin until we ride out this stage. );