Frances and the Holy Spirit

Frances was baptized yesterday at Christ Church. The day was a little hectic. It involved coordinating grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and every kind of cousin (first cousins, first cousins once removed, second cousins three times removed - you name it), but we got the job done with nary a frown. Frances was a very cooperative super star.

Auntie Beth's dress got passed down one more time to a very willing Frances.

Our first "Come on guys, leave me alone" from Frances.

Can't help it, kiddo.

With her godparents, Uncle Josh and Auntie Jocelyn.

After the ceremony, we all picnicked at a nearby park.

It was a lovely day. Mark and I were so proud of Frances and so pleased that so many family members could join us. It made the day very special. Thanks to all!

A-fishing we will go

Mimi's second day was rainy, so we headed to the New England Aquarium with its massive tank and the ramp that spirals around it. You can see the ramp in the back ground:

I thought the Aquarium would be a little lost on Frances but she really enjoyed watching the fish swim around the giant tank.

She really wanted to get her hands on those fish.

The past couple weeks, Frances has really had an awakening. She's more and more aware of her feet. She's really started reaching purposefully for things. And she's getting opinions, like "I want to chew on that paper, not the stuffed dog and hiding the paper is not going to change my mind." More challenging, for sure, but it's great having this little dynamo.

Drinking...

...a full-body contact sport.

A-visiting we will go

On Mimi's first day here, we went to visit her Aunt Freda (Frances's Great Great Aunt!). She lives with her husband, Uncle Johnny, in Hanover, New Hampshire. Aunt Freda is quite the master gardener. Here are four generations of women out inspecting the garden.



All of us together with Uncle Johnny:

After having lunch together, we drove to South Royalton, Vermont, to see where Mom's mother grew up. The farms in Vermont are beautiful and it would have been another Memory Lane posting, but we didn't dare stop the car for a picture because Frances was taking a much needed nap in her car seat. We'll try again later this summer.

Mimi's here!

Frances is getting baptized this Sunday. My mom used the occasion as an excuse to come visit for a week. A winning situation for all! Frances has a new person to hang out with in the morning while her parents get organized.


Frances is very interested in her toes these days.


More pictures to follow.

Memory Lane, Part III

More places my family isn't connected to anymore:


Not really. This house is in Manchester, MA (it's worth clicking on if you can't see it well), and my dad's grandparents used to have a house there, but their house was long ago deemed irredeemable and torn down. Mark, Frances and I just went to have a look around at the beaches.

Thank you, Fred

My friend Fred made this onesie for Frances. Dr. Spock's got nothing on you, my friend Fred.

Poor bubby Frances.

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a lovely Mother's Day around here. Mark was still in the throes of end of semester work, but he managed to pick me up a bouquet of flowers and some other very nice goodies. Frances celebrated the day by being all smiles.

And then there's the photo that Mark picked out. Just focus on the kid.

A day in the life of a six month old

Yep, Frances is officially six months old, as of 8:33 p.m. today. What does a soon-to-be six month old do?

In the morning, she starts off with some tummy time.

She's gotten much more tolerant of tummy time.

She flies like an airplane...

...which is very exciting.

She's working on the rolling thing, although she thinks about rolling much more than she actually does it at this point.

Eventually, I get her dressed and she plays. In this picture she has a Glow Worm from her Grandma. What big eyes you have, Frances Elliott!

Such good smiles.

In the afternoons, we go for walks. In honor of the special day, we stopped to check out the scenery. Frances is beginning to pay more attention to swinging.

More time looking up, less time eating her hands.

And she loves to look at all the big kids running around the playground.

One funny face.

We also stopped at a super cool (a SAT-worthy phrase, for anyone not familiar) fountain outside one of Harvard's science buildings. It is simply sprays of water shot up between large rocks. Kids love it.

The camera continues to fascinate.

In the evening, we practice drinking...

...and eating.

Not too much is ingested, but, boy oh boy, doesn't she look cute trying?

And the day finishes up with a bath.

Frances is doing great. This is a really fun age as she more actively interacts with her world every day.

Helping Daddy

Frances and I came home from church on Sunday to find Dad trying to rest while studying. We, of course, tried to help him out by playing with him and taking his picture.


Don't worry, Mark, only two 20 page papers, three presentations and a test to go and then you'll be half way done with graduate school!

Payback from the Asiatic Hordes?

Right after I published the post about the Asiatic hordes having their pictures taken in Harvard Yard a package arrived in the mail from Mimi with some interesting outfits for Frances.

Yes, her own little Asiatic outfits (I don't think they truly count as Asian outfits since they were designed in California and manufactured in Florida). One set was purple, with a fish on the hat...

...and a tiger on the jacket.

And the other set was blue. Mark took one look and said, "Oh, mercy."

And here Frances demonstrates her new skill of reaching for the camera with her arms...

...and her mouth. "Let me have it!" she says.