Softness

I've been meaning to get this picture up for weeks now. Martha McNair knit Frances this blanket.


Boston gets a bit nippy. And we can't control our apartment's heat, so it gets a wee bit nippy as well. Mrs. McNair's blanket is coming in very handy. Frances appreciates it. Plus, you wouldn't believe how soft it is. Thank you, Mrs. McNair.

Firsts and favorites

Frances has had many firsts lately - bound to happen to a one month old.

Her first snow! Frances might not have noticed the snow because she was zipped up in my jacket.

Her first church service! A very nice Rite One Evensong, that Frances slept through.

Her first yoga class! The yoga teacher pronounced her "pretty chill," which translates to "asleep" for most of us.

And, most importantly, her first visit with Sir.

You'll notice that she's asleep.

Her favorite activity, when she's awake, is lying on the bathroom counter and staring at whatever is at hand. She can do it for 10 minutes at a stretch - very convenient for when her mother wants to brush her teeth and blow dry her hair. Such a smart baby, keeping mom happy.

An assortment

There's no particular theme to these photos. I just wanted to share them.

I like this first one because you can see how big Mark's hands are compared with Frances.



Frances is looking up at her daddy.

Again with the hands and general sweetness.

Her face is a little blurry, but she's smiling, and sporting an outfit from Shira Ovide. Thank you, Shira!

Happy baby!

This was taken the morning of Frances' four week birthday.

Mark was complaining that there are too many photos of him looking comatose, but he's only home first thing in the morning and last thing at night, so it can't be helped. Only 14 days until the semester is over! We all can't wait.

The Princess and the "e"

One of the best things about this pregnancy, and it was a great pregnancy, was a surprise baby shower that my friends Tara and Beka, and their significant others, threw for me, and Mark and Frances, in semi-abstentia. This is most of the gang here. All these folks went to Bryn Mawr or Haverford. We could send this picture into the alumni magazine, but I promised not to.


Tara and Andrew got me to Beka and Dan's apartment with an embarrassingly simple ruse. At the door to the apartment, I thought we must be in the wrong place because I could hear a bunch of people talking in Beka's apartment. But, no, we were in the right place, as I could see when I got inside and everyone waved hello. Tara later revealed to me that she was a touch dismayed that the guests didn't jump up and yell "Surprise." She decided that that was the difference between my friends and her friends. I think we can generalize a bit more. It's a perfect example of the difference between extroverts and introverts, Bryn Mawr students and Haverford students: Mawrters jump up and yell while Fords sit on the couch and wave. It's also why I felt I had rejoined the mother ship when I went to Haverford.

The activity for the baby shower was brilliant and much better than any other baby shower activity I've ever heard of. Everyone decorated onesies. It kept everyone diverted for hours and I got to go home with a whole new wardrobe for Frances. This is Tara hanging up the onesies to dry.


And now we come to the Princess and the "e." Tara made this onesie that says "Princess." Note the flower on the cuff - it's just precious, I have to say.

And Andrew, believing me when I said this baby was going to be called Ellie, carefully drew this mighty "e" with a sun and stripes. I love it.

Stay tuned for more onesies. There are many more to come.

Everybody needs a tutu

At least, that's what Beka, my college room mate, seems to think.



Beka gave this pink, sparkly concoction to Frances at our surprise baby shower. What's funny, is that she forbade all guests from giving any pastel gifts, but I guess pink and sparkly are okay. My mom, Frances' Mimi, thinks the tutu is spectacular. She wondered if we could hang it on the nursery wall, like a piece of art. I wasn't sure Mark Upton would approve.

Frances seemed unfazed by her spectacular-ness.

Snuggle Time

This is Frances lying on my chest. I love snuggle time...

Frances and James

Auntie Jocelyn and I wanted to get some pictures comparing Cousin James and Cousin Frances. Some of us (Jocelyn, James and Morgan) enjoyed this experience more than others (Frances). I imagine James would have been saying something along these lines, if he could talk:

James: What's this funny little thing crying over here? Don't cry, baby. See, I'll pat your head and everything will be alright.



James, continued: Hmm...You're still crying. Here, try this. It's a yoga pose called The Happy Baby. See how it makes me happy?



Then again, he might be saying something more like this:

James: Run for your life, you naked mole rat! Run for your life!



Works either way, if you ask me, take your pick.