Grandparents!

Mark's parents, Vicki and Ira, braved the snow to meet Frances and spend Christmas in Cambridge. Appropriately, they were completely smitten with Frances.


Vicki and Ira stayed about like this for about four days:

Let the indoctrination begin!

I always liked Advent Calenders when I was little, and what's good for the goose must be good for the gosling, right? Frances found the calender riveting.

Bathing Beauty

We have several ways of washing Frances. The most frequent manner is Emergency Mode. I think parents, and most everyone else, can figure out what that is. It involves expletives before the bath, it happens in the sink, and it necessitates doing laundry afterwards, if you need some hints. Frances is not a big fan.

Our favorite manner is Shower Mode. It happens on purpose, which is a big plus, and one of us gets to hold her cute little self. Frances doesn't mind it one bit.

Bananas Reality

A friend of mine described life with a new born as "bananas reality." I must agree. Exhibit A of bananas reality would have to be the earlier picture of Mark asleep on the couch with Frances, with Frances in a dish towel.

Here's Exhibit B:



That's Frances in her favorite spot, the bathroom counter. In the foreground you'll notice my sandwich. She was so happy where she was that I just ate my lunch in the bathroom where I could keep an eye on her. I got my lunch and she got to stay put. Everybody's happy!

Sweetness

And that about sums it up...

Frances usually joins us in bed in the morning, for some together time after she's really woken up in the morning.

Frances spends much more time awake these days. It's very exciting to actually see her shining eyes, and such pretty eyes they are, too.

Auntie Lindsay and Cousin Zoe come to visit

Ahhh!!! Not another cousin!



Just kidding. Zoe and Frances got along just fine during Lindsay and Zoe's recent visit.

Zoe was very attuned to Frances actually; she got very upset when Frances cried.

Lindsay was a Wonder Woman.

You'll notice the kids both have hats on. The Gods of Apartment Heat weren't looking down on us kindly that day.

Mimi, Our Hero

My mom has been a real hero to us these past couple months. She used some pretty un-grandmotherly language when I called from the hospital to tell her I was having some complications, but she recovered quickly and was at my side within 24 hours. She didn't really leave me for the next three weeks, which means she suffered through many sleepless nights and a lot of hospital food.

Here she is with Frances before we left the hospital.



And here she is when she and Sir came back a couple of weeks after Frances was supposed to be born.


I think she was feeling a bit more well rested on the second visit.

Unfortunately, you may not be able to tell how fabulous Frances' outfit is from this picture. It's got holly leaves and black polka dots and is furry. Thank you, Mimi.

We really could not have made it in one piece without her. We are so very, very thankful.