Things I swore I'd never do as a parent...

1. Allow baby to grow accustomed to falling asleep in my arms or splayed across my body. So much for that plan. But it's awfully sweet, isn't it?
2. Discuss the contents of my child's diapers with others. At least I can say that I mostly keep this kind of conversation to friends who also have children... and have seen a few thousand diapers in their time. And I try to avoid using nicknames like "Poopy McPoops-a-lot" when we are outside the house.
3. Carry and/or wear the baby almost continuously. Your correspondent is currently wearing a sleeping baby. And eating her words.
4. Make that drinking her words-- I also swore I would never drink caffinated coffee while breastfeeding and even gave my mom a hard time about having done this. I mean, it's just common sense, right?! And yet here I am, six in the morning, enjoying every last caffinated drop. But it's only one cup a day. And I can quit any time I want.

Thanksgiving kitchen staff, asleep on the job.

Scott is making pie dough here while Audrey hangs lifelessly in the baby bjorn... She now has enough neck control that she can ride in the facing-out position, which she seems to find totally facinating. There's a lot of drool flowing these days, so we have to put a wash cloth in front of her face to absorb some of it. And every day she's a little bit better at reaching for things, so the baby-bjorn wearer must be watchful. At the time of this posting, she is back in her traditional facing-in position, fast asleep on Mom. And drooling buckets.

Thanksgiving dinner was eaten at Kate, Michael and Sam's home in Dorchester. A good time was had by all.

Look deeply into my eyes... you are getting very tired...

Or not. Okay, looks like you're wide awake. Like me. Can I get a hand getting out of this crib?

Puttin' the dogs up

Could someone hand me the remote?

Baby slings: not just for the baby anymore!

Now that Scott spends much of his time managing a domestic empire at home, he can apply his sharply honed engineering skills to real-life problems such as: how do I get all the groceries into the house with only two hands and this empty sling? Here is his ingenious solution, patent pending.

In the fall leaves with Nanu

This was taken outside in our "backyard," a 10 x 10 patch of grass at the end of the driveway. Joyce, if you are reading this: we will mail your white fleece jacket back to Cashmere, soon as we can get down to the post office!

Pa Skip and Audrey (inside the babybjorn) at Walden Pond

Pa Skip finally visits the site of Thoreau's year in the wilderness, Walden Pond out in Concord, MA. Audrey doesn't really care for philosophers yet, she just wants someone to walk her in the baby bjorn. And walk, and walk and walk...

Daddy's girl

Hmmm... if I can perfect this cuteness strategy, I can get all kinds of things from Dad. Extra time in the sling, later bedtimes, perhaps a car for my sweet sixteen. The possibilities are endless. Dad is putty in my hands.

Disguised as a marshmallow peep.

Aaaaaawwwwwww. How cute is this??!!



We are not amused.

First on-camera smile!

Gramma Jean has dubbed this one, "The Mona Lisa Smile."

It's subtle, but that's definitely a smile. The toy on her head is from friends Laurisa and Arnie.

Breakfast by Joyce, table settings by Audrey.

Actually, Joyce did both. Audrey's role was merely supervisory. She refused everything on the menu except the milk.

Lunch at Redbones with the family. Audrey picks up the tab, again.

Now we only patronize restaurants where the ordinary noise level is louder than Audrey. Let's see, that leaves: Redbones, and... Redbones. Good thing the menu is extensive.

Audrey meets Nanu (Joyce) and Grandpa Skip

Audrey explains that she has already prepared a handy wish list for her first Christmas, for their shopping convenience.

Audrey, Bethiah, and Ella visit the International Space Station

Houston, We have a problem. The babies keep getting stuck in the ventilation system.

Punkins for our Little Pumpkin

Happy Halloween

Pop Pop and Mimi Teach Audrey to Sleep