Apres bath with Lola

Just recently Lola began smiling at Maggie and I when she recognizes our faces and voices. She's also learning how to coordinate her hands and feet, reaching out to grab noses, fingers, anything close by.

Here's a short video of her enjoying a post bath massage from mommy, smiling and cooing...

Oh no! Come on Phillies!

Talk about a house of horrors... Scott takes the baby up for a seemingly innocent diaper change and what happens???!!!

I look up and this is the sight that greets me from the couch. Ouch!

The evil [Empire] indoctrination begins all too early. World Series, Game 3.

Boppypalooza

Lola spends most of her time: in our arms, on the boppy being fed, coming in for scheduled maintenance on the changing table, and in her bassinet napping. Here are a few of her better moments on the boppy:

Click here for the entire boppy lounging series.

Drowsing in the nest

Lola chilling with Mommy

Most of our Saturday was spent hanging out in bed with La Lola. She was having a quiet spell so we enjoyed snuggling her, blowing on her belly, and just snozeling the day away. It was lots of fun. Click here for a short video of the snozefest.

Everyone was very sleepy

The first trip to grandma & grandpa's house

Maggie, Lola, Grandpa and Grandma

We decided to make a surprise trip up to Massachusetts to introduce baby Lola to Aunts Leo and Beatrice. The trip took quite a bit longer than usual, we made several stops for feedings, diaper changes, and walks for the dogs. Nothing unexpected, we just need to be prepared to slow down and smell the "roses" during the trip.

We got to mama's house on Friday (10/9) afternoon, only to find the family fully mobilized for the delivery of Santi and Bobbie Jo's daughter that same day. The aunts were in Leominster, about an hour west, and mama and Doug were headed up to see the baby as well. So we spent a quiet weekend waiting for updates on the birth.

That morning, Bobbie Jo gave birth to a baby girl, Mikaela Lola Hernandez weighing 5 pounds 12 ounces. According to the aunties she looks like a beautiful porcelain doll. Congratulations to Santi, Bobbie Jo, Deb & Peter Phillips and the entire family.

Early on Sunday, Maggie and I realized that mama and Doug hadn't had a chance to hold Lola during our visit, so we took a couple of hours to rectify that oversight and took pictures of the family. The entire photo album can be viewed here: The first trip to grandma's house

Willow sneaking into the picture

Doug and Lola the photogenic duo

All in all it was a good test run for us, it gave us the confidence that we could travel with Lola without driving fellow ferry travelers crazy and without putting her under too much stress. We had a great time and look forward to future visits.

5 1/2 week checkup

Chubby cheeks

We just had our 5th week checkup with our pediatrician Dr Wightman, Lola is packing on the pounds! She's gaining approximately half a pound per week; she weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces at birth, lost about one pound the first week and has now shot past her birth weight with pounds to spare. This visit she weighed in at a healthy 8 pounds 10 ounces. She measured 20.5 inches in length, only half an inch longer than birth but she seems much longer to us, maybe she's unfurling after being in a fetal position for those many months. Lola is in the 25th percentile on the growth/size charts meaning she is on the small side (like her mom) but is right on track for a healthy young girl.

At her happiest, curled up on mommy

Clementine trying to regain her baby status

Bringing home baby

Lola's been home for three weeks, in fact she is one month old today. During the past few weeks Maggie and I have been adjusting to limited sleep and hunting around for the owner's manual that we evidently misplaced when we brought home the baby. As a result it's all learning on the job but we're starting to get the hang of things.

We would like to thank everyone for their gifts, cards, and good wishes. Especially mama, Doug, and Meaghan, their support while we were in the midst of labor, our stay in the hospital, and most especially our return home with the new baby was invaluable. During those first days in the hospital they looked after our dogs and cats, in fact Doug got started on yard work badly in need of doing - trimming bushes, blowing off the driveway, and I'm sure several other things. Mama and Meaghan watched the baby during the first days home, especially during the overnights when the lack of sleep turned that first week home into one seemingly long day. The tips on how to comfort the baby, burp her properly, different ways to hold her paled in comparison to the reassurance of having family close by when needed.

Mama holding her granddaughter

Proud Grandpa with Lola

Auntie Meaghan holds her niece for the first time

In order to bring baby home from the hospital you need a baby seat properly installed in the car. The nurses encouraged new parents to bring the car seat into the room the day before leaving the hospital in order to practice putting baby in the seat. When we put Lola into her seat we were struck by how truly tiny she was, she looked a like a little doll in a vast car seat.

It was very nice taking Lola and Maggie home. The hospital room had gotten very small and confining over the four day stay and we could finally remove the ankle name tags that had chafed Lola's little legs. Several times during the slow ride home Maggie and I said to each other "can you believe we have a baby girl to take home?" It's still sinking in!