Maya Meets her aunt Cam

Cam came from New Haven to visit us this weekend. Other than hanging in Cam's arms and lap, Maya had a hike in Tilden Park, her first (and our first) trip to Chez Panisse, and a jaunt to the international Kite Festival in Berkeley. She also had her first bath, so no more excuses for being dirty. A big weekend to be sure, and sorry to see Cam go.
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Maya meeting more family & friends

Maya has had a busy social schedule the past few days. Her gas mostly behind her, she has been out about the town, meeting Grammy and Grandpop, Aunt Sarah, and new friend Reed Wilder Witort. Since she's 3 weeks his senior, she did her best to show him how to wail. He didn't take to it yet, but hopefully he'll be a quick study.

More photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/johngearen/20080719_MayasMeetsFriendsAndFam?authkey=PPY7TpSJpco

Maya on her due date

Hard to believe this is the day Maya's 40 weeks in utero would have been completed. These past two and a half weeks feel like a total bonus. Hard to say whether starting today she'll be a noisier, outta-the-womb personality type, or if these first days have been her full-baked personality already. It's hard to notice the changes, since they're so gradual from hour to hour at the timescale we're seeing them, but we think she's awake a bit more these days, possibly just because she's filling her diapers with such gusto.

A few photos from Tony, Shelley, and Lucy's visit last night, from brunch with Kris and Billy today:

http://picasaweb.google.com/johngearen/20080712_MayaOnHerDueDate?authkey=qO7dTLCP3-k

Maya's 2 week birthday

Maya turned two [weeks] today. She said a sad goodbye to Mimi and Nuni, and prepared for the tough work of living with her parents alone. The rules would be stricter, the cushy naps fewer, and the singing not nearly so sweet or on-key, not to mention the quality of the home-cooked meals is about to nose-dive.

She celebrated the day with her favorite activities - sleeping, feeding, and filling diapers. Yesterday, she made her first trip to the Cheeseboard, she's probably still soaking up the breastmilk version of that great pizza.

Tonight she gave G-Diapers a spin -- one plunger episode later there are a few kinks to be worked out in the system yet. Back to 7th gen for the evening, but she feels bullish about more G-diaper tries come tomorrow.

A few more snaps from the past few days here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johngearen/20080709_EndOf2ndWeek?authkey=E2TL2TZvjnU

First Hike

Maya's first hike of many many to come on the Quarry trail in Tilden park.

QT with the grandparents

Nuni arrived today, Mimi has been here for 8 days keeping the folks fed and housekept as they adjusted to life with Maya.

Take that! umbilical cord

The discerning eye will detect that Maya's got no more umbilical stump - she lost it between 2 and 5 this morning, while in the busy business of feeding, sleeping, filling and changing diapers. Her belly button is starting to make its own statement, and now the horserace is on between innie (pop) and outie (mom)