Bath Time

When she is not awake, Maeve really enjoys sleeping. She loves looking at the inside of her eyelids. Many times we catch her smiling while she sleeps. Lord knows what she is dreaming about? My guess is she is dreaming her older sister will feed her some candy. Or that she will have the same curfew as her older sister. Or it could just be gas. Regardless it is cute and makes me wonder whats going on in that little hairy head of hers.

Since Maeve has so much hair, mom is constantly washing it so it doesn't get too greasy. Maeve of course does what she is best at. Sleeps. Yes, an infant that actually can sleep through a hair washing. Well I guess it is pretty relaxing so I can't blame her. Dad would probably sleep too while having someone wash his hair if he could. But I digress, Supercuts is not the place I want to fall asleep. I would end up with one eyebrow and even more bald spots on my head.

Now if we could only get you to sleep all night long..

New Baby I Hate Dad Syndrome

"I hope you enjoy this project because it's the last one you are doing this year!" Mom yelled to dad as he was trying to install a custom made screen door on the front of the house. Jeeze. You think just because Maeve didn't sleep well and is constantly clinging on mom that the world has to stop! You would think that just because dad woke the baby up with his hammering outside after mom spent an hour trying to put her to sleep that he was a criminal. Mom has New Baby I Hate Dad Syndrome. All wives get it. It usually kicks in a few weeks after the baby is born once they realize the amount of work with a newborn is not going away. Gone is the excitement of bringing the new baby home. Hello "reality" of "wow, this is a lot of work on so little sleep". Oh and since dad's don't have boobs there is only so much they can do. New Baby I Hate Dad Syndrome makes mom's jealous of dad's who can go on doing their own things as if the world hasn't suddenly changed. New Baby I Hate Dad Syndrome makes mom's angry because they cant just run and frolic outside like dad's. That's part of being a woman. Sorry dear. It's not my fault.

Luckily NBIHD Syndrome is only active a little while...somewhere in the 12 - 18 month mark it starts to settle down....although it never truly goes away. Once a woman gets it, it stays in her....deep down inside. It can suddenly appear out of no where. Causing fits of rage, swearing, screaming, and yelling. As far as I know, there is no cure. Chocolate, flowers, cards, and picking up the house without being asked seem to help.

Maeve has not done much since the last post. She continues to eat, grow, sleep, cry, and poop. Here is a shot of Maeve sleeping.

Here is dad with his girls:




Charlotte on the other hand continues to be a big help around the house. She helped dad mow the lawn and she helped Nanny plant flowers in the flower boxes. Afterwards she did what all 2 1/2 year olds do. Frolic and dance around the driveway.














****UPDATE BY MOM: it took my lovely husband 4 hrs to do a project that would take most men or at least my father 30 mins...

UPDATE BY DAD: As you can see Shelby has a very severe case of New Baby I Hate Dad Syndrome. What my wife neglected to tell you is that since our house is 105 years old every project requires "custom" work. Nothing is level, straight, or square with this house. Its OK dear. I know in 12 - 18 months you will be feeling better.

Hello Mr. Poop!

Hi there. My name is Mr. Poop. I was Charlotte's friend until she decided to excrete me into the potty like a big girl. Looks like my days of sticking to diapers making a stinky mess are just about over. It was fun while it lasted. Now that Charlotte wants to wear "big girl underwear" my days are numbered. Thankfully Maeve will be my new partner in crime. Hopefully she wont get any bright ideas seeing her big sister using the potty. I'd like to "stick" around a while.






Overnight Charlotte has grown up. Perhaps it just seems that way having a newborn at home, but suddenly she is doing things like helping dad wash the cars, playing nicely with the dogs, going pee and poop on the potty, and just talking up a storm. She loves the Olivia book that Paul, Jena, and Marin gave her. In the book Olivia goes to the museum to look at her favorite paintings. One is called Stage Rehearsal by Edgar Degas (of course with Ballerinas, her favorite), the other is by Jackson Pollack, painting No. 5 (dad's favorite of course). Charlotte loves saying Jack Pollack and loves that Olivia thinks she can paint the same thing. So in keeping with the book, dad brought Charlotte outside to paint her version of No. 5. He gave her a big canvas and free reign of his acrylic paints. One hand went into the paint. Then the other hand. The next thing you know she was painting up a masterpiece.

Cleaning the paint off of her skin, clothes, and yes hair, is an ongoing process.





Charlotte helping dad wash the cars:





Miss Maeve has been a peach, attached to mom, doing what all newborns should do. Pooping. Peeing. Eating. Sleeping. Whats that? No crying? Well she does cry but in general is a pretty quiet kid. We love that she allows mom and dad to sleep at night for hours and hours at a stretch. Shhhhh. Don't tell anyone. We don't want to jinx it!

Mom has done her best to keep Maeve's head of hair clean. Tonight she got her first bath in the sink. I don't think she enjoyed it so much, especially compared to Charlotte's first real bath.

Charlottes First Bath:



Maeve's First Bath:






Yeah, I'd say they were completely opposite experiences.


PS. John and Kate Plus Eight also photograph their kids poop. We are not as strange as you think.

a new friend

The first week with a new baby sister has started to take its toll on Charlotte. Yesterday we found her wandering around the yard...jabbering away. We thought she was talking to herself. Ok, we get it. Maybe an imaginary friend. These things happen when a sibling is introduced to the family. Sort of cute right? Well the imaginary friend was not so imaginary. Her friend it turned out was an earthworm from the yard. She picked it up and carried it around, even into the house to show Nanny and Mom. Dad made her bring it back outside to put it back home in the dirt. Before she released it free, she gave it a kiss goodbye. Goodbye Mr. Worm. It was nice to know you.







We know you all want to see pictures of Maeve. So we have obliged. Here she is with dad and her big sister Charlotte. Charlotte is so good with her so far. She doesn't call her Maeve. Charlotte calls her "little sister Maeve".





Jasmine came by on Saturday to bring some gifts, one for Charlotte and one for Maeve. After a quick disinfecting Jasmine was allowed to hold Maeve. Hey, we are better then we are with Charlotte, at least we dont make people wear surgical gowns and masks.



And last but certianly not least, a huge "Happy Mothers Day" to my wife Shelby. She makes me proud daily of how wonderful she is as a mother and role model for our girls. She has a tough job and dad doesn't nearly tell her often enough how much he loves her and how great of a job she is doing.

My Girls

Awww Shucks!

Maeve made her way home from the hospital on Monday. Mom was sad to leave. Dad was ready to go. Mom really enjoyed the stay this time taking advantage of the free help. Maeve was strapped into her car seat and away we went. She didn't make a peep the whole time. Just slept in the back until we arrived home.







Charlotte has had a cold or strep or whatever they think it is. So its been a battle of Tylenol vs. fever. Luckily the Tylenol has been working and we kept it under control. She was feeling better yesterday so we decided to grill outside. Dad found some corn on the cob and Charlotte soon went to work with grandpa shucking away!