Slappy Spends Quality Time

On her cousin.

Cousin-belly is comfy.

2 1/2 months is too long to wait to meet her!! I wish it was now.

Slappy Enjoys In-N-Out

Maddie shared in an LA "picnic" lunch with her family. Oscar also enjoyed the picnic (please note the sauce on his head).

In-N-Out Animal Fries Rock!

It's what all the cool kids eat.

Lunch was such a success that Grandpa Toby in China was Skyped and told all about it.

Slappy Gets a Special Visit

Aunt Rachel, Uncle David and cousin La Peqeuña flew in from Austin, TX to meet her.

Aunt Rachel had a handy shelf ready for holding babies, both on the inside and the out.

Brother and sister with their daughters.

The soon-to-be parents were old pros within minutes.

Slappy Is a Genius

'Nuff said.

Slappy Has a Soft Spot

For the Baby Bjorn. And also on the middle of her head - yes, that diamond shaped indent. Weird.

She did like Dad's innovative use of the Bjorn as a sit-on-the-ball-and-rock-me-to-sleep tool.

Slappy Practices Deep Relaxation

How to squeak a baby.

Slappy Becomes One Month Old

And 7lbs. 8oz. - 8 oz. more than this free weight and 2 lbs. more than one month ago. got milk? Oh, yeah she does!

We're so proud of you, little girl!

Slappy Tries a New Look

Terry cloth - very fashion forward, very absorbent.

Slappy Needs Her Space

Little eyelashes, Little hands.

Little feet.
Little baby, Big crib.

Slappy Is Deeper in the Grid

Maddie is now set up to recieve her social security number. Soon she can start earning the dollar bills, and help support the system, so mommy and daddy can enter retirement early and get paid by Uncle Sam.

Slappy's Got 99 Problems, But a Bottle Ain't One

Jess was lucky enough to score a ticket to the Jay-Z/Mary J. Blige concert at the Hollywood Bowl, courtesy of Drew and Aarin. This would be Maddie and Jess' first time apart for longer than an hour.

Mom is going where??

Luckily, prep work had been done for the event, and both Maddie and Dad had practiced with a pumped up bottle two days before.

Ok, Dad - it's been 2 hours and I haven't seen the milk truck - bring it on!
When Jess returned home, 3 1/2 hours later, Maddie was asleep, and her grandmothers said she had been the perfect baby.

Slappy Eats Out

Maddie went to her first restaurant today, treated by her grandmothers. Her parents were filled with some trepidation as she had been testing her lungs but minutes earlier.Would we make it through the meal? The tactic of both mother and child eating at the same time was employed - would it work?

It worked! (Those are dessert menus).

Taisie and Mimi knew all along. (There really is a baby in there under all of that fabric).

Slappy Is on the Grid

Today Maddie went to LA's Department of Public Health, specifically the Office of Vital Records, and got her birth certificate. There was some confusion during the process - for example, the office insisted that listing Sam's birthplace - Washington D.C. - as Washington state would be an acceptable swap because they were close to the same thing. After we insisted they weren't - they told us, they didn't recommend putting D.C. down because Columbia is a different country. But in the end - it all worked out - Maddie is now a US citizen, and Sam was still born in Washington D.C. Hizzah! (Celebration platter made by Great Aunt Lu).

Slappy Visits Her Roots

Maddie had dinner and a couple of snacks at Sam's old house in Pasadena, home of the Woodwards, where Julie took these great pictures.

Taisie remembered watching Sam as a kid on this porch, and remarked on how special it was to now be holding Sam's child on that same porch.

This is how Maddie makes us feel when we look at her.

Slappy Goes to a Birthday Party

For lovely, little Lilly who just turned two.
Maddie left her parents to start making the rounds.
After a few hours, Jess began to notice something strange.
Had Maddie had help finishing all those beers?
Certainly not from the pregnant Aarin or her Taisie.
Perhaps from whatever demolished half of Elmo's head (which was described as tasting of butter, sugar and red) - brutal.None of this ruffled the birthday girl. It's good to be at an age when you're the same size as your presents.

Slappy Had a Bad Day

But Dad and the magic bouncing ball fixed it.

Slappy Offers an Explanation

Why was Maddie busting a sag? Please note the comparative study. "g" diaper, the style worn when taking first steps, actual butt size, and preemie diaper, the typical style worn daily, although not for long. Perhaps even at her now 6 1/2lbs - word! - Maddie has a little bit more packing on of the poundage before she attempts a "g" diaper again.

Slappy Demands More Than A Spongebath

Today, Maddie had her first bath in a tub, in the kitchen sink.

Then we put her in the drying rack for 20 minutes to air out. No - we kept her comfy with regular pours of warm water from a spouted container.

Warm, clean, bath Maddie.

After the tiring bath, Maddie snuggled up with Dad where she slept straight through the night, waking up only once to feed and have her diaper changed - once every hour that is.

Slappy Is Advanced

Today, at 2 1/2 weeks, she took her first steps.

With a little help from Dad. Also please note the similarity in brow-furrowing on Maddie in picture one and Sam in the above.

That's right, playa. I walked.