aerial shots of the item of the year

Not to sideline the arrival of Pippa, but the post today is highlighting our new Moby wrap, worn here by Bug. Of the 23 known baby wraps, slings, etc, there are out there, the best we've found seems to be the Moby. It allows the wearer a full range of motion in both arms while providing a sort of womblike cave in which baby can be held tight against parent during the all important fourth trimester. It is designed as well to carry up to forty lbs, so we can even cart Tua around is she wishes (which she has not and probably won't).

Cooking with the Best

We have added some space to our kitchen recently. Its exclusivly sized for those of us under 3 feet tall. Tua has taken to it like a duck to water. She allows observers on a case by case basis. Below, Bug was lucky enough to be granted a visit.

God bless us, everyone...

We hope that this post finds all of our readers, friends and family alike, in the best of good cheer today. We are adjusting to becoming four where there once was only three.

Pippa below is getting the best rest of us all. I'll have whatever she's having.

Today was one of the busier Christmas days in memory. In fact, it hardly seemed worthy of holiday status. Tua got to open plenty of presents and was fascinated less with presents than with what the presents came in. Pippa is eating well and sleeping a lot. Our nights have fallen into the catagory of sleepless. Bug is a bit more on call than I, but we've both seen our share of the witching hour lately. Tua is taking to sibling hood rather well. Today, she offered her sister an apple and a glass of milk. We suggested that she might want to start smaller, like with a kiss, which she readily gave.

Four Hours Flat

In the midst of the snows of last weekend, we welcomed Pippa Leodhais into the world. Both mom and baby are as healthy as can be expected after such an event. The delivery was under 4 hours and to her mothers credit, Pippa was born in the caul- a true water birth.

7.15 lbs
19 inches
December 21, 2008
4:47 pm

I will presume upon the audience that there will be questions concerning her name. Pippa was chosen for its unassuming, pleasant character. Leodhais (leh -oh-DAS) is the ancient Gaelic name for the present day Island of Lewis off the Northwest coast of Scotland. It originally meant 'island of the poet'.

As with everything else these days, Tua loved the hospital. Below, she checks the vitals on an unidentified object.

Manger Management

Tua recently visited Nonna and Grandpa and assisted in the annual re-creation of the manger, a treat for any two year old, but especially for Tua with her capacity for arranging and re-arranging in a strangely obsessive compulsive style.

Below, she is set for departure with (as is the norm) a gaggle of animals.

On Tour

This coming Christmas will find the extended Shaw family spread all over the globe. While we're back here awaiting the new arrival, my brother James and his wife Lauren will be in Chicago. Brother Justin and wife Nadine are back in Germany with Tua's cousin Pascal for the month. They are spending the holiday with Nadine's family in Kandern. For your viewing pleasure, I have embedded a clip of Justin and his friend William playing in Cologne this past week. Justin is moonlighting with William as he tours France, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland in support of his new album.

Drinks Like a Meal

For all you parents of two-somethings wondering if your children will ever look at vegetables, the answer (or at least a pretty good clue) might be V8. Tua discovered its rich flavors recently and has taken to downing an eight oz. can of the drink before bed. I caught her in mid consumption tonight as she concentrated on something else, possibly anticipating a sodium high.

No Warren Miller

Today was a down day here at the house. We made chocolate brioches for breakfast...except they didn't rise to their maximum until 10:30- so we made a brunch out of the proceeds. The chocolate brioche is one of Tua's favorite breads and she loved helping us out on this. Her job is kneading, which she's a pro at. She's got to work a bit harder on keeping the dough out of her mouth--- but then again- so do I.

Did I say today was a down day? ... I should have said a down morning... the afternoon was chock full of activity.

Tua was napping and Bug had some paperwork to catch up on so I took a few hours and went out into the snow. Detlef and I put in a good three hours of hike and ski. The lifts aren't open yet at Pico, but that doesn't mean the snow isn't any good. Below are some shots of the days events.

breakfast

There is nothing routine about Tua's morning schedule. She wakes up in the best of spirits and usually requests juice (cranberry, please) and toast and depending upon her disposition, will either eat sitting cross-legged on the floor, at the table with us, or at her own office desk. Today, I was allowed an audience with her in her own little breakfast cubicle. She feasted on cheerios and raisins while playing with a candlestick. The starved figure that she took me to be, I was offered one of her blocks, to eat, I can only assume.

More From Here

Into the life of every child, there must come an ear infection. What fun! Pictures really wouldn't do it justice. Tua was up most of each night for much of the last week with what must have been a numbing pain. We can only assume as much- after all, she has not reached the age of verbage and was trying her best to get across adjectives like 'excruciating' and 'horrible' by acting them out in gestured frustrations. My favorite one was having a bowl of cereal dumped down my shirt.

So we're all recovering...she is much better today- back to her old self- running circles around the room, demanding rides for herself (and her animals) on the braided rugs, and partaking of more than her recommened daily allowance of her favorite food groups- Spanish Olives and pitted prunes, in that order.

Below is a picture from a few weeks back of Tua and I with a bunch of Tua's Bridgewater pals...the baby population up here is on the uptick. Between my unkempt hair and a shirt that clearly doesn;t fly with the color scheme, I'm the odd man out here. From l-r Schuyler, Jane, Tua, Seth and our friend Nicola holding her newest- Harriet and Edie. An all female trend.....hmmmm.

Crazy Cousins

Tua and Pascal made a game of out-pacing each other this morning. Our second floor is set up in somewhat of a circuit, which doubles as a track on which two year olds can run round and round. In the end, both were more tired than victorious.

First Bed

First Snow

Dress Up

Columbus Day

Below are some shots of this past weekend. Brian and Arlyce were up from Boston and we all were treated to beautiful colors, warm days, and nights cool enough to warrant a campfire.

Warm Westerlies

Today was one of those perfect fall days with just perfect amounts of sunlight and humidity. I arrived home just before the sun disappeared behind the hills- just enough daylight for Tuey and I to run circles around the house and then collapse on the last of the green grass.

And For His Next Trick.....

....Seth takes a pillow in his mouth and tosses it into the air, much to the sheer delight of the crowd.

On Bread

Tua spent the afternoon at Nonna's where she assisted in the kneading of a fine loaf of bread. We even caught some of her commentary on tape. If only we all could find dough as fascinating.

Optom(otr)ist

Dead Ringer

Zoo VT

Vermont is about as well known for its zoological amusments as Kansas is for its coastline. We have no Serengeti upon which to Safari; we have no rainforest through which we might trek; we have no urban jungle with a large animal exhibit including, but not limited to, a bred pair of Panda.

In lieu of these, we have the Wellwood Orchards petting zoo, a small establishment on the outskirts of rural Weathersfield. Insides its confines are a small collection of wonderfully domesticated chickens, a drove of pygmy goats, and a herd of hare, all of which are enough to keep a two year old out of the realm of indifference for the better part of an hour. The following are a few shots of Tua as she ambled about the farmyard today.