Fall comes to Santa Barbara

We have had some very neat autumnal weather of late.
Tom spent Sunday afternoon reliving living on the East Coast by raking our lawn area -

we had enough leaves to make two pretty good sized piles. I had vivid flashbacks of opening up the Lake House and creating pile after pile of leaves and pine needles... =)
Lucky then enjoyed digging for the ball in the pile!
The weather has been very clear, cool, breezy, and sunny. The only thing we're missing are leaves with lots of color - we've got yellows and browns all covered!
Here are a few shots of our "fall colors..."

Cyanne's 4 Week Pediatrician Visit

Today we went to Cyanne's 4 week "wellness visit."
He was "extremely pleased" with her weight gain. She's now up to....
7 lbs 6 ounces!!
Yeah!

Tom & I were very happy to hear that she'd put on this much weight in the last 18 days (she'd been 5 lbs 9 oz at the last visit). Some of her preemie clothes are even seeming small - we might be able to progress into the 0-3 months clothes soon!

She grew an inch to 20". Her head also grew... not sure on those measurements.
All else looked okay which is good!
He also gave us the booklet on vaccinations - poor girl... which will happen at our next visit at the end of November.

She was very well behaved as he examined her. Good little girl she is =).
We apparently have a smile to look forward to within the next 2 weeks or so.
We also have an intense period of gassiness and fussiness for the next 2 weeks which we have been experiencing the last few days.
It's amazing the change really - since Friday she's been super gassy, upset, harder to soothe and the least fun part of all for Mom & Dad - doesn't sleep much at all. Two hours in a row is considered long these days... So we're feeling a bit tired, to say the least...

But - sleep deprivation aside - i'll take the excellent MD visit!

Her next visit - November 3oth - seems so far away. Post-Thanksgiving!
I'm sure though that if the upcoming weeks pass as quickly as the last four, it'll be here before we know it.

World Series Champs!!!!

Whoo-Hoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Red Sox are the 2007 World Series Champions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very very exciting!!!!!!

Tom & I just finished watching game 4.

It was quite a different experience than the 2004 World Series win where Tom & I were at John Harvards Brew Pub in Harvard Square surrounded by screaming fans who then poured out into Harvard Square - people everywhere, impromptu bands playing, cops watching with grins from ear to ear as people ran through the streets and the square...
Flash forward to our scene tonight as the final out was recorded -
Me nursing Cyanne on the couch with Tom sitting next to me, our glasses of water in front of us...
It was still very exciting... just, well, different. =)

I knew she'd be a Red Sox World Series baby. Her due date was Sat. the 27th - and in 2004, that's when the Sox won the WS... I had envisioned us at the hospital during the Series but I'll take nursing on the couch =)...

Again - YEAH!! Very exciting!!
Now they just need to resign Mike Lowell and NOT sign A-Rod!

I'm honestly very sad that now we have to wait until next spring to watch another baseball game. Watching ESPN SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight at 3 AM (among other times) while breastfeeding is not going to be nearly as much fun... At least the Patriots are kicking some serious ass!

Fires in Southern California

As I'm sure you've all seen on the news lately, Southern California has been experiencing lots of wildfires. We had a few days with really poor air quality - air filled with ash, smoke - generally gray and unhealthy to breathe. We kept the windows closed and tried to keep Cyanne out of it - especially since she was battling her first cold (not fun... but that's another story entirely).
However, due to the smoke in the air, the sunsets have been pretty incredible.
Here's a shot from our back porch - it doesn't nearly do it justice.

A few recent baby photos

For many years, friends who know me well have said "wow Kristen, I can't imagine how many photos you'll take when you have kids if you take THIS many now."
Well friends...
I hate to disappoint.

So... Here are a few recent shots of Cyanne.
Some sleeping. Some awake.

She's started to make lots of fun expressions (intentional and not), funny noises and sounds, and to look pretty darn precious when she's sleeping. (I love the side sleeping pose - ankles crossed, hands up by her face).

And a few shots from this morning...

Cyanne's meets part of her French family

Cyanne met her "first cousin once removed" (thanks Tom, for the family relation lingo) Louie Marie. He's promised to speak french to her... starting her French education early =).
She looks so small compared to him!

One shot of the two of them and one shot of Louie and Cyanne's great-grandmother, Lillian/Nanny!

Baby's First Bath

Cyanne had her first bath on October 12th.
An interesting time was had by all!


The water/bath experience was a little new and surprising at first, eliciting a few cries and vocal protests... but then she decided that it wasn't so bad.
Tom, Anne & I just took a little too long!
A few photos during the bath process... and one at the end with Tom holding her that cracks me up.
It's quite the look from her... as in "Daddy, what did you just put me through? You think this is fun?! You can't fool me..."

Visit from Cyanne's Grandparents!

We had a wonderful visit with Anne & Richard who flew out from Cooperstown to see their new (and 1st!) grandchild two weeks ago. They had to buy tickets quite a bit sooner than they (and we!) thought they would...
I suppose it's a
good thing they didn't already have tickets to come at the end of October!
It was so special and helpful to have them here with us. Richard was here for a long weekend while we were lucky enough to have Anne stay with us for 10 whole days!!! I'll say it here and again later, we were all very sad to see her go and want them to come back soon!
We enjoyed their company, love, and support - as well as their help. So helpful those Blabeys! Tom recruited Richard to help with some curtain hanging, the staining of a huge armoire... Anne was roped into baby diapering, laundry, cooking, cleaning, and a few hours of baby rocking and soothing =).

Cyanne loved meeting her grandparents - even though most of the time she had her eyes closed. It was really interesting to see how much more alert she became as the week went on. Amazing what getting rid of some jaundice and upping the food intake will do!
As I said above, we loved having Tom's parents visit and cannot wait for them to come back. Anne & Richard - if you're reading this... we miss you!! Cyanne asks each and every day when you're going to come back and visit. She'd like to put on a request for another visit & promises the airlines and weather will cooperate this next trip!!
Here are a few shots of the new grandparents with the newest Blabey Baby.

Red Sox!!

Whoo-hoo!!! We will post baby photos and updates in a few minutes but I just wanted to say - It was a great game last night!
Very very happy the Sox won Game 7 against the Indians (sorry Zach) and are advancing to the World Series again! Yeahh!!
Cyanne will definitely be sporting her Red Sox outfit (thanks Jenn =)) even if it is a tad big during the Series...
It's funny - I was telling Tom that all the while I was pregnant I thought Cyanne would be a World Series Baby - as October 27th, 2004 was when the Sox won last time... which was her due date. At least now she'll be able to watch it instead of being born during a game. I kept envisioning Tom and myself watching a game while in the hospital during labor. Not to be! At least I was right about the Sox going to the Series part!
Baby updates to follow - I promise!

Proportions

Tom & I are constantly amazed at how small Cyanne is - her hands, little feet, her body in general. It's so amazing to see.