Visitors!

Is tomorrow really Thursday already? The days are really flying by--hard to believe Eamon is almost one month old! This week we've had a few fun visitors by ways of Anna, Bubba, and Bec. Anna graced us with her adorable self on Sunday; she made the trip from her fancy law-school dorm, which is first on our list to visit when E and I venture into "the city". She came bearing a fab gift for me--Miss Sixty wide-legged jeans fresh off the runway! (Her friend is a fashion assistant at Elle and gets lots of freebies, which have trickled down to Anna--and now me! Whoo hoo!).

Yesterday, E and I had our first mommy/baby lunch date with a girl I met on the street last week as she was walking her brand-new little girl, who is just one week older than Eamon. The little ones were napping so they didn't get to interact, but we had a nice time talking about all things baby!

After that, Bubba arrived from CT and she, too, brought gifts; hers in the form of FOOD! MUCH appreciated around here! She made us beef barley soup complete with a loaf of fresh bread and an apple crisp to boot. Everything was delicious and of course it was so nice to see her and chit chat. Eamon was awake for some part of her visit, so she got to see him with his eyes open, a rarity for most visitors...

Finally, today Bec (and Karl) spent the afternoon here prior to their track workout at the awesome track in Weehawken. (More about that later). While Karl worked, Bec, Eamon, and I went grocery shopping and decided to both make a recipe she found in today's Times...pork chops with plum sauce. Good call, Bec! We just chowed down the meal and it was delish.

Tomorrow should be a quieter day (no visitors), which'll get E nice and rested for another big weekend in the DC area! More family and friends to meet and visit! This kid's quite a social butterfly already....

Mom's night out!

Saturday night, I left Eamon for the first time since he was born for a birthday dinner for my friend, Meg. Of course, I had no worries about leaving as he was in the super-capable hands of Mark, but it was hard to part with him, even for just a few hours!Dad & baby watched football and ate dinner while I caught up with friends and sipped on Veuve Clicquot and Jacques Torres truffles (I highly recommend Ayza, the restaurant Meg chose).

Here are some pics Mark took just before I left. As you can see, Eamon wasn't too happy about my departure! But when I got home a little after 11, Eamon was as snuggled up with Mark, sound asleep. (We don't call Mark the Baby Whisperer for nothing!)

The sling

We tested out Eamon's new sling this weekend and he loves it! Kasia and Andres gave us this great accessory at our shower and at first we were hesitant to use it because of his arm. But now that it's showing signs of healing, we packed Eamon up on Friday night and took him out to dinner. (Mark held Eamon in the sling in his lap while we ate). It was so successful that we took him again to brunch on Saturday and for a walk afterwards before the torrential downpour started.

BTW: That "beach" behind us in the pics is the riverfront next to my fave park in town a couple of blocks away...the view is unreal and it's such a quiet and peaceful spot.

With Mark back to work this week, Eamon and I settled in to a pretty nice daily routine. This includes lots of naps (for E) and walks (for both of us). For the first few days, my mind wasn't quite ready to do much more than check email and read people.com, but today we spent a solid hour in Starbucks and I even wrote almost an entire column! I've been extremely remiss in writing anything in the past month, but my synapses are firing again and I was able to string together some sentences that I think made sense...

On another note, Hoboken's honoring the Feast of the Madonna Dei Martiri with its Italian Festival this weekend. E & I strolled down to check it out last night and found that it's more of a street fair than anything else--with your typical frozen lemonade, kilbasa, and fried oreo vendors--but there is a stage by the river that's featuring live music all weekend long. I missed the 80's coverband but managed to catch a few tunes from a Frank Sinatra wannabe (a very off-key version of New York, New York. By the time Mark got there (we were supposed to meet up, but I slipped out early because I thought the music was too loud for E), a 90's alternative band was rockin' out. There are also kiddie rides, fireworks, and a canoli eating contest! Gotta love the 'Boken!

E's first onesie!

After lamenting about not being able to dress Eamon in anything but plain ol' button-front tops and sleepers, I decided to test out a onesie today. Because he's moving his arm so well (and also because the orthopedist said it should be healing by now), I'm less afraid of handling his bad side--and he's much less fussy when it comes to being changed. Here he is snoozing away in his first full-fledged onesie. He only put up a slight fuss when I pulled it over his head and re-wrapped him. Pretty soon the broken arm will be only a fuzzy memory!

TV debut

In late July, I did a TV spot for a company that filters out "evergreen" (that is, timeless and non-regional) news stories around the country. I was approached after writing a piece on eco-friendly fitness and, despite my lack of TV gigs, they asked me to be a talking head for the segment. I recruited Keren to help out and in a couple of hours over at Bec's place, we got it done.

After viewing it, it's safe to say that need some media training to make me sound more authoritative--and some frizz-ease to tame that flyaway hair! But for my first real TV gig, it's not too bad, right? Especially at 9-months pregnant! (Notice that they only shot me from chest-up for that very reason). Keren is a natural on-camera and looks wonderful as an "Green" athlete!

It's set to air in various channels this month, but you can watch the piece now here: http://www.newspronet.com/products/feeds/Heads%20Up/0808/15359-Go%20Green%20Go%20Fit.wmv

18 day check up

Eamon had a check-up with the doctor today and all is excellent! He tipped the scales at 10 pounds (that's up 11 ounces from two weeks ago) and grew 1/2 an inch to 22 inches. His arm is doing great, too--I changed his wrap solo this morning (it had been a two-person job up until then) and without it he was moving his right side just as well as his left. Phew! Hopefully we'll get the all-clear when we visit the orthopedist next week and it'll be bye-bye to the binding for good.

I know E's excited to finally rock some new outfits when his arm's healed up. He's getting a bit tired of those kimono tops and long-sleeved sleepers. Or at least his style-conscious mom is!

On another GOOD note, Eamon is sleeping about five hours a night (the trick is to get him nice and full around by 12:00 a.m. and he'll snooze 'til 5:30) and still takes long naps throughout the day so I'm able to get some stuff done. Yay!

Happy birthday happy birthday!

A big birthday shout out to UlaBec! We had a great time celebrating at the Farm over the weekend (see below for some pics). Hope you have a much-deserved wonderful day! Oh, and I know this is a really silly picture, but aren't they so cute in their bday hats?

Snug Ride

If there's one place Eamon is totally and completely content, it's in his car seat! We're not sure if it's because the upright position is easier on his arm, or he just likes the coziness of it, but E spends most of his sleeping hours snuggled up in his Snug Ride. Here are pics during a walk in the Bob today--before (awake) and after (snoozing).

Lots of firsts!

Eamon had a BIG weekend of firsts: First road trip (to NoVA and MD), first birthday party (for Sophie, Lucy, Karl, and Bec), first trip to the Farm (for said birthday parties) and first bath! And everything, surprisingly, went very smooth. E slept most of the way down and back in the car (we realize we have to add at least an hour to every trip we take now that we have a very hungry boy to contend with!). And despite the fact he had to sleep in three different locations for each night we were gone, he was very, very good and managed to stay quiet enough that he didn't wake anyone else up during the night. Phew!

Eamon also met many of his cousins, great aunts and uncles while we were home--he's still too small (and sleepy) to hang out with the crowds, of course, but he made some small appearances so people could check him out.

After a great time at the Flynn's and the Farm (the birthday party was so much fun--Sissy once again did a great job as hostess!), we drove back up to 'Boken so we could have one last day at home before Mark goes back to work. And because Eamon's umbilical stub fell off on Saturday, we took advantage of the down time by giving him his first--and very brief--bath. He wasn't too fond of the water, but settled down as soon as we got him bundled up in his towel. Too cute!

More pics from the weekend follow--thanks to my 'Rents and the Flynn's for being such wonderful hosts!

Eamon during his first trip down the Jersey Turnpike! The car put him right to sleep...

Present time! Sophie and Lucy getting gifted.

The only
thing that can beat birthday cake? A birthday pinata!

Double the fun! Celebrating the two twins' birthday with yummy sweets!

The summer kitchen decked out with decor; Sophie and Andres test out some bubbles; Bec's bee cake and other celebratory confections!

Eamon at two weeks

Here's Eamon just shy of two weeks in one of his favorite spots, the changing table! He continues to be a very content and chill baby--except when he's hungry (then look out!). He's responding to his name, making eye contact, and even lifts his head up and turns it from side to side when I burp him. And he sleeps in up to five-hour blocks during the night! Let's just hope he keeps that up, especially since Mark's officially off his "Baby-cation" tomorrow and has to return to the real world!