xtcian

Thank you, thank you, Ian.

At the rate I'm going, she will be able to CHANGE THE BATTERY ON THE POWERBOOK before i get to see her. I'll be there soon, just not soon enough.

But this is the comments section, so here's mine:

Lucy is obviously the most beautiful 2 week old in the known UNIVERSE!

Love, Mom

Finally, some more Lucy pictures! I have been waiting for more ever since the little foot pic! Not that I don't enjoy your rants, but Lucy is so damn cute! There is no such thing as too much Lucy on your blog. In fact, I have started reading Sean's blog more regularly just so that I can see more of that cute little baby face. Her cuteness is the perfect antidote for the daily boredom I endure at the Insurance Job, toiling for coin.

Lucy is so adorable that I start entertaining thoughts of baby #2. I really miss those cuddly first few months. Nonetheless, your "cleaning barf off your back" comment snapped me back to reality. Been there, done that. Hey, barf on your back is a walk in the park, or Botanic Garden. You have not fully experienced parenthood until you encounter these two words: Projectile Rotavirus. Consider yourself warned.

Thanks for the Lucy pics - she is beyond precious. Perhaps you can post a photo of Lucy with Chopes some time soon!

We'll just have to count that as a rant from Lucy against all that isn't cute.

WARNING, WARNING! UNSOLICITED PHOTO ADVICE AHEAD!!

Take pictures of Lucy when she is either mad or upset. I know this sounds weird but all baby pictures are taken when they are either asleep or calmly hanging out. I find it's kind of funny to look back at the ones when they aren't that way. And when she gets older, take a picture of her while she is having a temper tantrum. It's a great learning tool later as you can show your child how silly they look flailing around on the floor screaming. Not that Lucy will ever actually do that....

Nice photos, a perfect little American family in that last one, eh? Personally, I am ITICHING for a bit of the political rant.

Can we see the "baby freaks out dog" photo sometime? =)

Just couldn't wait to share the fact that I had my first Lucy dream last night! We all lived in a big hotel in New York and I went up to your apt. where Ian was holding Lucy (who was, as my grandmother would have said, "skinny as a minute") and she turned to me and said "Annie!" I thought to myself, "Well, of course she can already talk--she's Ian and Tessa's kid!" I got to hold her and she was chattering away. Only a reflection of our auspicious future as godmother and godchild, I reckon!

Ian -- thanks for the comment over at MWBR. Eric Gribbin referred me to xtcian.com about a year ago, and I've been a faithful lurker ever since. On the photo front...I'm one of the guilty ones, eating up gobs of digital turf with attempts at catching my 10-week-old's cute faces (grimaces?). I'm intrigued by Andy's suggestion -- until a week ago, the upset times were running neck and neck with the calm/peaceful/wide-eyed wonder times, yet I'm not sure we captured Lindsay's infantile rage. Well, I'm pretty sure we'll get another shot at it.

I am back for my Lucy Pick-Me Up after an unpleasant meeting at the Insurance Job. I was thinking. . . not only is she cute as a button, but she just looks so smart! Of course, I have already determined that my daughter is the genius baby of the new millennium (ha!), but Lucy looks so perceptive, like she does not miss a beat.

And "family eunuch" is apropos. The hormone balance has shifted, my friend. You are living in a house outnumbered by women, and don't you forget it! Lucy has you wrapped around her smart little finger. You are going to be talking baby talk in a matter of weeks, and Playing Dollies will replace all your former hobbies. I see Polly Pockets, Dora the Explorer, and PowerPuff Girls in your future. Perhaps a Groovy Girls or My Pretty Pony collection, too. Believe me, despite what you will read about gender and nature/nurture, girls gravitate toward that stuff. Embrace your feminine side now.

Well, Laurie, you write:

"I see Polly Pockets, Dora the Explorer. . . , despite what you will read about gender and nature/nurture, girls gravitate toward that stuff."

It's only anecdotal and not scientific, but if you're right, then why did Ian's baby sister Michelle (now a grownup fabulous beautiful woman) have to be wrestled into a dress, and was never more than a step behind (or ahead) of her brothers in every pursuit, whether gender "appropriate" or not.

After four boys, I found myself longing for a little creature who loved dressing up, dolls, and all that other girl stuff. Ha. She played with the same toys, wore the same clothes, and did the same sports as her brothers. Nurture won out over nature, since four oldr brothers raised her. Of course I wanted her to achieve in every department, gender "appropriate" or not, and she has, but she sure didn't ever get into the Polly Pockets syndrome as a little kid, or even the more "giflie" toys. In fact, as I remember, Ian and Sean were the ones who loved the EasyBake Oven.

Go figure.

Word to Andy's advice. One of the funniest pictures we have of Caleb is when he's about 11 months old, and someone put a little paper party hat on him. Well, we found out in a matter of seconds that Caleb HATES all manner of party hats, particularly the kind with the annoying stretchy string. His face is all contorted in mid-wail, and it is VERY funny. To this day, we can't even *show* him a party hat without him recoiling.

(Now that I think about it, WHAT THE HELL caused him to hate party hats??? huh)

Ms. Worsley,

Come to think of it, my daughter was the only girl in her pre-school last year who knew every Pokemon in the universe. And, we just came back from her t-ball game this evening, wherein she was the best player on her team -- and some of the parents were commenting that Helen played "like the boys" -- whatever that means? Are girls not supposed to be good athletes?!

I hope that Ian keeps blogging long enough for us readers to see what interests little Lucy. You have quite a beautiful granddaughter and a very special family. May I wish you an early Happy Mother's Day! Take care!

Oh, the guilt! I beheaded my barbies, sent my stuffed animals on G.I Joe missions, chagrined all dresses until my mid-twenties, and basically denied my son-riddled mother a daughter. All I can do is make up for it now. But, yes, I was never interested in what was deemed "girly" stuff in the mid-1970's, and one should not assume that *anyone* will *ever* do what they are *supposed* to do. Knowing her parents, Lucy will grow up brilliant, and make decisions about all things on her own time. She will rock at softball, if she chooses, and beat most men at arm-wresting, while also breaking hearts. No doubt about it.

Oliver--nice reframing of the entry!

God, the three of you are so damned beautiful--no tears in my coffee today! Many thanks for sharing.

Happy Mother's Day (to all 3 of you!). We checked your website today to see if you had had your little one and were so pleased to see the photos and read your wonderful postings! I just knew you would be the wonderful parents you are. As you now know, parenthood is the most rewarding job in the world. Tony (and my husband Jeff) presented me with two dozen beautiful roses today and then Tony said "I'm so glad that God cast you as my mother". I am sure I shall never forget that. He's 14 years old and I'm as grateful now as I was on the day we adopted him, if not more so.

Congratulations on your beautiful addition!!! Enjoy every single second because she will grow faster than you'd ever imagine or want.

Hugs and kisses,

Tony Oller and mom Mary Anne & dad Jeff