If I Ran the Zoo

It was kind of a Dr. Seuss-y weekend. We began on Saturday with a wonderful, wonderful performance of the musical Seussicial at my theater. Owen, Amy and I loved it, and it was Maya's first performing arts event. Sure, she slept through it ... but that was probably for the best.

If Theatreworks comes into your community with this show, it's a must-go! The Times agrees.

This afternoon we went out to Miller Park for a big community celebration. Owen had a great time and ended up the afternoon like the Sneetches. Not so much with a star on his belly ...

But a tiger on his face!

It was his first face painting by our community's beloved Zoo Lady, who has worked many events at the BCPA, and does AMAZING! work.

Maya, meanwhile, worked on getting clean.

... which ends the Seuss references, but seems like the perfect image with which to end this post.

More soon. We're off to the Shedd Aquarium via Amtrak Train tomorrow morning!

One month old

Maya is one month old today! Lots has happened for her.

She's gained two lbs.

She's found a doting brother ...


a comfortable sleeping position ...



and much to be thoughtful about ...

Three weeks ... and already an emergency (?)

Emergency! Emergency!

I hope Maya enjoyed her first call as a part of the Aalberts fire brigade last night.

Owen was in his gear and ready to play. When he started distributing hats, we put the soft one on the little girl and enlisted her help in putting out the "fires" all around the house.

I think she did a pretty good job.

This was also an exciting week as we a) enjoyed the company of Grampie and Grammie Ives over the weekend, and b) took Owen to his first swim lesson.

He did a great job. Still a little hesitant to put his head under water, he really responded to the teacher's games and learned all you have to do when your head gets wet is wipe your face to feel better. We had great fun, though, and we're excited about going back this weekend.

Maya, meanwhile, had a check up with Dr. Rosa yesterday. The excellent news is terrific growth. She's up 1 lb, 3 oz from her birth weight to 9 lb 15 oz girl 90% and measures in a half inch taller at 21.5. The bad news is she has a cold. She's been very snuffly at night and the mucous has led to an unsettled stomach and some rather exciting vomiting. Dr. Rosa suggested some comfort care ideas, and, indeed, Maya got a good night's sleep last night and kept down all of her food.

Mom and Dad also enjoyed not having to clean up and change clothes before morning.

Getting out and about

Some added photos and videos of Maya's introduction to the neighborhood last week. Above, Maya meets Owen's good friend Philip, and below is Philip's mom, who later in the night brought us a wonderful meal. It's so nice when you don't have to worry about cooking when you're still getting settled with a new little body.

Maya has been doing well. She continues to be a bit urpy at night, which has put Mom and Dad a little more on the course of sleep deprivation. But, all in all, she's been a great baby.

Owen has also had a great week and has been a wonderful source of entertainment for us.

I'm including some videos from last weekend: Owen out on his tricycle, then two playing in the back yard.

And, yes, it was a challenge getting Grandpa shoved in there ...

Owen has been great about playing around the house on the first full week at home with just Maya and Mom. He was an outstanding firefighter again the other night. And he and his mom invented a "Woozlewulazer" to hunt the Woozles who lurk in the basement, just like they do at Pooh's house in the Hundred Acre Wood.

A great story to share from yesterday, too. I was getting ready to take my shower, Owen was playing around the bed where Maya was having her first, if not second breakfast, and he said, "Daddy, I forgot to tell you something about how you are my best friend."

What a nice way to start the day.

38 (years) and 40 (hours per week)

A quick post today to get a few more pictures online and say we're all doing well.

It was my birthday on Saturday (Thanks for the help with the candles, Owen), which was a hoot since it's been a while since someone new came to the party.

We had a fun weekend. My parents visited (thanks for the pictures, Mom) and joined us for a lovely breakfast out on Saturday morning, followed by Maya's first trip to the park. Later, on what turned out to be a beautiful day, we joined Owen and some of the neighbor kids and families for some fun outside. Maya met lots of people and we all enjoyed being warm.

The celebration was short-lived, though, as I returned to work full-time yesterday. It's been a transition. So far things have worked fairly well getting food into the mouths of little bodies before I take off. Owen is still going into day care in the afternoon, which makes it easier on his mom to get some rest and take care of Maya in the afternoon, but there's little doubt we both wish we were living in Sweden.

Some gifts keep on giving ...

Thank you thank you.

Maya has received some very nice gifts since she came home with us a week ago today. Please don't take tonight's post as a request for gifts (it isn't) or a universal thank you to anyone who did bring Maya a gift (more formal thank yous are on the way); it's merely a story of some fun we had at home tonight thanks to a very fun gift of meat we received today from my friend Sue at Dartmouth.

As you'd imagine, the meat-filled Styrofoam freezer box that arrived at our door today was being kept cool with dry ice. What an opportunity!

Owen's mad scientist Uncle Daniel would have been proud as I helped Owen make the ice whistle on a spoon and smoke in a glass of water. It was pretty fun, as the following photo and video will show.

More fun was had tonight with a marshmallow peep ...

... which Owen thought was quite silly. It came from our friend, and my coworker, Abby, who stopped by to say hello to Baby Maya last night.

Abby's visit was also memorable thanks to Maya, who did her best to keep two handfuls of Abby's hair when she tried to pass her back to us at the end of the visit.

In the end Abby left unscathed and Maya settled back in with her stuffed bunny.

Another fine day!

One week old

It's been one week!

And yet it seems like it's been so much longer.

Maya celebrated her one-week birthday with a visit to our beloved pediatrician Dr. Rosa. She got a clean bill of health, and them some. In one week, Maya has surpassed her birth weight. Born at 8 lbs. 12 oz, she left the hospital at 8 lbs 1 oz and today weighed in at 8/13. It normally takes babies about two weeks to get that weight back, but Maya is an achiever. She continues to be a great eater and sleeper.

She also lost the last of her umbilical cord ... again ahead of schedule. Her belly button looks just fine!


Owen continues to be an excellent big brother. He just shines when he's tending to her and is very sweet and protective.

Perhaps too much so. She was crying again during a diaper change the other night and he reprised his "My sister is crying, my baby sister is crying" alarm. Only this time he added "Do you think we should call the police?"

The pictures below are a good indication of how he's doing as a big brother. The other night, he was playing with some plastic vehicles and decided Maya needed some toys in her swing. He gently stopped her, dropped a car into her seat, then gave her a little push to get her going again. By the end she had a dozen cars and trucks tucked in along her hip.

Speaking of "tucks," she seemed to take to the football hold just fine last night.

Lastly, Owen's been having fun helping to open her baby gifts. Unwrapping has become his "job," since she can't do it for herself. With each package he asks "do you think they sent a lollipop?" And we've been doing our best to drop one in at least one gift per night.

However, as always, the best part is the packing material. This is a spectacular dance! Take that Flatley!