Cousin Time in SF

Cousins Jared, Yana, Vivian and Ellis made the long drive down from Arcata to SF to meet Sadie and get some quality cousin time. And Sadie enjoyed her first visit to SF MoMA. (There are more pix on my camera, but I only have access to the ones on my phone at the moment.)
Thanks, cousins, for coming!

San FranSadie (while mommy was sleeping)

We're out for an early walk while mommy sleeps... and we're seeing EVERYTHING!!!

California Teethin'

Merry Christmas! We have been enjoying a relaxing week on the not-always-sunny west coast. The Hendins are gracious hosts and eager babysitters. Jonathan and I have been enjoying some together both with and without Sadie- we even caught a movie or two.
Grandma India and Phil came over for a big Christmas dinner, and the Hendins were introduced to the Haynes traditions of Christmas crackers, Yule logs, and 24 hours of A Christmas Story on PBS.
Sadie has been doing a LOT of growing up since we arrived. After our first couple days it became clear she was teething. Her symptoms have mellowed a bit, and I think we will see two little toofs any day now. She has also developed quite a little personality. Perhaps it is having all the family around to draw her out, but she is really blossoming into a curious, funny little society girl. It is a joy to see her interact with people so fully, with plenty of gummy smiles and laughs and new vocab words such as 'Baooouh'.
We are limited, while we are away, to posting just the photos we have on our phone, so here goes. There are more!

Sadie Takes Wing

Sadie's first flight, the first leg at least, from NYC to Chicago, was uneventful except for the fact that Sadie was flying. She travels like a... whatever travels well.
V fed her during takeoff and landing to help her ears pop and then the white noise from the engines put her to sleep for most of the rest of the flight.
It is an exciting day. Off to California for a holiday with our kid. This is the best thing ever. Hope someone is at the airport to pick us up.
Time to turn off the phone and fly the airplane.

Last night of First Hanukkah!

The Internet makes the best gifts possible

This was my only present for Sadie for her first Hanukkah. It was one of my favorite books when I was little. Anyway, I don't think I am exaggerating when I say that there is no way I could have found her a copy without he miracle of the internet, not to mention a copy in great condition with the dust jacket.
HOORAY!!!  Now Sadie will learn why it is a bad idea to shoot a lion with a pop-gun.

5 Months!

It has been suggested that photos of closets ate not as thrilling as those of our baby, so here goes: 5 whole months!
She finally noticed the blue Uglydoll. Yum!

Worries

Sadie is stressed about the fiscal cliff.
That is all.

Making Friends

My mom's group of July-born babies sent around an e-mail for an impromptu coffee date yesterday, and lots of people showed up. It was great to catch up with people and see how all the babies are developing. All the boys seemed very big, and some babies were getting teeth! Just about everyone is experiencing some degree of the 4 month sleep regression, so it's nice to know we're not alone.

We were pretty cramped at the table, and when I looked down, Sadie was holding hands with her neighbor, Isabella!

Grandma Vicki predicted that since Sadie is so chatty with her reflection, she will have no trouble making friends. Looks like she's right!

Getting to know you

Apparently, babies this young don't recognize their reflections. Which means Sadie just thinks she is having a fascinating conversation with the 2nd cutest baby in the world.

Our kid rocks!!

And that is all I have to say.

Jumparoo

Here is Sadie getting her first taste of the door jumper. I think she likes it! She will enjoy it even more when she is just a little bigger, I think, but for now it kind of replicates the experience of being held up in a standing position, while giving her parents' arms a break.

Hand me downs

Big changes in the Hendin household. Now that we have taken over the 2nd floor and are slowly moving in, Sadie is now sleeping in her big girl crib in a proper nursery. She has generously let her furry brother use her old nap bassinet.

Sadie has found her feet!

That's pretty much the news. Sadie has started what promises to be an ultra cute stage: doing actual Happy Baby pose.
She is also getting better and better at Tummy Time, which her daddy practices with her in the morning before we get out of bed. Soon she will be doing the whole Sun Salutation! She even rolled over the other day (though it was a soft surface, but still). Such a big strong girl.

Sadie's First Thanksgiving and More Hendins!

We spent Thanksgiving again this year at the home of Cousins David & Jeannie with a whole slew of excellent people (many of them Hendins).   David's son Ben and his wife Chrissy were there with their 9 month old daughter Ariella and there was another couple with a one year old girl as well.  So it was pretty much an afternoon of adoring pretty baby girls.  It was an excellent Thanksgiving!!

Here are some pix - sadly I didn't get pix of everyone with Sadie, but I got quite a lot of good photos of Sadie with Cousin Mitten (Carol) and with Jeannie, so that is good.
(as always, CLICK ON ANY PIC TO ENLARGE)