Bea on the Weekend

Social Bea

Justin and Leanne came over today to meet Bea. We walked from the house to the CCA campus with them and then to Market Hall to pick up some cupcakes.

Chris and Eric brought Lococos over for dinner. Bea slept soundly in Chris's arms for hours while we enjoyed wine and conversation in the living room. After they left she was still konked out in the baby bouncer.

Busy Bea

Hanging out in the International Pod

This morning I had a dentist appointment in the city and my mom (who goes to the same dentist) and Bea came along. Bea slept in the waiting room while my mom read People Magazine. After the appointment we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge in search of the sunshine and found some warmth in Corte Madera where we ate lunch outdoors at the mall while Bea (mostly) slept.

Bea woke up when we stopped by my work so she could meet everyone there.

Easter Bea

This morning Bea had a bath in the sink and wore her hooded towel afterwards, which makes her pretty happy. My mom brought over an almond torte from Dianda's Italian Bakery on Mission and Dan cooked up a leg of lamb for a delicious Easter meal. While he was cooking we watched 'Shaun of the Dead' on TV followed by Madame Butterfly. Bea wore the new green springtime dress Grandma Lily gave her. After dinner we walked my mom to the BART station and strolled around our neighborhood with Bea in the Baby Bjorn.

Nursing in the Back Seat

We drove into San Francisco with Dan again, went to my mom's, and had lunch in Noe Valley at Fresca where my mom had Peruvian food for the first time. We got halibut ceviche and beef saltado. The restaurant wasn't very busy and they sat us in back where we had lots of room for the stroller. Bea slept nearly the entire time. Afterwards Bea was starving, so I nursed her in the backseat of the car. Not very discreet, but after all I was covered by a car.

Next we double-parked outside of Drewes meat market on Church and my mom popped inside to pick up the leg of lamb she'd ordered for our Easter meal. I took my mom and the leg of lamb back to her apartment and then Bea and I headed to Bernal Heights to see Sheetal, Jonathan and Noah's new flat. We drank tea and had cheese and crackers in their garden. I love these leisurely afternoons! Bea slept in the sling while Noah was awake and social. Joining us in the garden were a Buddha who appears to be playing ping pong and Spiderman, who is probably quite skilled at ping pong himself.

The Lil' Pals

Lara and August came over this afternoon and we strolled down the hill to College Avenue to have lunch at Khana Peena. I got curry on my sweater top. We both nursed the babies at our booth - it was late and there weren't many people around, which so far makes me feel better about public nursing. I took advantage of there being only one other table occupied later and changed Bea's diaper in the stroller. Next time I go to Khana Peena I'll try not to look like the lady that changed a baby diaper on the outdoor patio. At the table across from us were two young guys and an 8 month old named Eva. Eva's father's friend is expecting his first baby any day now and we all speculated on the possibility of a baby boom.

After lunch we went to Trader Joe's where I took Bea and the big stroller into the bathroom - everybody fit just fine. Bea started to fuss when I was washing my hands but when the ultra powerful 'Excel' hand dryer came on she calmed down instantly.

When we got back to the house after hiking up the hill we took photos of the lil' pals together on the couch and a video too.

Felicia Comes for a Visit

Felicia is the doula who helped us bring Bea into the world. She kept us calm and focused and helped us to navigate the (to us) unchartered waters of childbirth. Before Felicia came over Connie came downstairs for a look-see. Connie's slowly acclimating to life with Bea.

When Felicia came for the postpartum visit this morning and I took a photo of her with Bea, who was sporting the purple sweater Chris G knitted for her.

Naked in Pac Heights

We were getting curious about how much Bea weighs now, since she was 9 lbs. 12 oz. at two weeks old, it's been almost four weeks since then, and her next well baby checkup isn't for another 2.5 weeks. Bea and I drove with Dan into San Francisco today, dropped him off at work, and then picked up my mom to go to Day One on California Street in Pac Heights to weigh Bea. At Day One and I bought a copy of 'The Girlfriend's Guide to the First Year' since I really enjoyed the humor in 'The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy.' The book was on sale for $4!

An associate showed me how to use the scale and we put Bea on. She weighs 12 lbs, just over that with her clothes on. While changing her diaper afterwards I didn't slip the new diaper under her before she went again - her outfit was wet all through. My mom wrapped Bea in her blanket and we picked out some clothes to buy - a tough decision because they seemed to have only preemie and 3-6 month old clothing. My mom bought Bea roomy 3-6 month sweater and pant set, with a onesie. All the while Bea relaxed on my mom's shoulder, probably happy to be only wearing a diaper, as that is her preferred outfit. After we bought the clothes my mom and I lounged in the gliders near the library, reading parenting books while I nursed Bea to the sound of classic 80's music coming through some speaking above the bookshelves.

When we got back to my mom's she changed Bea out of the new clothes to wash them and we put on an outfit that I'd packed in preparation for a diaper fiasco but had, of course, left on my mom's couch.

After that, I fell asleep on my mom's bed, Bea napped on Grandma Lily's shoulder in the living room. Dan took Muni to my mom's after work and he and I went to dinner at Farina on the spur of the moment. The Ligurian food was delicious and the parking gods granted us a space on the same block during rush hour.

Filippo's & Mini Wheats

We headed down the hill today to meet Susie for lunch at Filippo's. I'd brought a bottle of milk with me but ended up just nursing Bea at the outside table. After lunch Susie went to West Oakland and Bea and I rolled over to Trader Joe's where I bought some Frosted Mini Wheats. It's hard not to look like I'm shoplifting when I shop using the stroller.

Working Out

When I find myself home all day with Bea, out comes the video camera. Today Bea had a fun workout in her Gymini. I wish they made these and bouncy chairs for adults.

Posh Houses

This afternoon Bea went into the Baby Bjorn carrier and Dan carried her up the hill. We looked at two open houses. One was $2.5 million, a modern number that looked like the Brady Bunch house on steroids, and the other was $1.5 million. The 'less expensive' house was the one we preferred (if we *had* to choose), with its grassy backyard, deck, and view of the bay. Disappointingly, neither open house offered snacks to those of us who wandered in.....

Bea Bath in the Sink

Bea fits nicely in the bathroom sink now, where I've been bathing her since Dan returned to work. Filling up the baby bathtub just takes much longer, and while she's tiny, the sink works well.

Grandma Judy and Mike Visit from Upland

A kiss from Grandma Judy

With Grandma Judy and Mike

Grandma Judy and Mike came for a visit. We walked down to College Avenue in the sunshine, stopped for hot beverages at Bittersweet, and then headed back up the hill. Judy and Mike brought over dinner fixings and Mike made a wonderful roast beef meal with salad, baked potatoes, and bread. During dinner Bea konked out in her bouncer with Sophie and the brown bear. The next morning we had brunch at Crepevine and Bea (mostly) slept.

Shopping, Elevators, and the 'Family' restroom

We drove into San Francisco with Dan today, dropped him off at work, and then picked up Grandma Lily to go to Union Square. I'd never 'operated' the stroller the car seat locks into, but Dan explained it to me and miraculously I remembered what he'd said when I pulled the stroller out of the trunk in the 'White House Garage' on Sutter. Mom and I pushed the stroller all over Union Square, through Macy's where we changed Bea's diaper on the 6th floor and gave her a bottle too. We took the Macy's elevator up and down and I bought new sheets and some tiny clothes for Bea.

The 2nd floor 'Women's Lounge' in Bloomingdale's is the ideal place to nurse and change a baby's diapers, all the while listening to calming music while sitting on a soft couch. The 2nd floor always feels empty to me, and for that reason the lounge is not very busy. There's a 'Family' restroom as well, with a huge changing table. Having lived here for 12 years now, I've kept close tabs on the 'good' restrooms, and this one rates very highly. Crate and Barrel's restroom is nice as well, but they put in a lock last year, and it doesn't have a place to sit anyway (except for, of course, the toilets).

After a full day of shopping, during which Bea slept most of the time, and eating lunch at Out the Door, we drove back to my mom's apartment. I picked up Dan from work and my mom watched Bea while we went to dinner at Chow. I ordered a glass of the house red - I love how one glass of wine really goes to my head these days!

Aunt Robin and Uncle Gary

On March 10th Dan returned to work and I was more than just a little bit nervous about being in charge of Bea on my own. But I didn't need to worry - Aunt Robin and Uncle Gary came down from Sacramento with a wonderful lunch. After we ate and changed Bea's diaper we headed outdoors, with Bea in the Moby wrap, and walked up the hill past the big houses. I even 'discreetly' (let's hope) nursed Bea in the Moby.

Weekend Visitors

Grandma Lily came over on BART from San Francisco for a visit. Ann and Jane also came over and I forgot to take a photo......I seem to forget at least twenty things a day! Grandma Lily used the magic 'diaper on top of baby' technique to coax Bea into a nap.

Weeks Three and Four

Heather and Bea.
Chrissy comes for a visit.
If it were up to my limited culinary skills, we'd be eating frozen Trader Joe's pizzas and burritos every night. Tonight Chef Dan cooked up the Omaha Steaks that my dentist sent as a thank you for referring my mom to him.
Jason and Jolene came over for dinner and met Bea.
Bea at Peaberry's Tea where Dan ordered a double latte.
Bea sleeping in the stroller.

Nap time.