Ursula from 18 weeks to 24 weeks- enjoy!
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Making orange zest

Update, February 26th.,
This past week was Dad's CAA Conference (for job interviews) in Boston. Ursula and Mom came along for support and also got to walk around a little of Beantown before it got terrribly windy and bitter cold. Taking a detour to the New Hampshire grandparents on the way home our car repeatedly overheated and brought us to several cold wintery roadside vigils. We luckily made it unscathed after 5 festive hours of driving 2 miles then stopping to cool the engine, then driving 2 more miles ... without cell phone reception in the wilds of NH. The next morning the auto mechanic gravely told us it would be 1000-3000 ducks to repair or replace the head gaskets, and would take all week. Worried about our cat's supply of food and our patience with the beloved Subaru Forester, we traded for a 2004 model. It is reputedly safer for transporting little babies, but alas, does not have our favorite feature: heated seats *sniff*. We are proud to tell everyone that Ursula is the master of the tongue. About 30% of her day is now consumed with tongue exercises: tongue out, tongue in cheek, tongue on object, smiling with tongue in the way. Hopefully this strange new habit will soon progress to a "mom" or a "dad."


Strangers keep telling us that Ursula is a long baby.


Our favorite new game: fabric tent

February 20th., Mom heard bahh, baa, baaha, baa on the way home from daycare today. While language is a long way off, we are hopeful she can use the sign language and not the foul language that we use around the house. Ursula lifts her arms slightly when we say 'up' while additionally signalling the sign (hand point up). She also smiles with anticipation with the word 'milk' with the fake hand udder grabbing that accompanies the sound. Pavlov would be proud of us.


This little piggy tastes like roast beef


Hugs from Mom while Ursula watches the cat walk by.


Communion of sorts


Caught in the middle of a rollover. Must be the Olympic spirit.


Always ready for a camera smile.

February 16th., Suddenly Ursula remembered that she knew how to roll over. She briefly did it by accident last month, but this week she is the queen of changing her position. We like to place her on her tummy with a soft book in front of her...we left her alone for a few seconds, came back into the room and she was on her back happily holding her book like nothing had happened. She has also begun to take milk from the bottle again after a week of grumpiness at daycare. Her word of the day is 'baaaah', which comes out with different expressions. "Baaaah" can sometimes express being happy, need milk, need attention or need sleep. Who knows.


SWF, looking for friend and more. Compatible person must have good smile, enjoy napping and talking gibberish. Happy Valentines Day.


Dorking around on a snow day

February 12th., We are in the throes of a Nor'easter. For years Dad thought it didn't mean northeaster since he was once corrected by a school teacher. Strange, we looked it up on the Internets and found this. There is about 13 inches on our green grass making us shut-ins for the day. Ursula will not get her daily one mile walk today...maybe we can pace around the living room while we watch our new 20" widescreen TV. Yes, our 13" Tube finally died last evening and we splurged by going up two sizes. According to baby theory, we think Ursula is having a 'wonder week', which apparently means an inconsolable, grumpy, tired learning little one. Last evening she stayed up 'til about midnight, refusing every remedy that we are capable of delivering.


Sixteen and still snowing



We need a donkey shirt. Could someone send a donkey shirt?


Someone is happy to be dressed up as a New Yorker. Doesn't she look a little like Chuck Close?


She has her homemade Mimi jumper, her rattle and her keys...hide the car!

February 8th., Ursula is now on a hunger strike for, ahem, breast. At daycare she is only eating 3 ounces maximum throughout the 8 hour day (and getting very grumpy). In the evening she wants it straight from the tap every half hour. Even poor dad is having trouble convincing her to take a bottle. Feel sorry for us. She's also working on some very cute inch-worm moves, perhaps in preparation for crawling. She sticks her butt up in the air and wiggles while mooshing her face into the floor. Usually the only movement she makes is a slight rotation, however, rather than forward progress.

"This is where I get those cheeks from!"


Mimi and Ursula enjoying a good joke...


New Jersey's new slogan is 'Come See it for Yourself', we prefer to leave NJ to see things such as trees, rivers and mountains...

February 5th., We have entered the era of the 'schwing' - in which Ursula spastically arches her back and splays out her limbs. This ruins the point of sitting in her bouncy seat :( This morning she schwinged right off the end of it. Ursula had a chirpy, smiley visit with her Hongisto grandparents this weekend and compared cheeks. Talking in her own language consisting solely of vowels, she sounds a little bit like GNR's Sweet Child of Mine ...with no consonants, even more nasally, warbling on and on and on until a final gasp ... listen to Ursula's version here.


Sun streaks into Ursula's play area

February 4th., We may not have mentioned that Ursula slobbers. All day long. Lots of it. It would be interesting to know how many ounces a day ...Ursula's grandparents, Mimi and Papa, are visiting from Keene this weekend. We are off for a walk at the Washington Crossing State Park.


Proof that she does have hair.

Here is the recalled 'teether' that thankfully never got used past this photo..


Slobbering up the baseball in her Red Sox outfit...(pink sox for those keeping track)


3.14159265358979...we heard Dad made a mean Lemon Meringue Pie this weekend


She has legs and she is learning how to use them...

Chef Fernando participates in a new favorite activity, eating her fingers. Mmmm, lady fingers ... tiramisu?

January 30th., We came across these Melissa & Doug puppets (see Fernando's friend, the fireman) that are hilarious, although Ursula doesn't yet agree. Super Chicken still reigns supreme. Our first recalled baby product was announced this week; a teether that could contain the dangerous bacteria pseudomonas aeruginosa and pseudomonas putida if punctured.


A few items from Ursula's purse, including some furry lipstick (a gift from the Virginia Wolsborns ... we thought it was strange too).


Chewing on dad.



"You will have to file your taxes in 4 States this year, Dad. In addition, your child credit is $650 but would be more if you put $4,000 in your IRA"

January 28th., We are off to see some houses...just window shopping, but Ursula deserves her own room. Suddenly, she is not talking as much, but is exploring everything by grabbing, touching and examining each object we hand to her. We have also discovered this great sign language site, which has a very addictive video dictionary. We heard a theory that signing babies grow up to have 12 more IQ points, so we figure we'll give it a try, starting with "chicken," "milk," "up," and "hug." This makes for fascinating conversation, of course. Ursula's latest song: Yellow Submarine.


Yawn! I think it is time to go home Mom!


This painting sits above our couch and for some strange reason Ursula stares at it constantly. Even when being doted on by her mom and dad.


Someone inherited her Mother's thin translucent skin

January 26th., We just returned from a 2 hour Ursula appointment. The highpoint of the evening was when one of the nurses came in and proclaimed, "Now for the bad news!" After seeing our look of horror she explained that Ursula would be receiving 5 vaccinations. Oh ha ha ha that pediatrician humor! It gets me every time. This time dad got to help hold her down for the shots since mom did it last time and and is now mysteriously sick ... Ursula must have shared some of her really cute slobber. The doctor decided she was "perfect" based on weight (13 pounds, 1 Ounce), height (24.5") and a 16" head diameter. Mom and Dad are getting excited to start solid foods in a few weeks starting with sweet potatoes, bananas and avocados.


"What! I have to go to the doctor and get three more shots?"


Such cute cheeks in the winter sun


"Yay, it is super-chicken, I knew you would come back!"


"I am not falling for this poultry wannabee...you know who I want to see"


"What animal is this? It isn't covered in the Ol' McDonald song..."

January 24th., Ursula heard that her Grandparents (Mimi and Papa) are coming down from New Hampshire for a weekend visit! She is practicing her good manners on how to play with others. If all goes well, Mom and Dad might slip out for an hour to catch up on some indoor rock-climbing.


Whoever sends in the best guess of what this resembles will win a handmade potato print with Ursula's real hand print signature!


Animation during the refrain 'Hi ho The derry-o...the cheese stands alone.'

January 22nd., Ursula has her first cold :( She must of picked up the mucous explosion at daycare with all the clean sanitary surfaces that keep the germs away. We tried to keep the humidifier on during the day and are resorting to the age ol' technique of having baby sleep semi-upright in a car seat or bouncer. It brings tears to our eyes when Ursula doesn't enjoy her bath, her chicken or the comfort of being picked up. C'mon doctors find the cure to the common cold! Everyone wish Daddy luck, he has an ivy league job interview tomorow!


In a pilates, acrobatic lollapalooza, she has found her feet and is keeping them


Mom should never sneak up and take pictures of dad before he has had his first chess game...ahem, cup of coffee (BTW, Dad is watching live on ICC, the youngest grandmaster in the world play at Corus 2006 in Wijk aan Zee)


Giggling during an unseasonably warm winter day

January 21st., Ursula is gurgling with both hands in her mouth and sometimes can't figure out why she ends up coughing. If we sing the ABC song we are sure to get a great giggle. We pause on the letter 'U' and sing 'Ursula'. She can anticipate this every time now. With each day, she is getting close to sitting up. The favorite game seems to be 'chicken', where a hand puppet swoops in clucking and lands on her chest and pecks her face with kisses. We all took a long walk today. It was approx. 55 degrees!


The game of elephant's trunk going up and down entertains Ursula


Ursula of Arabia


In the middle of a 'peek a boo' game


If you look closely, you can see a line of drool coming from Ursula's mouth. You can also see the pool under her fingers...


This reminds us of the Goya painting at the Prado Museum, 'Saturn Eating his Young'

Did you miss the last couple weeks of pictures?