We spent time with Grandma and Grandpa (my parents) and Uncle Austin. Eva can only hope she inherited these eyes:

Eva had a great time meeting her cousins. By my count, she [...]]]> Sunday was a great day. Matt spent most of the day reading his school book, but how hard is that when studying looks like this?

We spent time with Grandma and Grandpa (my parents) and Uncle Austin. Eva can only hope she inherited these eyes:

Eva had a great time meeting her cousins. By my count, she had nine cousins at my Aunt’s house at family dinner night – three of my first cousins, and six of their children (plus a seventh on the way). The whole collection looked something like this:

Finally, we had our first family swim. Eva was quiet the whole time we were in the water, looking around through her sunglasses and taking it all in, but I think she had a good time.

It was a beautiful day.

Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to traveling with a baby. The drive is normally [...]]]> By my calculations, Eva’s heritage is more than 50% southern, with roots ranging from North Carolina to Alabama. It is therefore fitting that her first trip was to Princeton, North Carolina last weekend for the annual Hartley reunion.

Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to traveling with a baby. The drive is normally four and a half hours, and this year it took about five and a half each way. On our way home I did climb into the back seat in the middle of I-95 traffic (a.k.a. running the gauntlet) – but it was because I was tired of reaching into the back seat, not because Eva was overly upset.

Eva slept well in the hotel room (generally she sleeps well once the lights are out), and she adapted back to our routine as soon as we returned home. She seemed a little bit restless after two straight days of new sights, but it was all much easier than I expected.

We spent a few hours both Saturday and Sunday at Pop-Pop’s house, and Eva spent most of the time engaged in one of her favorite pastimes, laughing at ceiling fans. In this picture she’s lying on a quilt hand-sewn by her Great-great Aunt Mildred.

At the reunion, Eva was the most popular attendee – at least 10 people held her, maybe 15. Even though she wanted nothing more than to look around the reception hall at her third and fourth cousins, she eventually passed out mid-head-turn.

We took some photos in front of the field outside of Pop-Pop’s house. I linked to the full size photo above – if you click between the trees on the right, you can see tobacco plants. I point that out because to some of us non-Southerners, tobacco plants are fascinating. Or maybe it’s just me.

In just a few weeks we’ll be taking our first flight with Eva – hopefully that goes just as well.

We had a great week going for walks, visiting friends and family, and sitting quietly with Eva.

We braved the heat and walked to [...]]]> Just a few days after Gigi and GD left, my mother flew into town on a whim. My mother, you should note, is on her third visit since March – what a jet-setter!

We had a great week going for walks, visiting friends and family, and sitting quietly with Eva.

We braved the heat and walked to St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub every day (someone has to keep them in business).

Grandma helped us rediscover the magic of the Boppy.

And she took some fun candid shots of Matt, Eva, and I living our life.

As always, there’s more in the photo gallery.

Next up – we’re heading to North Carolina for Eva’s first annual Hartley reunion. But first, we have a very important weekend with a whole lot of nothing scheduled.

We had a great weekend visiting with the newly crowned Gigi (GG for Greatgrandma) and GD (for [...]]]> It’s been a busy month for our little family. During the first part of July, Eva met two more great-grandparents, Matt’s maternal grandparents. Great-grandparents on my side of the family – we’re working on plans to come see you.

We had a great weekend visiting with the newly crowned Gigi (GG for Greatgrandma) and GD (for Greatdaddy).

Gigi made a new friend for Eva. This bear is awesome – he or she is built to be loved by a small child.

GD told Eva all about Marine engines.

And Eva took naps in some unusual places. Can you tell she’s a first child and grandchild?

We have a great photo gallery with captions that practically wrote themselves… and then disappeared (why zenphoto why? usually you’re perfect). I did my best rewrite, but they still seem sub-par.

Part II is in the works.

Matt’s parents have been cooking dinner for us – at either our house or theirs – since week one. There are some photos from dinners up in the gallery. I linked to this gallery in the last post, but there are some new pictures starting on the [...]]]> Studies show that grandparents improve your quality of life.

Matt’s parents have been cooking dinner for us – at either our house or theirs – since week one. There are some photos from dinners up in the gallery. I linked to this gallery in the last post, but there are some new pictures starting on the fourth row, including this shot of four generations of Hartleys:

My parents flew into town after Memorial Day, and my brother a few days later. They cooked, cleaned, weeded, and rocked, and I got a few extra hours of sleep. Pictures from that visit are up in a new gallery. I had a burst of energy and actually captioned a lot of the pictures, so humor my sleepiness and be sure to read them.

We took family portraits.

We built an impromptu snowman after taking family portraits. (Photo evidence might suggest “we” actually means Matt and Austin built the snowman.)

My mom and I attended a joint baby shower, at which we blind tasted baby [...]]]> We’ve had a lovely visit with my family, which has included lots of snow, food, and chocolate.

We took family portraits.

We built an impromptu snowman after taking family portraits. (Photo evidence might suggest “we” actually means Matt and Austin built the snowman.)

My mom and I attended a joint baby shower, at which we blind tasted baby food and guessed the flavor. I did not do very well, but suspect I will become an expert in the near future.

We visited Edward Hopper’s Women at the Seattle Art Museum. It’s a small exhibit, but has some great paintings. If you’re in Seattle before March 1st, I recommend stopping by.

And we toured a chocolate factory on New Year’s Eve. We wore hairnets and tasted so much chocolate we still can’t look at it today. Again, it’s a great tourist spot if you’re in town.

All pictures are up in our photo gallery. Happy New Year!

We had a lovely Christmas day, complete with a secret Santa, lots of food and champagne, and a long walk through Hyde [...]]]> I realize I used this title for Thanksgiving, but… that’s what they say here, especially the proper Brits who greet us on the elevator at our hotel. The abundance of politeness soothes my soul.

We had a lovely Christmas day, complete with a secret Santa, lots of food and champagne, and a long walk through Hyde Park.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

We all went to dinner at a [...]]]> Yesterday was a shopping day for most of us in London. Matt and I braved the Christmas Eve crowd at the Knightsbridge Harrods, and hit an alley of bookstores. And by that, I mean the entire alley was lined with bookstores, almost entirely used, and many of them rare/antiquarian.

We all went to dinner at a very authentic Chinese restaurant, then Matt, Patrick, Kris and I followed a trail of pretty Christmas lights through town. Here we are in Leiscester Square:

Three of the four of us are Dr. Who fans (I’m the odd one out—but probably just because I haven’t seen any), so we were excited to stumble across this window display on the way back to the hotel: