Day 29

Ellie is four weeks and one day old today and to celebrate, she visited the library for the first time.  Priorities in this family being what they are, the library was the second trip to a non-medical destination.  The first, naturally, was a visit to District Taco to accompany dad as he enjoyed huevos rancheros.  Ellie's formerly skinny legs have grown increasingly dimpled, and she is spending longer periods of time awake.  She continues to entertain us with her repertoire of dramatic facial expressions, many of which are borrowed directly from mom and dad -- the furrowed brow, the pouty lip, and a resting position of generalized skepticism.

Ellie's social calendar is growing, too.  In the first few weeks of her life, she wheedled her way into the hearts of her grandma and her nani.  Uncle Dylan also visited and held Ellie during the moment she first tried a pacifier, at about a week old.  (Ellie has also charmed the close friends who have visited, bearing soup, books, and cuddles.)  In the last several days, Ellie met both her grandpa and her Uncle Brendan for the first time.  We also received a special visit from cousin Djuna and Eric!  It turns out that sweet babies with huge eyes and chubby cheeks are quite the draw, and it has been wonderful to visit with family and friends alike.

In addition to being Ellie's four week birthday, yesterday was also the winter solstice.  On these short and dark days, we often spend the morning taking in the sun in the south-facing office, and migrate down to the enjoy the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree and heat of the fireplace in the evening.  Ellie is still sorting out the difference between night and day; she spends most of her time sleeping, but seems no more likely to sleep for long stretches at night than during the day.  It will be fascinating to look on as she continues to grow and change at a rapid pace.  We are told that soon, she will begin to smile "socially" -- that is, her smiles will begin to signify that she is happy! (We have already spied smiles, but the wisdom is that at this age, they are either involuntary spasms or related to gas...)

I'll sign off now...because it is time for a bath!  Ellie prefers baths in her white Puj tub to the "baths" we administered in the first week or two of her life, before her umbilical stump fell off -- she enjoys the warm water, thrilling mom, who (not so) secretly hopes that she'll love the water!