Volleyball!

Another beautiful day in Brooklyn. Volleyball in Prospect Park on a sunny day in May. I didn't take any pictures of Adrian playing volleyball: he was just too damn good; you wouldn't believe it.

Bath Time!

Yes, we do wash our baby. Here are some snaps of Adrian's first bath.

Aunt Debbie stares in wonder

At the chaos that one baby can create.
Looking forward to her own grandchild later this year, Aunt Debbie imagines what a child will do to the small confines of a Dublin apartment. Megan and James are in for it to be sure . . .

Don't worry!

Nana knows how to hold babies.



Tammy and Debbie visit from Idaho. Wow, how to make a long story short. . .You'll have to ask them about the comedy club fiasco and the underwear model. I'll tell you about our fantastic trip to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Fifth Ave Street Fair.

Christine Love burps the baby

What else can I say? Everyone loves Adrian. Once you get an eye-full of this kid its impossible not to fall head over heels.

The Claw

Adrian, amazed by his own hands, reaches out for the invisible boob in the sky that feeds us all. Evidently only he can see it and it taunts him constantly.

When he catches it he promises to share with everyone.

Monday in the park with Adrian.

We had our first walking only outing to Prospect Park on Monday and we sat here on this park bench overlooking the lake watching turtles sunning themselves, Canadian geese fighting, sparrows flitting about, squirrels running hither and yon and a parade of Brooklyn folks right out of central casting. Just a few of the highlights were: the young Israeli kids talking loudly on cel phones about (probably) buying drugs, the gruff old Russian man reading the paper, the Latino bike gang, and (my favorite!) the old Muslim fisherman with his homemade fishing rod.

We love Brooklyn!

Freezer Guy!

Park Slope Food Coop's own Freezer Guy stopped by with some delicious chili and a hankerin' to hold a baby!

Adrian was excited to meet Caleb and the feeling seemed to be mutual. Adrian had just gotten some new jammies and was excited to try those on as well.

Caleb, you'll be happy to know that we froze a bunch of that chili and we'll be enjoying it all summer long (I don't mean it like that).

I know you can't see him . . .

. . .but he's there!

On the "Q" train no less. Erin, wearing her clothing swap jacket she got last week, Adrian and I went to Chinatown to have some blood drawn: the only lab open on a Sunday. Adrian was a champ and didn't cry at all during the draw. The technician said "the boys love the titties." We weren't sure what to make of this, but bought pork buns down the street. Good times.

Wesley sniffs it out!

Wesley has been suspicious for weeks. There's a certain level of paranoia that is well justified. Adrian smells like danger. Or dinner - I'm not sure, but every time Wesley gets a sniff he runs off at full speed, heading for the furthest place in the apartment to hide.

When we got home today from the Botanic Garden, he jumped up in Erin's lap, thinking perhaps that we had left Adrian outside somewhere. When he found out that we hadn't abandoned our infant son, he slunk off to the living room to pout into his litter box.

Proud (and tired!) parents

Some kind stranger took this picture of us in the desert room in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden today. We became members of the garden as well, so we'll be there more often, teaching Adrian about horticultural etiquette - like when its OK to pick fruit off the trees (when the security guards aren't looking of course!) and how to avoid curious little old ladies how want to coo and point at newborn babies.

Evidently we brought the sunshine with us to the garden, and although it started pouring almost as soon as we got home, the sound of the rain provided the perfect soundtrack to our family nap-time.

Our trip to New Mexico

Adrian and I in the desert outside Taos. After this we rode donkeys into Native American villages and participated in ancient secret rituals involving sweat lodges and some really foul tasting beverage. I think it was called Coca-cola. . . I can't remember.

Yo Adrian!

As spring changes to summer and the city becomes unbearably hot and muggy, so too shall our lives change as Adrian grows from mewling, sleepy infant into, well, something else. We don't know what yet, but we'll keep you posted.

And as always: visitors welcome, casseroles welcome, unsolicited advice welcome, presents welcome . . . you're welcome.

Fresh and new

Brand new babies. Have you ever smelled one? They smell really good. I mean not in a "I want to eat this baby" sort of way. Its like new car smell, only more natural. And cuddly.

Sarah and Matt

Our first (and only) visitors, Sarah and Matt. Now we realize that you New Yorkers are a busy lot, but what is your excuse for not visiting? Sarah had just gotten off of her third 12 hour shift in a row and if Matt looks tired, its because he had just finished building a storage shed in our room.

Lazy New Yorkers.

View from the 9th floor

From our first room: the view of 7th ave looking south from Greenwich Ave. Just out of sight on the right is a place called Fantasy World. Maybe Adrian will like gifts from there someday.

6 pounds, 13 ounces

OK, who's bet was closest? I'm pretty sure everyone was way off . . .not just about the weight, but the sex and due date as well. We knew all along that he wasn't going to be a girl. And that he would be early. And the exact weight. We also have some lottery number information we would be willing to sell . . . for the right price.

Mommy and Baby

In our second room at St. Vincent's (the larger, deluxe suite with two, yes two, beds) - a special moment captured just for you.

After this, we had a hearing test, and it is confirmed that I have lost hearing from playing rock bands.

What?

Adrian Hopkins Weber

Here he is folks, in all his wrapped up as cute as a button glory. This is the last picture we took before we left the hospital. He slept like a proverbial baby in the car home - and as soon as we clean up we'll post pictures from the house.

Labor & Delivery recap

I couldn't help snapping this picture of Erin (above her protests) in between contractions. Its the only picture I took during the labor. I was too busy boiling water and pacing to do much else.

Seriously, Erin was a rock-star and I will never forget how amazing it was, even if Erin forgets and wants to get pregnant again.

Next up . . .introducing: Adrian Hopkins Weber!

Kentucky Derby Day (part 2)

Taken in front of a house on Beverly road, Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. Did I mention that this woman is in labor? And took Ballet class yesterday?

Kentucky Derby Day (part 1)

After a long night of laboring in the living room, Erin returned back to our bed, only to be disturbed by me and the new Canon G10. We went for a walk and picked up some nice finds at the Sycamore Clothing swap (where I managed to get rid of two shirts that are far too large to fit me).