Visits from grandparents

My dad left earlier today to go back home. Elliot and I are so sad.

Here are a few more pics of Elliot with Grandpa.







Yesterday, Ed's mom joined us for dinner. Here she is with Elliot.



My dad took this pic during one of our many sessions in which I would try, and fail, to get Elliot to smile for the camera.

Gifts for the newly pregnant

One of my friends asked for gift suggestions for a newly pregnant friend. Here's what I came up with.

A pre-natal exercise DVD. (I used this DVD, which was pretty good but more stretching than cardio. )

Earth Mama Angel Baby Pregnancy Pampering Kit - Occasionally they sell for $20 at babysteals.com. I love this company's products and used several of them during and after pregnancy.

My MIL got me the Mother's Special Blend Skin Toning Oil after Elliot was born. I love it, despite the cheesy packaging, and it's supposed to prevent stretch marks.

A gift certificate for a pre-natal massage.

Bath stuff from Lush.

The Baby Love book -- I like it because the photographs are beautiful and the advice is calm and practical. It helped me feel like taking care of a baby might be doable.

Gift certificate for dinner -- since she won't be able to do that as much after the baby arrives.

A nice bottle of wine or champagne that she can drink after she gives birth.

I personally am not into this, but have a couple of friends who made belly casts.

Maternity/nursing pajamas - this brand is recommended by a blogger I like (Amalah).

An exercise ball - good for sitting on during pregnancy and labor, as well as bouncing the baby and exercising after birth.

Bella Band - holds up maternity pants that are too big and regular clothes that are too small. Also keeps the midsection hidden (and warm) while nursing.

Tummy time at Isis Maternity

I took this on the last day (yesterday) of my Great Beginnings class. Elliot seems to prefer this set-up to what we have at home.

Photos by Grandpa

Great beginnings

Tomorrow is the last day of my Great Beginnings class for new moms at Isis Maternity. We had a wonderful class leader (Lynn D.) and I learned so much from her and the other moms. I will really miss this class. I signed up for the second level, starting weekends in February.

Grandpa!

My dad is visiting and getting to know Elliot. We're having lots of fun!

Elliot gets a "workout'

Warning: this video will be really boring unless you are a hardcore Elliot fan. :)

Creepy seahorse

Do you have a toy that you need to bring with you but no way to attach it to your bag? Here's my hack: a $1 dog collar from Amazon and a small carabiner that I got for free.

Baby fashion show

Elliot rocks the sleepy look in this outfit from our next-door neighbors.



Here Elliot lives up to his middle name, Magnus, with an all-Scandinavian outfit. The 66°NORTH (Iceland) top and pants are from Brad and Fiona and the Hanna Andersson (Sweden) hat is borrowed from our across-the-street neighbors, who have two boys (6 and 3).



Aunties Liz and Paige and Grandma (my MIL) love Elliot!

Snoeshoeing

I've really wanted to go snowshoeing for weeks. We finally made it out today! We had a lot of fun at Great Brook Farm, and Elliot napped through the whole thing.

Elliot models one of his Christmas presents

You be illin'. (caption by Ed, onesie from Aunt Liz)

Date night

We had a nice double-date last night with Brad and Kris. First we saw "Up in the Air" -- excellent, but depressing -- the had dinner at Flatbread.

Sleepy baby:



Rough night:

More Dad pics

Bath time.



Starting the new year with brunch at Rachel's.



Starting the new year with a nap at Rachel's.



Baby Einstein! (Gift from Aunt Liz.)

Euro-mullet

Elliot has a little Euro-mullet. Crime against fashion? Or the start of his pro cycling career? It's even longer than it looks in this picture. Babies are hard to photograph.