New Pictures!

There are some new pictures of Alyse up at her online photo album.

Tap Water—the Ultimate Pacifier!

During the past couple of weeks we've discovered that certain sounds help soothe Alyse from a crying state. Most any noise will eventually calm her, so long as it is constant (i.e. vacuum cleaner, dryer, etc.).

The discovery I have made, however, is that nothing works as quickly and effectively as the sound of running tap water. As you will see here, its influence is immediate and total.

Cute Stuff!

Here's a simple little montage I shot during one of Alyse's recent diaper changes. It conveniently portrays the vast range of her emotions. Enjoy!

Alyse's Day Out

It was time for Alyse to leave the house for the first time on her one-week birthday. I discovered suddenly this is the manner of expression she makes when too much sunlight hits her in the face:




Here is Charlotte and Alyse at the Women's Center where Alyse weighed in at 7 lbs 15 oz.


Then we all went to Applebee's for an early Valentine's Day lunch.


Later, Alyse got to spend some time with her cousin, Andy.


Here, Alyse and daddy spend some time playing together.


As usual, Zoe does her best to get someone to play with her—but to little avail.

Cute Lil' Lysie

New Pics!

I've added some new pictures which further chronicle Alyse's first week of life.

http://homepage.mac.com/drewallen/Alyse/PhotoAlbum30.html

P.S. I'm adding links to all photo albums at the top of the sidebar for future reference. Why am I writing in post script on a blog? Frankly, I've forgotten.

She's a Sleeper!

Here's a sneak preview of what Alyse was doing ALL day today—getting her nap on!

Cutest Picture Today:

Alyse Has Entered the Building

Alyse Lenore was born February 7, 2006 at 4:00 PM. She weighed 8 lbs 3 oz and measured 20 inches long! Charlotte, in what was a somewhat more pleasant scenario than we were anticipating, was in labor for about eight hours to the minute. We were allowed to leave the hospital last night at about 6:30 and now Charlotte and Alyse are at home doing wonderful!


Sorry, I can't write much more as I am holding my beautiful baby daughter and I'm having to type one letter at a time with my available free hand. If you want to see more pictures than you can shake a stick at, visit
Alyse's photo album on my .Mac account.

Hummel from Alcatraz, Out!

It was all well and good being an expecting parent, but I daresay I am overdue to be an actual parent.

For all the hype, incessant posts, and incorrect predictions, the time has finally come. Time for the fleshy organic ballet that is child-birth; time to slip the surly bonds of the womb, and touch the face of earth.

Within a matter of a day or two, you need not be bothered by my off-beat and oft unwitty banter anymore—this site will be congested with something infinitely more valuable—pictures of the newborn Alyse.

I wish I had something more profound to say, but words—in this case—are patently unnecessary. I won't sully this and coming moments by a minute's more tom-bloggery.

Good day, kind sirs.

D-Day

It is now 12:30 in the A.M. on February 4, 2006. For the past nine months, this date has been regarded as more than a day, more than a holiday even—it has been the focal point of all days preceding it.

The question now is, will Charlotte join the rare elitist 5% of women who actually deliver on their due dates?

I don't mean to cry "wolf" or else be the harbinger of false alarms, but Charlotte's contractions have been stronger and more frequent throughout the day. In fact for the preceding hour, they have consistently been spaced about 6-7 minutes apart.

Timing the contractions wearing a bit thin, Charlotte just propped her feet up in the recliner and said she'll wait for the fabled pain that has been bantered about so often by random female passersby and other experienced mothers.

Bring it on, she said as she lay back and closes her eyes.

And I think back to our doctor visit last Tuesday and try to piece together meaning from his vaugeness and lack of conjecture about how soon we may expect.

All women are different, he says, the babies just come when they're ready. Could be tomorrow or you may have to wait until induction, he says.

In my heart I know this was the answer, but I wanted to hear something more concrete that I could wrap my brain around until then.

We'll just have to wait and see, he tacks on as he exits the examination room.

I know, I know.

It's same thing I've told myself everyday since I've found out about this baby.

Patience is a virtue, yada yada yada...