Just cute

We haven't taken any pictures for a couple of days (sacrilege, I know!), but you can enjoy this picture of Hazel camping at Smith Rock in her bear suit.  Kind of makes you want to eat her up, doesn't it?

In other news, Hazel finally broke the 9 lb. barrier today (at 8 weeks old).  We're working hard on hitting that 10 lb. mark!

Hazel Goes to Smith Rock

Hazel and family headed to Smith Rock this weekend to try rock climbing again.  She sat in a cave under the base of the rock that protected her from the sun and falling debris.  Unfortunately, she didn't want her parents to climb on Saturday so they all sat at the base of the rock and took turns holding her.

Saturday night, Hazel bundled up in her Adorable Bear Suit for a cold night camping in the Central Oregon desert.  She slept in the sleeping bag with her parent and was toasty warm.

Sunday Eryn and Brian's friends came along and helped belay, freeing up one of Hazel's parents to pay attention to her at all times.
Hazel was wide awake all day and spent most of it happily cooing in her cave.
Hazel seems to approve of Smith Rock... as long as someone is always paying attention to her.  

Hazel has gym time too

When Mom and Hazel came home from IKEA today (mmmm...meatballs), they found this on the front porch.  It was a gift from Cousin Courtney, who should be having her own little one any day now.

Thanks Cousin Courtney!  What a rad present!

Don't bother her- she's with the band

Though she would be happy to sign autographs for a small fee.  And, if you're nice, she may even get you backstage.

Happy Birthday Aunt Marissa!

To celebrate, Hazel wore her monkey sweater and hat.  Both are still too big, but she's in a weird stage where all of her clothes are either too small or too big.

Generations

Hazel's grandparents and great-grandmother are in town this week to see the "belle of the ball" as we have started to call her.  She, of course, charmed them all.  Meanwhile, she also hit a growth spurt and I swear, she gained a pound in two days.  We'll do a weigh-in at Baby and Me on Tuesday.

Lots of beautiful women hanging out outside St. Honore Boulangerie.  And they're all wearing khaki pants.  That's the dress code if you want to eat French pastries.  You also have to turn up your nose and say "garcon" when you want something. (If you have read "Urban Babies Wear Black", you will understand!)

Hazel and her great-grandmother, the baby charmer.  Hazel thinks her singing is excellent, since it calmed her down nicely.

Hazel was put on display during her bath time.  She didn't mind.  She thinks, "Water?!  I LOVE water!"

After all this loving, Hazel was pooped and Daddy had to give her a little talking-to about bed time.  She obviously has her own plans.

Hazel has sushi with LeAnne and Jay

One of the many great things about maternity leave is the ability to have lunch with other people.  In the middle of the day!  In a real restaurant!  With other adults!

It's a crazy feeling of freedom.  Today, we took advantage of that freedom to visit LeAnne and Jay and have sushi at a sushi go-round.  Mmmmm...Hazel and I love sushi!

And after a whole morning of crankiness, Hazel was only semi-cranky for her friends.  Maybe she just wanted to go "visiting"?

LeAnne fed Hazel a bottle, which she quickly sucked down in approximately 0.2 seconds.  Here, Hazel thinks, "How can I use violence to get more food?"

Kissing babies has been proven to lower cholesterol, combat obesity and clear up your skin.

The classic Hazel Look. "Oooooo...I see more lights!"

Growing

Remember this picture?  Here's Hazel at 2 1/2 weeks old in the dress her grandmom bought her.  She looks kind of like an Ethiopian Eisenhower.

Here's Hazel today, at 6 1/2 weeks in the same outfit.  She's filling out slowly but surely.  As of Tuesday, she was 8 lbs. 13 oz, up two pounds from her birth weight.  We apparently breed them long and skinny around here.

Hazel finds another snuggle partner

Hazel's grandparents are in town and Hazel was as lovable as always last night at wine and appetizers.  Grandma loves Hazel and we're pretty sure Hazel feels the same way about her!

This is just random cuteness from that morning.  Mom dressed Hazel in her "Breaking News" onesie in honor of Dad's breaking news at the forest fire.  Then she promptly pooped all over it of course.

Things are going swimmingly

Yesterday, before Masters swim practice, Mom saw a woman getting out of the kiddie pool with a really little baby- like Hazel size.  So, she became inspired to take Hazel on her own swimming experience.  Alysha and Silas came too because everyone knows that pool parties are the best.  Hazel loved it- for about 15 minutes.  The kiddie pool is nice and warm for babies (and also heavily chlorinated, thank goodness).  Then she didn't love it and she joined Silas in a little scream session out on the pool deck.  That's okay- she did great for a 6-week-old baby!  We'll be back every week until Hazel is big enough for the baby swim class at about 3 months.

Hazel is probably more interested in the lights than the water, but she does seem to calm down in warm water.  She is the same way in the bathtub.

Silas went for a second round of swimming after filling his tummy.

What Hazel did when Silas went swimming again.

The best part of swimming might be being wrapped in lots of fresh-from-the-dryer warm towels.  And staring at more lights, of course.

Hazel and Silas go to Baby and Me Group

Tuesdays are good days for Hazel.  First, she goes to childcare at the gym while Mommy goes to Masters swim practice.  Of course, everyone dotes on her there!  Then, she goes to Baby and Me group and visits with all the other babies.  Today, Silas showed up and Hazel had a lot to tell him.  

Pssssst...Hey Silas!  See that other baby over there?  Let's scream together and see if he will scream too and then watch the moms freak out!  Yeah!  That would be fun!

I hear that Brad and Angelina's twins were conceived via IVF.  I knew it all along!  Silas?  Silas, are you listening to me?

Hazel is sad

Daddy went back to work today after six weeks of paternity leave.  This is how Hazel feels about it- she misses her dad (her Mommy does too!).

Hazel Lives the Mountain Life - A Video

Hazel learns Spanish

Mom reads to Hazel in Spanish and English almost every day.  We are fortunate that our local library has an amazing collection of original language (ie. not translated) books in Spanish for babies.  Hazel doesn't appear too interested, as evidenced by this video.  Also, her head looks huge here.  It really isn't- it's just that Mom is not a very good video photographer.

Hazel hangs out

After a busy day of eating, pooping, sleeping and taking Mom to swim practice or spin class, Hazel likes to do what we all like to do: chill out at home, surf the internet, and lay around.

And just like 95% of us, she doesn't like to wear clothes while at home.  Here, she tries to take her dress off herself.  No need to dress up when it's just family, thinks Hazel.

Hazel also enjoys a big stretch every now and then.  This is what we call "Long Skinny Hazel".    The kid only weighs a little over 8 lbs. but she's got some height on her.  Definitely future rope gun potential.

This one's for LeAnne

On Mondays, Mom and Hazel go to Book Babies at the library where they read books, sing songs and admire the other babies.  Hazel is the youngest one there- we like to start the literacy training early!

Mainly, though, this video is for LeAnne who wanted to see Hazel in a dress!

She's back in onesies today. 

Hazel Loves Her Crib

Hazel Attends Yet Another Bike Race... and Sleeps

Hazel Dreams Big

Hazel and her folks visited Boeing's Museum of Flight Saturday as we drove home from Seattle. She slept most of the time, but woke up to check out the SR-71 and pose for her first space-walk photo.
Earlier in the day, she watched her parents eat deep fried seafood on the Seattle waterfront.

Hazel's First Camping Trip

Hazel went camping for the first time this week. We took her on a road trip from Central Washington through the North Cascades. Hazel slept really well for both nights in the tent. She didn't seem bothered by the different environment and seemed to like the white noise created by the rivers we slept next to both nights.

Hazel also went on her third big hike. We took her up Cascade Pass in North Cascades National Park.

One month

Hazel turned one month old on the Cascade Pass trail in the North Cascades. She didn't seem to be much in to celebrating. She slept in her chest pack on Daddy instead. Yes, that is dirt on her face. No, it will not hurt her. That's what happens when you go camping and it's too cold to take a bath!

W is for Whale

No whales in the North Cascades, where we're headed this morning. What she really needs is a "B is for Bear" onesie.

The Family Keeps Getting Bigger