Grandma Penn's Visit

This past week, we were fortunate to receive a week-long visit from Hannah's mother, Teresa Penn.  She came out to spend some quality time with us and the baby.  OK, she really only came to see the baby, but I like to think she enjoyed our company too!

In all fairness, we were completely spoiled, and so was our baby girl.  Hannah and I have long suspected that her mother is actually bionic, and therefore capable of super-human abilities.  I think we may be on to something.  For almost the entire 9 days she spent with us, she made a completely different meal for dinner from scratch, complete with dessert!  A brief menu follows below:

Meatloaf
Twice baked potatoes with cheddar cheese & bacon
Salad
Apple Tart

Sirloin Steaks
Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans
Chocolate pound cake with vanilla ice cream & chocolate ganache

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
Salad
Chocolate cheesecake with strawberries and strawberry syrup

I don't think I need to go on.  In addition to cooking, she watched after Genevieve while Hannah and I were at work (bathing, feeding, changing nappies, etc.), and kept the house relatively immaculate, all the while managing to still put out fires with the family business back home.  We went to bed at roughly midnight to 1 AM every night, and by the time I got up to be at work at 7 AM, she was already up and at 'em!  One morning we awoke to a home cooked breakfast at 6 AM.  I tell you, she was incredible!

One of the things I appreciated the most were the daily photos of Genevieve in various outfits that she would send me while I was at work.  I think she may have changed her outfit 3 times a day, but it was totally worth it.  I began to look forward to receiving these adorable pictures throughout the day.  It helped pacify me while I counted down the hours until I could go home.  I also began to imagine Grandma Penn putting Genevieve through the paces like a real model shoot: "Now give me adorable, adorable.  Now show me love, show me love!  Now fierce! Yes, Yes, Yes, and I'm spent!" All in all, I cannot express my gratitude sufficiently for all my mother-in-law did while she was here.  I truly hope she knows how much she's loved and appreciated!

The following photos are a sampling of what I received throughout the day.  Enjoy!

Taking a bow 

Baby's first Valentine's Day

"Show me pensive!" 

Leopard is all the rage this Winter!

Starting to get tired.

This bear is a memento of Hannah's late Grandfather

This is the dress that Hannah wore when her parents brought her home from the hospital.

Not much juice left...

Sleepy...

And she's spent!

Play Time

There are many things I cannot wait to share with my daughter: cooking, the game of baseball, the Beatles, opera, and much more.  I can't wait to start reading to her at night, and for her to actually understand the stories.  But one of the things I'm looking forward to the most is playtime!  This is such a special time in a child's life, and I really hope I can be included as much as she'll let me.  However, I think I may have started a little prematurely.

Below are two videos that were taken while I was "playing" with Genevieve.  The first was inspired by an outfit that was given to us by Mike Walter, a colleague from work.  It had a bumblebee on the butt, and got me thinking.    The second is just pure fun.  Let's just say she was a good sport.

Flight of the bumblebee:

Muppet Dance:

Adorableness

OK, I know it's not a word, but how else can you describe my little girl?  She's absolutely adorable!  It truly doesn't matter how many nights she keeps her mother and I up, or how many dirty nappies I will change, or how many times she'll scream in my ear.  It only takes one look to melt me into a useless puddle of goo.  I love her more than I can say.  For this post, I am just including some really cute photos.  Enjoy!

Sitting in her Bumbo Chair

Out and about with Momma

OK, really?  Need I say more???

Yeah, she knows she's cute!

Asleep at church, who knew?

Patriotic napping

She's all set for the Kentucky Derby!

Ack!!  To much cuteness!!

Funny Faces

It has been said many times since Genevieve was born, that she favors her father with regard to looks.  While we find this to be quite true, we believe the resemblance stops there.  In the attitude department, she is definitely Hannah's daughter.   She stares very intently at things, appearing to try and figure out what they are.  She shows a genuine curiosity for everything in her little world, and is quite serious with her gaze.  Many times, she fusses when she is laid down because she wants to sit up to take in her surroundings.

However, we're not sure who she favors when she makes specific faces.  Now I know that during these first few formative months, the muscles in the face and neuro-pathways in the brain are just figuring out how to converse with each other.  So it's understandable that some interesting faces will occur.  That's all well and good, but some of the faces she makes are just priceless.  I'm sure I'll have to remove this before she starts dating, but these are too good not to share.  Enjoy!

"What are you looking at?"

"And I'm supposed to be entertained by this because..."

"Who said you could take my picture?" 

Please, no photos from this angle!" 

"Seriously, quit with the paparazzi!"

A la Jerry Lewis!

Happy 1 Month Birthday!

Today is Genevieve's 1 month birthday, and the time has absolutely flown by!  One month ago, she was delivered into this world, and changed our lives infinitely for the better.  If you want to read more about that amazing day, click here.

It's hard to believe, but she's already too big for some of her newborn clothes.  We weighed her today, and she's a whopping 10 pounds 7 ounces!  She is starting to notice more and more about the world around her, including us!  She has started to make prolonged eye contact with both of us, and it makes us feel incredible!

I never knew I could love someone so much!  I cannot imagine a life that does not involve her in it.  I am so thankful to our little girl for providing me with the best month of my life!  Happy Birthday Genevieve!  In honor of her big day, I've posted some pictures below, including a present from her Auntie Jess!  Enjoy!

Hannah knit this sweater for her!

First Sunday going to church.

Heading out to my office for her introductory visit.

Look mom, I match my sheets!

Bee on the butt.  Does it get any cuter?

Hannah knit these leg warmers too!

Thanks Auntie Jess!

  

Bath Time!

OK, I pondered long and hard before making this post, but I couldn't resist.  About a week after Genevieve was born, we decided to give her her first bath.  Now because the umbilical stump had not yet fallen off, we couldn't submerge her in the water.  Instead we gave her a sponge bath on the kitchen counter.  My sister was there for the momentous occasion.  Seeing as it was her first bath, we had to document it somehow.  So I filmed the entire event.

Because we had to bath her in stages, I filmed three separate segments.  I won't bore you with the whole thing, but the last segment is priceless!  I must warn you though, if you're squeamish or weirded out by baby nudity, you might not want to watch.  (This disclaimer is primarily for Genevieve's great uncle Tracy)  Nonetheless, you've been warned.  Now enjoy!!

My poor sister was "in the line of fire" as they say.  Poor thing.  At any rate, after the bath, we wrapped her in her little ducky towel.  She looks so cute, but is screaming bloody murder!

 

Nap Time!

Nap time has to be one of our favorite things lately!  We just love napping with little Genevieve!  For the first 3 weeks of her life, I was home from work on FMLA, so Hannah and I got plenty of opportunity to do so.

Simply adorable!

My favorite spot for her!

Look who's awake!

Moby wraps seem to put this little one right out.

Family Visits

Once Genevieve came home from the hospital on January 7th, she had family waiting for her!  The first of which was my sister, Sonja Muir, who came to stay with us for a week.  Sonja was very helpful with keeping the house tidy and cooking meals while Hannah and I learned how to attend to our new daughter's needs.  Below are some photos of us during the stay.

Sonja talking to my parents while holding her niece for the first time!

My folks telling her how much they love her all the way from California.

Resemblance much?

Next came Hannah's family who flew all the way from Indiana.  We knew that her parents and Grandmother were coming, but were thrilled to see that her little cousin Kiowa surprised us with a visit as well!  Kiowa is one of the sweetest kids I've ever met, and was wonderful while holding his 2nd cousin.  They all stayed for the weekend and we had a wonderful time visiting and holding Genevieve.  Below are some photos from their trip.

Hannah's father Steve, her cousin Kiowa, and her Grandmother Janet 

Proud Grandpa!

Naps on Grandpa rock!

Tender moment with his new granddaughter.

Holding Grandma Teresa's hand.

4 generations of Jones/Penn women.

A few days later, it was my parent's turn to come visit.  They stayed a few days and were completely enamored with their new granddaughter.  It was truly a side of them I have never seen before.  

Our daughter is incredibly lucky to have such loving and nurturing families to grow up with and call her own.  I only wish we lived closer to them.