I Think I Broke My Brain

Cold-weather Callie

2005-10-30T13:44:00.000-05:00

Sometimes Callie is less than enthused with all the clothing required by the colder weather.

Birth announcement out-take

2005-10-30T13:42:00.000-05:00

Here's an out-take from our birth announcement photo session. (Birth announcements coming soon...)

Mother and child, around 4 months

2005-10-30T13:18:00.000-05:00

Amy and Callie, just hanging out, wondering what Dad's up to...

...and we're back!

2005-10-30T13:16:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the hiatus, folks, things have been a little hectic around here...

Anyhow, here's a few pictures to make up for it.

2005-07-02T22:19:00.000-04:00

Callie resting on her new quilt with her mom. Lots of fun, bright colors!

2005-06-26T16:37:00.000-04:00

A visitor! Our good friend, Anna, came to visit with her parents. (Anna was born two days after Callie - what luck!) Anna's a little more laid-back than Callie in these photos.

2005-06-26T16:34:00.000-04:00

After a long day's baby-watching, nothing soothes quite like a good baby-nap.

2005-06-26T16:33:00.001-04:00

Baby watching #3 - new pose!

2005-06-26T16:33:00.000-04:00

Baby watching #2 - all those feet and knees you see represent a whole bunch of adults, just sitting and watching the baby. Good, cheap entertainment.

2005-06-26T16:32:00.000-04:00

Baby watching #1 - Callie seems to like this head position

2005-06-26T16:31:00.000-04:00

The Parker clan sure knows how to put together a mean dessert tray... ;)

What I've noticed so far...

2005-06-20T17:46:00.000-04:00

I wanted to put down a few observations while they're in my mind. I'll spare you all the "current state of the baby poop and the feeding schedule" level of information. (Not that I don't obsess about it. I just have enough distance to realize that most people don't, and, in a week, it won't matter anyway.)

Even from birth, Callie has been unusually strong. She moves her legs a lot - from fully extended to folded up with the soles of her feet touching, and back again. She arches her neck and back all the time - sometimes I can pick her up just by supporting her neck and her feet. Apparently that's unusual for a three-week-old.

More pictures coming soon.

2005-06-17T14:28:00.000-04:00

Well, we got back from an emergency room visit last night, and Amy didn't need any more surgery, so I'll call that a tentative win.

Thankfully, we've got a good number of grandparents around, to help us handle everything. Don't know where we'd be without them.

2005-06-17T14:27:00.000-04:00

Callie meeting her grandparents (father's side).

What's in a name

2005-06-06T22:15:00.000-04:00

A few people have asked about the origins of Calliope as a name. It's Greek for "beautiful voice", and the original Calliope was the muse of epic poetry. She was also the mother of Orpheus. (The Wikipedia has a good link here.)

Plus, it has a nice scansion to it, especially with a short last name like Brandt, and Callie sounds good, too. So there you have it.

2005-06-06T22:14:00.001-04:00

Ah, sleep. I remember sleep.

2005-06-06T22:14:00.000-04:00

Callie and her mom, at our front door. We're just back from our first expedition out of the house (to the pediatrician).

2005-06-06T22:13:00.000-04:00

Calliope and her dad (me). I can't remember if I was actually asleep for this picture, or just faking it.

E-mail update list.

2005-06-06T21:58:00.000-04:00

I kind of expected BlogSpot to have this functionality built in, but... they don't.

I will send out e-mail to a list of people whenever I update this blog, so you'll know when to check back. Some folks have already requested this, so if you'd like to be added, send me an e-mail or leave a comment, and I'll hook you up.

A short list.

2005-06-01T17:48:00.000-04:00

Here are some things I've learned in our first few days with Calliope:

Even on very little sleep, you can perform basic tasks, like changing a diaper or walking a baby around the house, surprisingly well;
Never underestimate a standard oven fan's ability to soothe a newborn;
Yoga may be the only way to save my aching back muscles.

2005-06-01T17:44:00.000-04:00

Little Calliope asleep on in the kitchen. She is swaddled, the oven fan is on, and it's about 6:30am.

May I introduce...

2005-05-28T17:01:00.001-04:00

For anyone out there who's following along, I would like to introduce you to Calliope Vigorita Brandt, born May 27, 2005 at 12:50 pm. She was born 6 pounds, 8.5 ounces, at a length of 19.5 inches, and has a calm disposition so far. She is completely healthy, and we just can't get enough of her.

I've included a few pictures in the posts below.

2005-05-28T17:01:00.000-04:00

Callie and Amy, about 24 hours after Callie's birth. She just had a feeding, and is looking quite relaxed.

2005-05-28T16:58:00.001-04:00

Callie getting cleaned up after being born. That's my hand touching her arm.

2005-05-28T16:58:00.000-04:00

This is the first picture of Callie, as I take her from the O.R. to the nursery for her initial check-up.