Its been a busy two weeks. I had a field project last week, the first time I've been away since Emma was born. I also sent a draft of the book based on my dissertation off to the editor at UofTennessee press. Over the weekend was the plant sale at the high school, and we helped my dad set up and take down for that. This week, Emma had an appointment to fix a little tongue-tie problem, and Laurie had a check-up with the mid-wife. Both are doing well, though Laurie is taking a while to fully heal from delivering a baby with a head size in the 90th percentile.



Yesterday, Richard and Madeleine closed on their new house, right around the corner from the farm. That was a grand thing, and then later in the afternoon we submitted our subdivision application to the town for the house lot we want to split off from the farm. We'll have a hearing with the planning board on June 11, then there will be a public meeting a month after that.




But the real reason anyone comes here is to see pictures of Emma, so here you go.

Emma at one month. Two pictures that really show what she looks like now. She's up to about nine pounds (8 lbs 15 oz on Thursday), and is doing great all around. With the help of a lactation consultant, Laurie has had an easier time nursing, so we seem to be getting things somewhat under control here.

More relatives. Laurie's Aunt Pam and cousin Joan came to visit on Monday. We had a very nice time, if too short.

We found out that soy-based formula does not agree with Emma. She gets horribly smelly gas and other digestive problems. It may be that it wasn't milk products but the soy in the regular formula we were giving her. On the advice of the doctor, we aren't giving soy to her any more.

At the moment, that means just breastfeeding with no supplement, which is a little hard on Laurie when she's sore or tired. We're going to see what we can find out about the dairy issue by reintroducing it to Laurie's diet. If that works out, we can go to a no-soy formula as a supplement.

Sienna trying to assume her old position. This was a very funny moment. Sienna sniffed Emma very cautiously, then turned around and sat.

We had been getting concerned about the level of discomfort Emma had ben having from the gas, and when I mentioned it, Laura (one of the other archaeologists in Ithaca) said that she had had a similar problem, and she recommended that Laurie stop drinking milk to see if Emma was sensitive to milk proteins. So, instead of milk, Laurie started drinking almond milk. It worked. Emma has stopped having so much gas, and it seems much more comfortable for her.

Just another picture a the farm.

Emma amongst the flowers. These flowers are blooming at the farm, and we couldn't resist setting Emma down with them.





And, we have evidence that life does not come to a screeching halt with the arrival of a child, though there is some occasional screeching.






Here we are in the middle of making homemade pizza, and Emma was fascinated by the roasted red pepper. Of course, by the time I got the camera she was looking elsewhere, but that's the way it is sometimes.

Oh, and Happy May Day everyone!