Grammy's Birthday Party

Grammy had a birthday party this past weekend.  Virginia was invited!


The party was a picnic at Tilden Park.   We found a sunny table in a quiet part of the park and enjoyed all kinds of good food and drinks.  Uncle David sent Grammy all kinds of western-themed goodies, including a cake featuring Grammy at age 10 riding her first pony.  Everybody also got a turn on on the horsey pinata.

After the picnic, we all visited the Tilden Park Steam Trains, a club where park guests can ride on small gauge live steamers.   Gramps used to love coming here when he visited California.  

Wormy got her first ride on the Redwood Valley Railroad!

It's Official!

Virginia received her first letter today: her social security card! There it is, written in ink. So the man officially knows about her.

It kind of boggles my mind that, just like her parents' old social security cards, this one is printed on just a flimsy little piece of paper. Perhaps it is just wishful thinking, but I had hoped that, when producing an ID card that forms the basis for every American's electronic identity, the federal government would have taken advantage of some of the world's technological advancements of the past 30 years. (Note that I've carefully blurred out her number so our loyal readership doesn't get any funny ideas.)  I'm sure our crack team in Congress is already all over the necessary upgrades.  

Tuesdays with Grammy

On the eve of her 60th birthday, Grammy Harvey came over for the evening to have a slumber party with Virginia.  On several occasions in the last two weeks, Grammy has generously offered to serve as our "night nurse" so that we could get a little rest at night.  It has turned out that Virginia is quite the night owl, sleeping easily during the day and partying all night long.   We were a little anxious that Grammy would have a bleary-eyed 60th birthday as a result.

Our fears were unfounded.  Recognizing the importance of the occasion, Virginia was as good as gold, sleeping for long stretches and snuggling up with Grammy for some quiet quality time after nursing.  It was a happy evening for everyone.

Hello World!

Virginia ventured out into the big, big world this week.   On her first stroller trip, we walked a few blocks from our house to the crooked part of Lombard Street.  Since it can be touristy, Virginia tried to keep  a low profile (photo below).  

The following day we took a trip over to Fort Mason.   San Francisco was experiencing a heat wave and so everyone was out at the park on blankets, tossing the football around, and enjoying picnics.  Squirmy Harvey personally wasn't interested in any cheese and crackers, but she hung out for a few hours and sunbathed while Mommy and Daddy read.  It was a big success! 

Rub A Dub Dub

Virginia took a luxurious sponge bath at the Harvey Spa this week.   She loved the water but was a little squeamish about the Swedish deep tissue massage.

The First Week at Home

Thomas and I survived the first week at home with a newborn!  We had a lot of help to make it all possible - my parents were both in town all week and served as cooks, housekeepers, and baby holders (so I could take the occasional shower or two).  Thomas's mother came and served as our "night nurse" on Monday and Tuesday nights.  We also had some fabulous meals courtesy of her kitchen.  We couldn't have done it alone!  Here are some photos of the proud grandparents - Mi-Ma (Elise), Papa (David), Poppy (Peter), and Grammy (Susan).

Virginia (who is now affectionately known as "Little Squirmer," "Squirmy McWormy," and "Baby V") has been a pretty darn good baby so far.  She has her bouts of fussiness, but they don't seem to last for long.  I'm starting to figure out the differences in her cries so we can address her needs and shorten the crying spells.

Virginia is also showing signs of some pretty bizarre but promising eating and sleeping patterns . . . she slept on Friday night for a more than 4 hour stretch after a 2 hour marathon eating session.  Apparently, a lot of newborns "cluster feed" like this, and it seems to have the effect of putting her to sleep for long periods.  I'm really hoping that this means she will sleep through the night early.  She is finally getting the hang of breast feeding and we are pretty sure she is going to have gained all her weight back by her pediatrician's appointment on Monday.

Squirmy McWormy

Some of you may not know this, but Virginia is actually a distant cousin of the Hasbro Glow Worm:

The Harveys are Home

Leslie, Virginia, and I returned home from the hospital the evening of Easter Sunday.   It was a happy surprise and a welcome return to the comforts of home.  

Initially, the hospital had planned to keep us through Monday morning because it wanted to observe Virginia for an extra day.  After her birth, Virginia had developed a hematoma on the base of her head that had given the CPMC doctors pause.  It was a Marsallis Wallis-style bump at the spot where her head meets her neck.  (I wanted to put a little band-aid on it.)  But after half a day of further observation, during which they confirmed that her hematoma was stable and not growing, the doctors concluded that Virginia was fine to return home with us.  Despite her little bump, Virginia was deemed road worthy. 

Here's a picture of Leslie leaving the hospital:

And here's a photo of me as I head into the house with Baby V: 

Note: At the time of this photo, I had showered exactly once since the big day.  Unlike me, Virginia was smart to keep her cap on.   

Virginia Webb Harvey

Virginia Webb Harvey was born on April 10, 2009 at 9:00 am.  She is 8 pounds, 3 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long.  She has light red hair and blue eyes!

We are ecstatic.  And we are way behind on our posting.  More photos and information coming soon!