Still Recovering

Very short one today.  I've been wanting to work on the blog everyday but simply haven't had time.  So at least a few minutes is better than nothing...

We had a fabulous Christmas with Gparent Bellenger visiting from MD.  Olivia has really "come into awareness", or as Dad says, "the lights are coming on."  It's fascinating to watch!  She loves her jumperoo from Santa Clause and today was cuter than cute, giving me HUGE smiles and BIG LAUGHS for the first time ever, all whilst wiggling all around in her jumperoo!  So adorable, my heart was melting.  I wish I'd had a little video of it.

Christmas morning - just eggs, no surprise!

We had a quiet Christmas Eve with the four grandparent enjoying Honeybaked ham and various veggies at our nice big table.  We were very busy prepping beforehand, doing last minute Christmas shopping and a little wrapping.  Mom and I both tried to get photo albums done and ordered from MyPublisher in time for the holiday - utter failure.  Mom at least tried to order, but I'm still working on month One of Olivia's first 5 months!  That will be my project in the evenings this first week back at work.

Our big Xmas presents to Gparent B was  a trip to the San Francisco Symphony for a Christmas Carol "sing a long".  It was more of a concert really, with a few "sing a longs" thrown in there to keep everyone awake.  The soprano was fantastic (used to be Christine in Phantom of the Opera), the brass section phenomenal, the organ beautiful, and the orchestral pieces and choir - all GLORIOUS!  We also had drinks at a fabulous trendy bar right across the street from the Concert Hall  - it's nice to arrive at things early/on-time!

We spent Christmas day eve at Rob & Roxanne's, which was lovely, but Princess was a bit tired after her big outing.








The next two days we spend up in San Francisco using the Bellenger timeshare - it was wonderful!  I appreciated being out of the house and not constantly looking at the chores that had to be done (like take down the Christmas tree).  The first night we had delicious martinis at the Top of the Mark on top of the International Hotel.  Gorgeous view!

Two Socks!

The next morning, Mom Bellenger finished Olivia's Christmas socks, and we proceeded to lose one of them within an hour of walking around the city and standing in line for the cable car.  Sadness.  I hear a replacement sock is in the mail!  Joy!  All five of us had a lovely time riding the cable car back and forth from Union Square to Fisherman's Wharf (despite the ~2 hour wait on either end).  Olivia was very well behaved, except when she was hungry.  Then it was time to drop everything and nurse! :)  That's what babies do.

Fascinating book at the diner.

Riding the cable car in the morning

Waiting for the cable car in the evening

New Year's Eve was also quiet - just us at home with a bottle of champagne and a Ploughsman's Board.  Delish!

Otherwise, we've been trying to get some chores done, but it's slow going with our little one around.  Tonight we watched the 49ers win their first playoff game of the post-season.  Fingers crossed!  Tomorrow, sadly, we return to work.  Now that Olivia is so much more interesting, I'm dreading it more than ever.

OK, pumping, then bed time.  We'll see if I do a little better on this blog as the new year begins!