Baby Bobby went to the dentist! OK, actually it was my appointment, but Bobby came along for the ride. He sat on my lap through almost the whole appontment, watching me get my teeth cleaned, and smiling away. He seemed to like the teeth cleaning tools (or instruments of torture, if you've been neglecting your gums as I have been since Bobby's arrival) and loved the sound of the suction do-hickey. Then the dentist came over to do my check-up and got Bobby laughing by practically doing a vaudeville routine, although I suspect the mask and goggles didn't hurt the humor factor.

Check out Bobby's Easter bonnet! His Aunt Polly made it for him. It will probably fit better next winter, but we couldn't resist having him wear it right away.




Bobby has been having a great time with his nanny Jude. They've been getting along really well -- we're all thrilled with her. She comes two days a week, and I head to work at the Center for Wooden Boats. It's nice to be exercising a different part of my brain, knowing Bobby's very well cared for.

Mom

Spring is here! 21st Avenue between Prospect and Aloha looks like a blizzard of cherry blosoms. We walked up to Volunteer Park on Tuesday evening to go to Bill and John's house for our weekly Peps group - I fear I'm not welcome back. First of all, Bobby, who really is mild mannered, started crying whenever we go out - specifically when I hold him when we're out. So just as the meeting began, Katy handed him to me, he started crying, I got up to go into the other room to walk and bounce and promptly knocked over my water glass. Me holding a crying baby, a meeting beginning, and the host at my feet mopping up the water with towels. Eventually Katy came to the rescue and calmed him down. Then while we sat talking, I slid my chair back and bumped the coffee table. The coffee table is beautiful and has these very fine spindly legs - one of which was perched on a wooden floor grate. When I bumped it, the leg fell through the grate and the glass lamp and wine glass, and plate of food went flying - sending red wine and glass all over the walls and floor. Bill graciously said something about baby-proofing but I think he meant Roger-proofing.

Baby Bobby has a new nanny!

We just hired a fabulous young woman named Jude to take care of Bobby two days a week while Mom goes to work at the Center for Wooden Boats (www.cwb.org). Yesterday was Jude's first day, and I can't say that Bobby made it easy on her. I decided to stay home for her first day, trying to be helpful without being intrusive. Believe me, that ain't easy. I suspect they would have been better off without me hovering. Anyway, by the time I had given Jude the tour and the first pass at some instructions, it was past time for Bobby's nap and he was pretty durn tired. I fed him and handed him off to her, but by then he was really tired and not open to new approaches, so he started screaming and refused to settle down. Not really the way Jude wanted to start off her day. Jude was a champ, though, and persevered. By the end of the day I think they'd started to get the hang of each other. I think they'll be fast friends shortly. Her next day is Friday, when I'll actually be going to work.

We all had an awesome visit with Susan and Tess. We got together at Polly's house on Saturday night -- I think it was the first time in three years that all four siblings were together. We managed to get most of the Coulter-Phelps descendents into the picture -- from left to right, Emilie, Etta, Tess, Amos, Susan, Polly, Roger and Bobby. Cameron & Hayden weren't feeling much interest in being photographed. If I'd been smart, I would have gotten Cam to take the picture.

Both Susan and Emilie got Bobby to laugh last Friday -- he just totally cracked up. Then he got the hiccups.

Mom