Adalee Hikes Hollyhock Crest

Adalee might be happiest outside within hair pulling distance of any unsuspecting parent.

Boobs

I couldn't resist. Please tell Adalee when she is older that her mom was NOT lying when she said she had boobs...once.

The formative years

Eric and Adalee took a break from a long, hard day and sat reading a novel. The basics such as "Cat in a Hat" and "Goodnight Moon"?...sooo 2 months ago!

her new fetish...sticking out her tongue. How rude.

MMMMmmm can I please have more breastmilk mixed with dried rice flakes? What a yummy treat!

Halloween

Picture this...Adalee all dressed up and cozy in a bear costume, with her mom and dad wearing matching bear outfits to collectively make up "The 3 bears: Momma bear, daddy bear, and baby bear!" Awww, you say, how cute? Now, subtract the Kelly and Eric dressed up at all part, and remove Adalee's costume (too hot), and you're left with a super snuggly naked baby. Woo-hoo!

Oh, and for an update. Adalee had her first flight! We flew to Sarah and Ken's incredible wedding in Houston, and I swear we were blessed from above with our calm baby. The only negating factor was the 10,000ft altitude poop-splosion that luckily Eric tackled in the plane latrines. Meanwhile, I talked with our Dr. Nanny (no really~ she's a doctor, but not a nanny) who accompanied us (thanks Amy!).

What a busy week! Adalee's future Godmother and her grandmother came to visit, leading to one of the best weeks ever. Cara brought our stunning and super sweet goddaughter Carsyn to visit, and learned how to handle 2 babies at once. We met Wolfgang puck, went to a screening of Jay Leno, and ate pinkberry till we were sick. Then my mom came, exposing Adalee to some culture. She took her to the LACMA and the Huntington Gardens. She brought her a beautiful handmade quilt. The operetic sing-song voice was legendary, and we were so sad to have her leave ;(

Mom's Birthday

I celebrated my 28th birthday with a spectacularly hilarious gift from my daughter. Starting at the stroke of midnight (actually, 1am), Adalee decided that she would wake up crying every 30 minutes for no reason ALL NIGHT LONG!. What a jokester. She's lucky I love her so much. Anyways, we spent a wonderful weekend with the Foster clan in San Diego where I was pampered with steak and chocolate cake, and Adalee was showered with hugs and kisses and lovin' like you wouldn't believe. What a life...

A family day at the Huntington Library and Gardens.

Babies Love Water

Home- Nothing ends a foul mood and brings on sunshine like a bath and some goofy sounds from Daddy.

A hot day in Cali.....80 degrees!

one can only wish...

One can only wish that the pounds and pounds of milk (actually, ounces and ounces) Adalee consumes and, thus, increases HER weight would translate into mom's losing an equivalent if not greater amount. However, despair, that is not the case. Thus, I've been forced for the first time in my life to diet and exercise on a regular basis. This sucks!!!! Oh well, as long as the smiles keep coming I guess my other selfish desires can remain in second place.

Tardy Posts

En La Ciudad - I must apologize to my baby girl for not updating her blog for some time. A computer issue has left me recreating lesson plans for next year during the few idle moments Adalee gives me. Here is one from my 27th birthday:

Los Angeles - My two lovely ladies treated me to a "name it" day on my birthday. Whatever Dad wanted to do all he had to do was name it for it to be done.
The morning started with a delicious egg-in-the-hole style breakfast provided by Kelly and enjoyed by all followed by a short walk along the beach. Adalee loves the ocean breeze.
I need to make this quick . . . Adalee is getting hungry. The days highlights were a trip to the farmer's market for gumbo, a stop at La Brea tar pits, and a visit to the LACMA. To top it all off, we made dinner and watched my favorite movie, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. That one always brings the tears.

Best,

E

my little giggle monkey

(a post by mom at 2am on call)
There is a reason why no photos will be updated this week. My beautiful baby girl has acne. Not just acne, but acne on TOP of what they call a "prickly heat" rash. Google it if you want to look it up, but it's quite disturbing and I'm more than a little obsessed with trying to find a cure for it. Sleeping naked doesn't seem to be helping much, nor do daily baths.

On the brighter side, however, I told Adalee that she could have acne the rest of her life if she continues to SMILE and LAUGH the way she started to this weekend. Perfect timing~ just after mom's emotional meltdown that she wasn't "connecting" with me, she stares at me and giggles like I'm the funniest person in the world. And my goodness, what a GORGEOUS smile she inherited from her father. And that dimple....

Adalee is a Model!

(written by Kelly, aka "mom")

We are Sooo excited about Adalee's beautiful photographs, taken by the very talented Ryan Phillips photography.  Thanks to Amy and Scott for introducing us to their friends, so we could not only capture these precious days on film, but cherish them forever.  Ah yes, proud papa Eric couldn't resist buying a few framed pieces "to give her self confidence" as she grows up viewing photos of herself all over our home...Please feel MORE than free to check out her pix on their website at www.ryanphillips.com/data/web/foster/index.html

Pirate Invasion Causes Shoppers to Flee Ventura

Ventura Harbor- Panicked tourists fled their token shopping, and local fishing rigs sparked their engines when two Barbary Pirates ambushed the Ventura Harbor last Friday in what a appears to have been a quest for hot mamas and ice cream.  Ladies were seen screaming as a roughish and fearsome scoundrel, seen with a pet parrot, spitted "Rrrrrrs," while his young accomplice screamed a striking war cry.  Only one photograph survived the mayhem.  In it you can see the two invaders sharing a devilish glance before the photographer most likely walked the plank.  Unfortunately, one beach beauty is still missing, but some say she joined the barbarians freely and even embraced the younger pirate in a loving swaddle.

Just a quick shout out to Kelly's mom for handmaking the bedroom set of curtains and bedding.  We are now oh so patiently awaiting the creation of a quilt to hang above her crib to complete the room.  Not included in photo: her ever growing collection of books on the built in bookcase on the right along with a wall collage of scholarly owl prints along the entry wall to her room.

-Kelly

Summer Vacation

Will Rogers State Park- The Fosters took a spontaneous picnic last Sunday at the hallowed sanctuary of the western legend, Will Rogers.  What a park!!!  What an assortment of activities . . . hiking trails, grass fields, butterflies, horses, soccer matches, and at least one extremely gassy baby.  Not to mention shade and comfort enough to read a couple chapters in a book.  Adalee and I had a spirited discussion on why we should reserve a spot at Will Rogers Park all summer long, and she made her best point in silence: it's a great place to nap.

Card Games and Company

Home- There is something pleasing about simple nights at home.  A few card games, a joke or two, and a meal among friends and family, are all part of Adalee's summer and her parents could not be happier.  Sure, the craziness is of a different variety than what one gets used to in their twenties, but it is no less fun and memorable.  It's a pace one can grow with and look forward to each night.  

A special shout out to Amy Lucas for gorgeous photos and her help in keeping Kelly's engorged breasts past a C cup.  Alas, Adalee figured out the difference between Amy's finger and her favorite udder.  

The Wind and the Willows

Home- On a typical morning Adalee has pockets of alertness that can last upwards of 45 minutes.  She is most alert when you converse to her or read from her imposed favorite book, The Wind and the Willows.  I'm not certain this is a great thing seeing as how this morning at 3 am the only thing that would calm her down was the Mole's daring entrance to the Wild Wood.

Out on the Town

Near the Pacific- The Fosters recently braved the invisible breach that surrounded their infant home and decided to take Adalee for a stroll in the sunshine.  Fears and loathing for possible colds and public blowouts aside, we needed some fresh air and groceries.  We strolled across footpaths near the ocean on Friday as a trial run, and took in an array of colors and tamales at our local farmers' market today.  The outing was quite fun.  One cannot stop wondering what firsts babies have each day, and asking how much they are really taking in.  It really makes one's mind wonder across beautiful daydreams.  Adalee's first purchase- a jar of salsa.

Adalee's Room-  This is to be a quick note about the interesting skills one must master during the first days of parenthood.  

Learn to change a diaper in under ten seconds.

Apparently it is widely known fact among veterans, but infants can project poop more than four feet a second.  Please look at the picture closely and notice the splatter of crap that can cover more than five inches in diameter and four feet in length.

So, please create a changing method and practice it in haste.  Or, you might have to explain to your significant other why a trip to the paint aisle at Home Depot is a necessity.  You don't even want to hear about the mess pee can make mid-change.

Adalee Meets with Uncle Louie

Home- Uncle Louie met with Adalee today, and explained to her the importance of world travel. Sailing was his topic today, but rapture with life was his true lesson.  I hope she listened.

Hunger Strikes

Anyplace and anytime- My little gal has an appetite that rivals my own.  While I silence my hunger cries and mask them in an irritable mood, which is a skill I'm not bragging about, Adalee is more confrontational.  A typical day revolves around her feeding, and let me assure all that a smile may rotate in seconds once she realizes it's "feasting time."  I thought a couple of pictures might help me emphasize this lesson:

Pre-Hunger Strike, Chillin' in Grandma Holliday's Arms

When Hunger Strikes . . . 

Late Night Update

Home- For those that were wondering- six poops and three pees so far today.

Adalee Meets World

Adalee Ayn Foster Sees the Sun for the First Time.

Los Angeles- Minutes after Juneteenth jubilees commenced across MLK Boulavards throughout the South, Adalee Ayn Foster became her clans youngest member in the City of Angels. 

At 12:17 a.m., Adalee's beautiful mother, Kelly Holliday Foster, symbolically shifted her family's generations one step for the better when she birthed one gorgeous baby girl at Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center.  Adalee weighed in at 8 pounds 4 ounces, and measured in at a lengthy 21 and 3/4 inches.  Kelly's strength throughout the night was truly humbling to her husband, as he, Eric James Foster, tried his best to be supportive despite his clumsy nature. His desperate attempts to console both mother and child continue now at the family home. Pictures to follow . . . 

First Reactions from the Family-

Eric, aka Dad-  "Despite all the chaos that comes with a new born, one interesting idea keeps resonating with me.  Life is now simplified for me.  Only two thoughts truly seem important: is my wife healing, and is my baby girl crapping enough?"