Cheers!

This week Amelia learned to make her first martini, just like her dad when he was a tyke. She prefers to use Boodles gin for it's slightly higher alcoholic content and Noilly Prat vermouth. She is careful to stir and never shake as not to bruise the gin and she always serves her martinis with a twist. Stop by sometime for an adult beverage mixed up by our little girl. For interesting reading on modern parenting styles check out The Three Martini Playdate by Christine Mellor.

Big Hands

Bath Time

After Amelia's bath she likes to wrap up in her bear towel, get warm and go to bed. She has a perfectly nice Pack-N-Play (modern playpen) and a beautiful crib but she prefers mom & dad's bed. Mom and dad also like to watch her sleep and are currently of the belief that any place she will sleep is a good place for now.

Fathers Day

Amelia surprised her dad with a colorful hammock on fathers day. Dad and daughter are enjoying resting in the backyard together.

Baby's First Birka

Boppy Bandit

Who says fleas and ticks are bad for babys?

Grandpa and Grandma Segroves visited this weekend along with the little aunts, Brandi and Sabrina.

Eats, Spits Up & Bathes

One of her many daily meals ...
and cleaning up the aftermath.

Watch Me Grow & Our Guardian Angel

Here is Amelia next to her first doll, a gift from Janet Chesley, sitting atop an uber-soft blanket from Lynn (fellow blogger) and Kelly Burch. Check out Lynn's often hilarious but tragically defunct blog poopoochoochoo here Check back next month for another picture of Amelia and her doll to see how much our little girl has grown. Now a little more about Janet, master seamstress extraordinaire. Janet created Emma's wedding and bridesmaids dresses from scratch based on a few ideas and suggestions. As if that act of kindness wasn't enough Janet also designed and constructed the window dressings, bedding, changing table and rocking chair for Amelia's room. What a wonderful guardian angel Amelia has.


Amelia's room decorations courtesy of Janet. Click here to see the bedding.

Wedding couture also courtesy of Ms. Chesley.

Eyes Open

Amelia has been keeping her eyes open for longer periods of time each day. Here are a few recent favorite pics.

Bedtime

Bedtime for family and Rufus prepares to guard us for the night.

Amelia and Alex

Amelia's and her first playmate Alex, who is almost 3 & 1/2 months older.

Four generations of Peoples (Lee, Jean holding Amelia and A.V.) left to right.

Guard Dog

Rufus likes to guard his baby sister.

Quilt

Here is Amelia on her beautiful quilt made by Mary Bruehl surrounded by flowers given by her friends and family.

Theresa Rose Meets Amelia Rose

Theresa Rose (grandma) holding Amelia Rose.

Rufus loves his baby sister - or is he just after that morsel of milk on her chin?

What's In a Name?

Amelia, a-MEE-lee-a, a-MEEL-ya, from the Germanic Amalie meaning the hardworking one and from the Italian Amahna meaning one who flatters. Amelia was the 113th most popular girls name in 2003 according to the Social Security Administration. Saint Amelia (or Amalburga) is the patron of arm bruises and arm pain and of Ghent Belgium. She was said to have crossed a lake on a giant sturgeon fish and is often pictured atop one. Famous Amelias pictured above include Amelia Earhart (first woman to fly across the Atlantic) and Amelia Bedelia (character in the popular children's books by Peggy Parish). Amelia is the title of several songs including one by Joni Mitchell. Amelia is also the name of a county in Virginia.

Amelia's Kind of Town

Amelia met her Uncle Derek and Aunt Erica this weekend, a couple who inadvertently had already played a significant role in her existence. You see dear reader it was probably on a trip to Chicago for Derek's surprise 30th birthday party that cosmic forces aligned just right and little Amelia began her journey toward life!

DIES VENERIS NON. IVN. MMDCCLVII A.U.C. (June 5, 2004)

Some other events that occurred on this day in history:

8498 B.C. Atlantis destroyed.
1752 Benjamin Franklin demonstrates that lightning was a form of electricity.
1783 Hot-air balloon first demonstrated by Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier.
1827 Athens fell to the Ottomans.
1851 Uncle Tom's Cabin published by Harriet Beecher Stow
1933 U.S. goes off the gold standard.
1944 Allied troops liberate Rome.
1967 The Six Day War between Israel and Egypt, Syria and Jordan began.
1968 U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy mortally shot by Sirhan Sirhan.

Other famous June 5thers include:

Fred Stone (of Sly & The Family Stone); Nicko McBrain (of Iron Maiden) ; Don Reid (of The Statler Brothers); Kenny G. ; Ken Follet and Spalding Gray(authors); Bill Moyers (journalist); John Maynard Keynes and Adam Smith (economists); and, Francisco "Pancho" Villa (revolutionary).

For more information about June 5th see pages by: The New York Times, BBC and Library of Congress.

Monkey Baby

Amelia was born in the year of the monkey and her feet show it. For what it is worth monkeys are said to be fun, loving, cheerful, energetic and clever. However, the Chinese also predicted that Amelia would be a boy! Other famous Monkeys include: Will Smith, Julius Caesar, Lord Byron, Elizabeth Taylor , de Vinci, Harry S. Truman, and Jennifer Anniston.

First Stroll

Amelia rode around her neighborhood today and slept through the entire ride.

Grandpa is very proud.

Relaxin'

Here is Amelia, kicked back in her Boppy with her favorite Soothie.

Dog Meets Baby

Rufus is very curious about his new little sister. So far he has been on his best behavior. Keep your paws crossed for good dog/baby relations.

Let's Motor

Ready to go home!

Do You See Me

On her second day of life she opened her eyes and took in the world. According to the baby literature she can only see in b/w and about one foot in front of her face.

Brewing Something Up

Just a few of her earliest expressions.

First Night

Little Amelia had to spend her first night in the baby er because she had some stuff in her lungs. We couldn't stand it but were relieved to find her in very good shape the next morning.

Body Parts

She definitly inherited Mom's unique fingernails.

TCB

With friends and family looking on she weighs in at 8 lbs. 6 oz. and 20 & 1/2 inches long. Quite a stout little girl!

Amelia is Born

Just about 2 min. old and understandably a bit confused. 15 hours of labor will do strange things to the human head.

Mother and daughter meet for the first time.

Very proud father.