June 30th

Ada Mar went to her first museums today, and had her first walk to the Mall. She had lunch at the Museum of the American Indian... she really enjoyed the cafeteria area... she watched us eat some guava tapioca, she opted for the milk, and she danced up some inspiration to the endless plains powwow drum electronica loop they had playing. Side note: the NMAI by far has the only good food on the mall now, it's great in fact- quite a few vegan options too.

She showed abandon in the face abstract expressionism...

Felt the prolific output of the Voltri series overwhelming...

And wanted to see if she could feel the vibrations.

So she just up and touched a David Smith 

(blatantly ignoring the do not touch signs left there by worrisome abstraction guards).

She took off by herself, we found her under Villareal's Multiverse, 

just going back and forth and taking it all in (while napping).

She was not impressed with the Metsu's (although the rest of us were), she must have found them disappointing in real scale. But when she is older I am quite sure that she will stare into the fur lining on Isabella's prop coat, and while reading A Woman Artist's brushstrokes, wonder at the coy look on her face. Maybe she'll notice with appreciative admiration the ability for Metsu's hand to warm the skin, and cool the stone, with nothing but pigments. Maybe then she'll stretch a canvas of her own and paint something the color of late June, or write a piece of music that brings to mind the smell of the underground air of the NGA concourse that she remembers from her childhood. 

Some time in her 20's, I assume she'll fall asleep one night and dream of Italian steelyards, David Smith like forms dancing to distant never ending powwow drums, Lakota women floating underneath waves of psychedelic LED light, Dutch widows looking at her through foggy windows, and a lone dead rooster- akimbo, stark against a black background, perfectly visible. 

She'll wake up in wonder, "that was such a bizarre dream, what does it mean?" and then she will write it out, draw it out, anything trying to remember it... all the while never knowing that it simply means that her parents miss eating Chilean fig cake in the museum cafe with her.

psst... Dear 20'something Ada Mar, come home and go to the museums with your parents.

1st Father's Day

I received what is probably the best gift I've ever received, and all for doing next to nothing (a dad's job is pretty easy after all). A little drawing, and handmade card, from the 7 week old dynamo Ada Mar.

She even included some pictures of the process. With her mother's help in getting to the markers, she managed to get a card out for me. Apparently the picture on the left show's how much fun she had until she realized she has marker all over herself in the picture on the right.

We spent some much needed time on the water with Ada, Vela, and the little guys.

It was near perfect weather. Cool, clear, early summer gorgeousness.

Perfect for the happy dog which is just visible in this picture- having a good time.

Ada got some good boat time in. I take it from her laid back napping style,
she's not carrying much tension around.

This little girl is such an easy going sleeper (in this picture she is also doing some product placement).

Vela  is becoming a great babysitter.

Ada went with her father out for some vegan pizza, she didn't think that was so cool, but I love the totally blase attitude she had. She was a very bored baby who seems to think dad's lunch selection was pretty lame (we didn't stay).

And then at some point she took a bath and did her best impressions.

And so much more happened with Ada that week, but Ada's parents were lazy with the camera, and don't have any pictures to show for it.

6 weeks

#6 was a good week. Ada slept, she ate, she did what one does after eating and sleeping, she hung out with her dogs, she went on lots of walks inside her baby-burrito thing, she started to enjoy staring at books for real, she learned a new squeak, and she spent her first few days sleeping on the water.

Ada stretches after many naps aboard, she is going to be quite a little sailor.

She even managed to get her exercise in while aboard like a true sailor (she loves the pilates) .

June 28. Happiness & staring contests!

Week 5 & Meeting Nathan

Looking back to her fifth week, I already dread the day when Ada's update changes from weeks to months to years. Soon it will be "her 6 months", and then "her 12th year." I now can join the legion of parents who have always said that they wish their babies could stay babies. I can't even imagine all the greatness to come. But 6 weeks is about as cute as I can imagine. I mean how can I not get all mushy after waking up next to this little monster after a few hours sleep? I open my eyes to this little face staring at me... it's too #@&* much squee I tell you. It already breaks my heart to even think about her growing up. This tiny little person is so full of life.

Things she loves this week... mostly she loves dancing around on her changing table and giggling.

Ada got to meet the great Nathan Santino for the first time this week. The big and strong Nathan! And we got to see the whole family.  They had a little baby-stare-at-baby time, although they didn't seem to notice each other, what a difference a few months makes at this age.  It was great letting the two meet, as I am sure that they will be tearing the town up together over the years to come. And we thank Ryan and Melissa for all the sanity checks, food, and help they have given us over the past months- these guys are our reporters from the front line of babydom, four months ahead of us. They are probably the most adorable family on the East Coast too (I've got to get some better pictures).

Looking back to Week 4- One month old

Ada was greeted into the world by the White House.. I know it's cheesy, but I loved it (thanks "Aunt tin tin" ;). The official welcome to DC. And what a lucky girl to have the Obama's stamps on the forms when she's born. Seeing this reminded me of how seeing "Miss Ada" written on something makes me smile, and it also reminded me of how terrifying 2012 is going to be. 

One of those signatures could have been Cindy McCain let's not forget.

Ada got to hang out with her future hero Rebekah this week, I tell you these two get along gangbusters (as evidenced by Ada's "sleeping possum" pose- she only takes when extremely relaxed).  I can't say for sure, but I think it may have made Ada's week. We just say thanks for everything Auntie Bex.

Ada's parents... whoever those fools are, made her pose ridiculously while wearing the adorable pants her Aunt Julie Sue made for her, she endured it. No, Ada did not multiply, I just couldn't resist showing two of these pictures. As for the pants, well the pants are so cute they could be used as weapons.

Weapons of cuteness.

And Miss Big One Month Old Ada spent a lot of time playing with her older sister this week. 

Vela is a natural baby human entertainer (evidenced by her peek-a-boo skills shown in this picture).

Ada seems to really enjoy teasing her and trying to grab her nose. 

Such good girls.

I love these pictures of Ada in her bassinet or car seat. 

It's the only time in one's life when the presence of your conveyance method is as good as a picture of you. 

I have so many pictures of us doing something like eating lunch and the only sign of little Ada Mar is a big all-covering-sun-shade. I suppose if you happen to be a royal, and you're carried around town in a litter, then you know the feeling? 

Ada may be asking us to "bring around the sedan chair" when she's 18.

...By the end of the week Ada tries to skip the nursing, and just eat her mom whole (her evil plan didn't work).

3rd Week & Aunt Tina's Visit

During the third week I realized that no matter how cranky a little baby gets, once you look down in your arms and see that she has finally fallen asleep, you forget anything else. Finally asleep = One of the best views ever.

Ada ate out for the first time this week (with Aunt Tina), the way most 3 week old's dine out I assume, by pretty much sleeping through it from a comfortable bassinet and wishing the grown-ups would keep it down.

And Ada's Aunt Tina visited. She helped us so much, gave us needed morale, fed us, brought Ada her first entire library (I'm not exaggerating: 170+ books complete with index), she is pretty much the best thing ever as always, and we miss her so. (BTW: 20+ year anniversary- just incredible Tina).

And Aunt Tina took pictures of Ada, capturing her thoughts... with magic.

Week 3...  As a family we also spent some time in the park again, slowly getting some time outside back into the routine (note leisurely yawns from baby Ada, as she lets us know that midday naps in the grass are the best).

And little Ada Mar was almost all smiles by the end of the week.