Good morning, starshine!

One of my favorite times of day with Josie is in the morning right after she wakes up. She almost always wakes up smiling.

Then she does some fairly comical stretching.

Then she's ready to face the day!

Caturday night is bath night

Zeeb likes to get in the tub sometimes. Often she just sits there and stares at the soap, but here are some shots of her bathing.




After a nice bath, she likes to get lost in a delicious mystery before bed.

In the Tiny Love jungle...

...the quiet Tiny Love jungle...









...the Josie sleeps tonight...







A-weema-weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh ...

Hi Josie!

Jack sent this picture today from his cell phone--when I showed her that Daddy was in the computer, Josie broke into a big grin.

Hi Daddy!

Josie is sending a big smile out to the West Coast.

A few Friday shots

Jack is in the quaint resort town of Anaheim, CA with about 12,000 of his closest librarian friends this weekend at the American Library Association's annual conference. Usually I am his roommate, but this year I skipped out knowing that Josie probably wouldn't tolerate committee meetings, task forces or even discussion groups. Without further ado, here are some shots from today after Jack left for his flight:

Josie is starting to enjoy her Tiny Love zoo. Here she stares adoringly at something...what that something is, I can't quite tell.







Fish lips!








Hanging out in her frilly yellow onesie (a gift from Auntie Rita?) We've lost track of the provenance of most of her clothing...we only know that we have yet to purchase one stitch on our own.






Yes, another lob-stah attack.








I ain't skeered a' no lob-stah. Nom, nom, nom. This lob-stah is delicious.

Lob-stah attack III: Join us, Josie

Jack's parents recently visited Cape Cod and sent some lob-stah themed gifts to Josie. Here she sports a new bib. She's also got a pair of lob-stah adorned feety pajamas that we'll take a picture of her in once she grows into them.


Hey, what's this? A lob-stah bib?








It's not so bad.








Wait! Not a *lob-stah* bib!











You win this time, lob-stah.

Josie Simpson Presents

More cartoon/caricature similarities for Josie's hair-do in profile shot:

"Good eeeeve-ening."

Out and About in West Town

Today was a perfect day in Chicago, so we took Josie for a long walk. Here she is in a little park on Superior Street.

She's starting to get pretty good at standing, although she still needs a lot of help.









We also visited the Bucktown branch
of the Chicago Public Library.

Josie seemed fascinated by the book
stacks- it's in her blood!

Male Pattern Josie

Josie is starting to lose her hair -
this picture looks a bit like the
"before" picture from a Hair Club
for Men advertisement







It's sort of the "Dr. Katz" look.









Here's a solution.

Granite State Pride

Taken to it's logical conclusion, I can't say that I can fully get behind New Hampshire's state motto, but it sure looks feisty on a onesie.


Freeeeeee-dom!!!








Free to smile.











Free to have super-long eyelashes.

Staying at home and momming

Some of you know that I've decided to leave my job at Columbia College Chicago so that I can stay at home full time to care for Josie. Today I went in to work for the first time since Josie was born...my calendar was still showing the March page! Friday will be my last day--I hope I have time to wrap everything up in between lunch dates and pizza parties!

It was a tough decision to leave my job but one that I think Jack and I both (and Josie, too, hopefully) will be glad we made in the long run. I'll miss my fun and friendly coworkers (and you other ones, too...ba-dum-bump!), but I know that we'll stay in touch.

And though I'm looking forward to my new status as a stay-at-home mom, I won't quite be leaving my librarian identity behind completely (anyone who read the Google Scholar in the delivery room story will know that would be impossible). I've still got some commitments to various ALA groups that will keep me involved with them for the next year or two at least. I'll also continue to teach my online business reference course. That, plus some part-time/from home research possibilities will hopefully keep us from dropping down to one income completely. And who knows, maybe Jack's forthcoming genealogy book will be a bestseller!

Jack and I are also going to try to solicit some paid research contracts through an entrepreneurial venture we're calling Stratham Research. If you know anyone looking for business research assistance or genealogy expertise, send them our way!

I leave you with some pictures of the lil'est Columbia College fan:

Rock on, Columbia College!








Ooh...pick me! I know the answer...I think.








CCCCutie








Someday maybe I'll go to Columbia College!

Some Father's Day pix

Our walking route takes us past some ornate Ukrainian churches (that middle photo isn't ours...just shows you what the front looks like when it's not grey and dreary out). That first photo shows the back of the gold dome off in the distance.










Back at home with Daddy after a Father's Day walk.

New outfit

We've started to break into the bag of larger clothes we've been saving for her, so Josie has a lot of new outfits coming her way. Here's a pic of Josie in a batik onesie that Aunt Pammy sent. I paired the onesie with some pink striped pants, knowing that Pam will approve of the color combination (but maybe not the patterns clashing). Josie is smiling up at the mobile that Auntie Beth sent and laying on the crib sheet that Auntie Megan sent (or maybe Auntie Maggie sent that--Megan's Viszla!). Lucky baby!



Someday I hope to be as fashionable as Aunt Pammy!






Eeek...lobstah attack! Hey, this is pretty fun!

Good morning, Daddy!

Three months old today!

Oh, hi...I'm just hanging out on my changing table, you know, 'cuz I'm three months old and totally suave.


Being three months old is hilarious!


Hey--no pictures! I'm too happy being three months old.


I'm three months old!

All dolled up

Here are some aerial views of Josie in a dressy onesie and a pair of her new "Baby Socks That Rock" socks. She was hanging out on our pillows and we decided to have a fashion photo shoot. These pix were too cute to pick just one to post!