The Geneva Show

Father's Day

2010-06-22T01:04:00.003-04:00

** as always, click photos for larger images size.

Summer Fun

2010-06-19T00:57:00.004-04:00

Nate and I have been working on the massive project of cleaning up the basement... and not just tidying things into neat piles in the corners, but actually sorting through boxes and reorganizing/reevaluating their contents. It's overwhelming, but we do keep coming across fun treasures! Last night we found a box of various sprinklers/hose parts. Well today it was super hot and sunny out, so Nate attached a few hoses together to run down to the yard and we tested some of them out. Geneva got a huge kick out of it, the child LOVES water.

Also, since we've had quite a lot of rain lately, the mushrooms have sprung up everywhere in the woods. We went for a walk the other day and found this beaut on the trail.

It's just so exciting that summer already seems to be in full swing, even though it's only June!! Still two full months of sunny adventures to be had.

Up ! Up !

2010-04-29T11:44:00.001-04:00

B-day pictures

2010-04-24T23:38:00.005-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!

2010-04-24T08:17:00.004-04:00

My sweet little Geneva is one year old already, I can hardly believe it.

It's a parade

2010-03-03T14:19:00.002-05:00

Ok, I knew that she was a fast learner and a very determined little girl... but walking at 10 months? Not sure if I'm ready for this. She's still faster when she crawls, but the walking is getting faster and steadier. She's quickly living up to her last name: Walker.

Snow Storm

2010-03-03T13:53:00.003-05:00

We got some serious snow this week. The driveway was covered in about two feet and Nate f-ed up the snowblower trying to clear it all, Oops!
It was fun putting on the snowshoes and trudging around in it though. Everything looked so clear and white and pretty. Today is sunny and warm and it's all melting away again, but it was neat while it lasted. All this freezing and thawing means the sap in the trees will start running soon, and THAT mean Maple Sugaring Season!! Yum.

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-14T18:01:00.004-05:00

* photos by the awesome amazing Autumn

Block Pusher

2010-01-31T10:43:00.008-05:00

AND SHE'S OFF !!!......

We took this out of the box this morning, Papa assembled it, and she immediately knew what to do. I thought she was fast before, but now she's got wheels!

FIRST STEPS !!

2010-01-28T16:41:00.003-05:00

That's right folks. The child is starting to take little wobbly steps all on her own.
She has been trying it out for a few days with just one foot forward, then sitting abruptly down on her butt. Then on Tuesday she was standing in front of us and took one step, then two, then stopped and teetered back and forth, took one more step and sat down with a thump. She was ever so impressed with herself.

Following Daddy around.

Sledding!!

Little bag lady.

Stand Up

2010-01-12T11:04:00.003-05:00

Geneva has been pulling herself up to stand for a couple months now and recently she has figured out standing on her own, without the aid of furniture. She is ever so please with herself and lets everyone know how great it is with screeches and squeals.

Snow Day

2010-01-06T16:38:00.002-05:00

Happy 2010

2010-01-01T10:05:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year everyone!!

Last night we went to a party at the home of our bestest friends, Kate and Charlie. We were unsure of how long we'd stay since Geneva isn't usually able to stay up past 8pm without losing her mind. But 8 came and went and she was still going strong. Nate set up her highchair at the card table and she ate snacks and watched various people play card games. She tried raw onion for the first time and Loved it, go figure.
Sometime after 9 Geneva went to sleep upstairs in the portable playpen we brought along for her and slept through all the revelry downstairs. She woke up a little before midnight for a diaper change, so I brought her downstairs to ring in the New Year. She was a little confused, but took it all in and didn't protest. Don't, however, ask her about the firecrackers, she would rather not discuss them.
All told, it was a splendiferous night. And today will surely be filled with naps for everyone.

Osker the Brat

2009-12-28T11:22:00.006-05:00

This is why nothing grows in my window planter...

And this is why the birds stay away from our feeders...

cheeks mcgee

2009-12-26T18:03:00.002-05:00

The Cheeks go for a car ride.

Note the drool dripping off the chin... the chin is hiding between the cheeks, look closely, you'll find it.

Most patient cat ever.

Shovelling the porch with cheek power.

Pajama Party!

PS. Happy Boxing Day.

Updates

2009-12-19T08:55:00.004-05:00

Wholy Pants! It's been a long time since I posted any pictures. Bad Mommy, Bad!
Eva is almost 8 months old and SO much has happened....

TEETH! She has five! The first took it's sweet time coming in, the second came a little quicker, then 3, 4 and 5 cut through on the same day. But she still won't let me get a picture of them.

She can crawl. She started really zipping around just after Halloween, at six months old. She is hilarious when she gets going. Her left foot stays flat on the ground, with the knee jutting out to the side. It's like her left foot wants to walk, but the rest of her limbs are still trying to crawl. She also keeps her elbows locked straight and her head down so she can't see where she's going.

She can stand herself up very easily. Her little legs are so strong that she doesn't need to pull herself up with her arms, she just has to stabilize herself, since she is pretty wobbly still. She can take a few steps while holding onto the edge of furniture. And she can "walk" on her knees while pushing a soup pot around in front of her.
Eva, Brody and the soup pot.

We went to visit The Walkers in Vermont for Thanksgiving and everyone had a lovely time.

Eva and cousin Graham.

Striking a pose with Grandma Winnie.

Family photo during a walk by Lake Champlain.

The weather has turned very cold and we've had a stable two or three inches of snow on the ground for about a week. It will last until April so I'm trying to be positive about it. Eva loves going outside and she is darn cute all bundled up. She has the BEST boots brought back from Mongolia by our friend Chloe. They're a bit big on her yet, but I'm sure they keep her toes warm.

A little unsure of her winter boots.

I think that's all for now. Clumsy me broke BOTH our cameras this month, so no more photos until the new camera arrives in the mail. Hopefully Monday!

EVAtube

2009-10-31T20:06:00.001-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/KeatingWalker

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T09:37:00.005-04:00

YAY. It's our favorite time of year. Apple cider, pumpkins, falling leaves, and candy, lots and lots of candy.

Geneva is a bumble bee for Halloween this year, costume courtesy of her Grandma Winnie. We tried it on her and she wasn't exactly pleased, but we are going to try again today since we are going to a Halloween Party. WooHooooo!

Also, Happy Anniversary to my awesome, amazing, handsome husband, Nathaniel. 7 years ago today we went on our first "official" date. Best idea we ever had.

Prepackaged Baby

2009-10-17T18:21:00.002-04:00

Opening the mail today was extra fun, someone sent us an adorable baby girl.

First Snow

2009-10-17T18:16:00.002-04:00

2009-10-10T13:52:00.002-04:00

Eva is so big, and heavy! Carrying her around is getting to be aerobic exercise. Thank goodness for our front carrier. We got the "Infantino", a BabyBjorn rip-off and it works beautifully at a fraction of the price (if anyone who might be having a baby was considering getting one).

This week's milestones:
Sitting up alone, unsupported.
Getting to a sitting position from laying down without help.
Wiggling backwards on hands and knees (it's not quite crawling yet, but it will be soon). She can't go forward, and the more she tries to go forward to get toys the further backward she gets, which frustrates her beyond belief.

** All the pictures we post on the blog can be enlarged by clicking on the image itself. We upload the large sizes in case anyone wants to print them. Just FYI.**

A little nap on a very bundled-up walk with Papa.

Standing up alone (ok, ok, a little support from Mama's hand).

Snacking on a delicious flag at the DEC's Hunting and Fishing Days.

Not only is she not screaming, but she actually seems HAPPY in her carseat. Miraculous!

Helping with the laundry, and looking like a very big girl.

5 months

2009-09-24T21:07:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday Eva!!
5 months is almost 6 months, which is half of year. Wow. What a little grownup.

autumn

2009-09-23T10:00:00.002-04:00

hats and hoodies and coveralls. oh my.

payback

2009-09-18T16:47:00.002-04:00

Papa isn't the only one who gets slimed...

Puke on Papa

2009-09-08T11:53:00.003-04:00

She is so good at spitting up on her Papa. These are some of my faves.

Eva's tribute to Hermann Rorschach.

You can't really see it, but there is spit-up in Nate's ear.

Not the best beard conditioner.

pictures

2009-09-08T10:45:00.005-04:00

nothing really to talk about. Eva is still awesome. her new favorite thing to do is blow raspberries (or zerberts) with her tongue. she does it all day non stop and gets spit everywhere.

Eva and Auntie Jessamyn (who is currently growing a little cousin for Eva).

Partners in crime, taking a break from mischief on Papa's lap.

Standing is her favorite.

Teef

2009-08-25T16:38:00.002-04:00

We went to Burlington, VT to see the Walkers this weekend. Lots of exciting things happened including...
Eva figured out how to roll from her back to her belly, which she now loves to do.
She got her knees up under her butt while on her belly, which is a major step towards crawling. She can actually wiggle really well across the floor by kicking her legs, but she hasn't figured out what to do with her arms yet.
She also started "walking" while we stand her up on the floor. Her favorite is to walk towards someone, or even up someone.

And the most exciting... her first tooth broke through her bottom gum!! This involves a story: We arrived at the airport to get a flight home yesterday and in the security line she very suddenly started screaming, and I mean screaming. For those of you without babies, there is a big difference between "i'm uncomfortable or hungry" crying and "i'm in pain" crying. This was most definitely the latter. We tried everything and had NO idea what the matter was. Everyone was staring at us and one woman even walked up to me and said (in front of a large line of people) "Do you think your baby might be cold? Because she's not wearing very much and it's freezing in here". She was NOT cold, she was, in fact, sweating from kicking and screaming so much, but thanks anyways, Lady.
Well, at one point she opened her mouth really wide to wail and I noticed there was blood on the tip of her tongue. I freaked, and held her mouth open to look inside and saw a little white thing sticking up from her gum. It definitely wasn't there the day before, so I'm thinking that the tooth pushed it's way out while we were at the airport, hence the screaming. Neat.

I'm trying really hard to get a picture of the tooth, but her tongue is always in the way and she won't hold her head still long enough anyway. Maybe when she is sleeping I can get a snap of it.

Four Months Old

2009-08-19T23:04:00.005-04:00

I can't even believe it.
She has doubled her birth weight, basically she's gigantic.
She can hold her head up by herself, roll over, wiggle towards a toy out of her reach, support all her weight on her legs (but she's so wobbly you have to support her obviously). She swats, grabs, grasps, and grips with purpose and coordination. And my favorite, she reaches her arms out to people she wants to hold her.
Development is so fascinating to watch!

Wedding Bells

2009-07-14T13:10:00.005-04:00

Our friends and fellow Hobart and William Smith alums, Andrew Scott and Tara Edlund, got married this past weekend. We went along and brought Eva to show off. Also there were our former Los Angeles roommates Dan and Heather who have a brand new baby girl named Lily Louise. She is absolutely adorable and is only 10 hours older that Geneva! They hit it off immediately.
At nap time during the reception they fell asleep together in Lily's stroller, it was great.

Of course our camera ran out of batteries about 10 minutes into the ceremony and we left the charger at home, but luckily Heather had her fancy camera with her and sent along some great photos.

The Keating/Walker Family

I made my dress all by my self!!

Eva and Lily meet for the first time at the chapel.

Dan is obviously excited (love the look on Lily's face)!

Geneva with Papa, best picture of the day.

Cutie muffin!!

Telling secrets.

The girls are almost as tall as Colleen.

Sleepy heads.

Spooning babies! Eva woke Lily up by punching her in the back of the head, oops.

Hobart boys and all roommates at some point or another, Dan (Lily's dad), Crawford (groomsman), Andrew (groom), Nate (Eva's papa), Vijia (awesome).

Independent Girl

2009-07-04T18:31:00.002-04:00

Happy Fourth Everyone.

Smiles and Coos

2009-06-29T14:39:00.006-04:00

Geneva has been smiling since her first week, but lately she is ALL smiles and she has developed the cutest little language of gurgles and iiiii's. We have a million videos of her at this point, but neither Nate nor I can figure out how to transfer the movies from the camcorder to the computer. And I thought I was tech savvy!

Also, we've discovered that Nine Inch Nails puts her right to sleep. Of course, only a child of mine would pass out to the sound of heavy industrial rock!

Update: The vaccines went just fine. She screamed bloody murder when the needles went in, as expected, but she then fell right asleep as soon as we put her in the car seat. She slept most of the rest of the day. The day after was pretty miserable, her legs swelled up and I know they were hurting her, lots of fussiness and LOTS of vomiting (not spit-up, but full blown smelly projectile vomit 5 or 6 times in one day). But she has been fine since (although she has vomited once a day since vaccine day). She never got a fever which I was thankful for, I was checking her temperature at every diaper changing for a couple days.

The kitties also got vaccinated this past week. So they can go visit with the neighbors cats. Yay kitty friends!

2 months

2009-06-21T11:49:00.004-04:00

This week Eva turns 2 months old. It's a major step because at this age babies start getting their immunizations. After a whole lot of reading, research, and hefty agonizing, I have decided to have her vaccinated. I realize this is a controversial subject, and I'm not looking to start a debate. I am definitely NO advocate of modern medicine, it's all hogswallop in my opinion... but if we want to send Eva to public school she has to be vaccinated, plus the thought of her losing her sight to Scarlet Fever or her legs to Polio is enough to convince me.

Wednesday is the big day. I'll probably be a wreck.

In happier news, this is what Geneva looked like this past week:

Thanks you Csilla for the tricycle shirt. Alas, we only got about three days wear out of it before she out grew it. It really is leaps and bounds everyday, I think I can actually see her growing sometimes.

summer babe

2009-06-14T15:16:00.005-04:00

Notice her left hand grabbing her shirt. She does this every time she lies on her back. With a deathgrip too, it's a struggle to open those little fingers if you want to change her shirt. And if she doesn't have a shirt on...? She grabs her left boob instead. I don't get it.

Brooklyn Baby

2009-06-07T17:56:00.005-04:00

Geneva went on her first trip to NYC this past week. We flew down to see all my Brooklyn friends, and several other friends who happened to be converging in the city at the same time.
She was SO good on both the flight there and the flight back. Not a peep out of her. She slept the whole way to JFK and on the way back sat and stared wide-eyed at Mama and Papa. We were nervous that the pressure change would bother her ears, but she didn't seem to mind. The other passengers and the flight attendants oohed and aahed over her, we were VERY proud parents.

First we went to our friend Emily's totally sweet apartment, where we were staying, to drop off our stuff. My old housemate Autumn came over to meet us.

Emily, Autumn, Geneva and I in Emily's kitchen.

Then we all headed into the city for AFP's show with Neil Gaiman at the Housingworks Cafe in SoHo.

Amanda and Neil meeting Geneva during soundcheck.

Geneva having a snack during soundcheck with her noise-canceling headphones on.

Mama enjoying the cheapest beverage on the menu.

We didn't stay for the show because it was WAY past Eva's bedtime and she was WAY cranky. So we went back to Williamsburg and Eva went to bed while Mama and Papa stayed up watching cable TV (something we haven't had in a reeeeally long time).

Geneva passed out in Emily's bed

The next morning we took a stroll around Mama's old stomping grounds in Williamsburg. I showed her all the places I used to hang out. Then Autumn came to get us and we took the subway into Manhattan.

Autumn, me and Geneva waiting for the L train.

Eva sleeping on the train.

We met up with another former housemate, Dave, and walked around the East Village. Geneva was wide-eyed the whole time and really interested in everything.

Autumn, Dave and Eva in the Stuyvesant Square park eating Artichoke Pizza (the best flipping pizza in New York... and that's saying something!)

In all it was an excellent trip and we now know that Eva travels very well. This was a little test, and she totally aced it.
Yay!

Multiple Post Sunday

2009-06-07T15:19:00.001-04:00

More Walkers visit

2009-06-07T15:06:00.004-04:00

Winnie and Mikey (Grandma and Grandpa Walker) came to visit a couple weeks ago... I know I know, really behind on the posts.

.

Summer Do

2009-05-21T12:02:00.004-04:00

Mama's hair yesterday

Mama's hair today

diaper love

2009-05-18T11:53:00.002-04:00

g-diapers are the best thing that ever happened to me!
a perfect combination of cloth and disposable, and i can put them in my compost! so cool, so easy.

Walker family visits!

2009-05-15T12:32:00.003-04:00

Auntie Jessamyn and Cousin Graham came to stay for a few days. There was heavy documentation of the event. Here are just a few pics, more to come from other cameras.

Eva found her thumb for the first time while Jessamyn was holding her! Judging by family history she will most likely be an avid thumb-sucker.

more random cuteness

2009-05-15T11:58:00.002-04:00

Mama is obsessed with these teeny tiny little fingers!

Nap time for Papa, Eva and Kitties

Hugging Mama's arm

Yum

Eva is going to kill me someday for posting this online.

News

2009-05-07T12:28:00.003-04:00

Eva's umbilical stump fell off, so she has a relatively normal looking belly button now (still a little scabby, but not freakish).

Her second pediatrics appointment was yesterday and she has gained back all her birth weight plus a pound, so she is up to 8lbs 6oz. She's also grown an inch and a half to 20.5".

Aunt Zoe (Laura's sister) arrives tomorrow and Aunt Jessamyn (Nate's sister) is coming to visit next week. Alas, they will miss each other by a day and will have to meet another time.

I'd like to thank the academy

2009-05-03T09:51:00.005-04:00

I would like to say a gigantic THANK YOU to all the DD and AFP fans across the world who have brought baby gifts to shows, expressed their love and congrats on the forum and been totally awesome in general. Particularly huge thanks to the Warmkessels for the heaps and heaps of baby gear they so graciously went out of their way to send me (Caroline, I owe you the hugest thanks ever, and I owe you a really long letter!).

Also, tons of love to Wes and the folks at JSR Merchandising, and the merch peeps at the 9:30 Club D.C. and the Metro Chicago for the baby swag. Sheriff Scabs and Two Ton Boa for the baby band merch. Thanks to you I have one stylish baby!

And most of all LOVE times a million to the DD and MFSH crews, Jason Webley, the Danger Ensemble, and the kids of Solillaquists of Sound, Vermillion Lies and The Builders and The Butchers, for putting up with an overly hormonal, emotional, and very stubborn pregnant Laura in the close confines of tour buses and dingy dressing rooms for four months straight this past fall.

Ok, baby acceptance speech over. Back to adorable pictures.

and Bears, oh my!

2009-05-03T09:46:00.003-04:00

Wild Jungle Cats!

2009-04-30T13:23:00.003-04:00

Two little pumas hunting a beetle.

Nate was viciously mauled.

Eva is a savage jungle princess.

They've got me surrounded

2009-04-29T13:45:00.000-04:00

An ambush of adorable sleeping babies.

Why don't we get things started

2009-04-29T11:04:00.003-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen! May I introduce to you Geneva Ell Keating Walker, or just Eva if you prefer. She was born at 7:31am on Friday April 24th 2009. Coming in at a whopping 7lbs 7oz and 19 inches long, 10 fingers, 10 toes and no exceptions. She is simply the bees knees, and cute as a button to boot.

*Thanks to Sherry of Two Ton Boa for making her this totally rad tuxedo onesie!*

For those of you who'd like all the exciting details of how she came out...

I started to have mild contractions the morning of my due date (April 23rd). By dinner time they were getting a bit painful and coming in regular intervals. At around 11:30pm they were getting to be too much to bear so we called the midwife to ask if she thought it was "time". Luckily she agreed that this was probably it and told us to head down to the hospital and she would meet us there. After checking and rechecking that I had everything I needed with me, we left for Rochester at midnight. We got pulled over on the way for having a busted headlight and Nate got to say "Officer, my wife is in labor!" It was perfect, straight out of the movies.

We got to the hospital a little before 1am and they moved me right into a birthing room because at that point my contractions were only about 2 minutes apart and I was already 3cm dilated. From there everything moved VERY quickly, by 5:30am I was 10cm (the biggest possible) and Geneva's head was descending rapidly. And by 7:30 I wasn't pregnant anymore!! YAY!

It was definitely the most painful experience of my entire life, times one hundred. But I managed it all without any pain medication, only sweat, tears and Nate holding my hands. I luckily don't remember very much of it. The pain kind of eliminated all functioning in my brain for the last few hours of delivery. Apparently I was asked by a nurse at one point at the peak of my blood curdling screams if I would "like something to ease the pain" and I responded "FUCK THAT SHIT". Man, I wish I could remember saying that, and I wish I had seen the lady's face when I did.

We stayed at the hospital for another 36 hours after Geneva was born and we were sent home with two thumbs up and 5 star health rating for Mama and Baby.

Now comes the fun part!

New Additions

2009-04-12T11:01:00.000-04:00

OK... not the addition everyone is waiting for, but super cute and exciting all the same.
Meet Osker and Brody.

They are 6 weeks old, brother and sister, and the most adorable creatures ever. When awake, they are so frisky it's impossible to get a picture of them sitting still, thus the best pics are of them sleeping. They particularly like to curl up with me for my afternoon naps. They have been with us for about 36 hours and already seem very at home.
Osker was apparently the runt of the litter and born a day later than all the others, he's got one squinty eye and a little white spot under his chin. Brody is a little bigger than Osker and totally beats him up and bosses him around.

It's a good thing it's been cold outside the past couple of days, we are so distracted by everything these two kitties do that we can't get anything else done.

Oh, and ps. One more week until baby, one more week until I will be surrounded by Cute on all sides.

Killing the thrift stores

2009-02-16T16:16:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the recent scare about lead in children's products, one of the stupidest laws ever went into affect last week. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which took hold on Monday Feb 10th, made it illegal to sell children's products that have not been tested for lead and phthalates.

Sounds all well and good, right? Well, this also applies to second hand children's items at thrift stores, consignment shops, yard sales, everywhere. And not just toys, this new law includes board games, trading cards, sporting goods, bicycles, BOOKS! and worst of all CLOTHING!

Go into your local second hand shop and take a look at where the children's section used to be. Every thrift store in my area has throw away all of their children's items. TO THE DUMPSTER! They can't even give them away, legally they have to be throw out.

Not only is this incredibly environmentally UNfriendly, but also a huge burden on those of us who can not afford to buy new, like ME!

Nate and I are, in so many words, freaking out. We still have to buy expensive items like a car seat and stroller and all that over-priced but unavoidable crap. We never gave a thought to spending money on clothing because we assumed places like the Salvation Army would provide super cheap second hand clothes for this kid. No longer an option.

This also has a terrible effect on small time consignment shops that rely on children's items for the bulk of their income. There is a children's only consignment shop in my town that has already closed it's doors for good. It can't remain in business without breaking the law. They are too small to afford the lead testing equipment (which apparently runs at about $50,000), and without the testing they can be both fined by the government for not meeting child safety requirements (the fine is $10,000) and are legally liable should an item they resell contain lead and a parent decides to sue.

This is all disgusting. In a time when our economy is failing, hundreds of thousands are losing their jobs, and food prices are skyrocketing, what does the government do? Kill the thrift stores and force parents to buy new.

30 weeks today

2009-02-12T19:15:00.000-05:00

I am officially in the home stretch. 8 to 10 weeks left.

Holy Ham, Batman!

2009-01-18T20:26:00.000-05:00

Looking particularly Large at the grocery store.

Three more months to go, and things only look Larger from here.

Ultrasound at 6 Months

2009-01-04T16:31:00.000-05:00

Nate and I went in for an ultrasound last week. The kid is about One and a Half Pounds at this point.

Click on images to enlarge.
Profile. Punching itself in the face.
Front View. Skull bones, neat.
3D Image. Kind of Smiling.