Family visits, baked delights, and misc photos

Lena is now over three weeks old! Incredible. She is growing and changing daily which has been neat to be a part of and keeps us on our toes at times. Below are some photos from the weekend and some we couldn't help but pass along as well.

Here is Lena after a recent bath, sporting a hooded bunny towel given to her by Paul's aunt Lois, uncle Stuart and cousin Jess.

Ocasionally Lena surprises us with her facial expressions. She does seem to have a punk rock disposition to her at times with certain looks such as this one evoking images of the legendary punk musician Sid Vicious.

This weekend we had wonderful visits from Paul's parents & grandmother Helen and his cousin Cary and her fiance John. Here Lena and her grandfather spend some time together.

Here is a photo of Lena and her great-grandmother, MomHelen.

Here is Lena with her grandmother and great-grandmother.

A cute one of the sleeping creature.

On a whim Paul was also struck with the urge to bake and set out on saturday to turn some recent farmer's market purchases into a loaf of bread. Many hours later we feasted on slices of whole wheat squash-apple-walnut-onion bread. Better than it sounds and looks! Here the dough is being kneaded on the dining room table.

The rising dough and proud baker.

The finished loaves! Lena seemed intrigued by the smell of them but will have to wait to try such delights.

Here is a photo of the mobile that Lena's grandmother MomGillian made for her this weekend out of wire and origami cranes made by a friend for our wedding.

This weekend in celebration we also busted out a five year old fruitcake. No, really! It is in front of us to prove it. For our wedding, Paul's mom Gillian, baked a "grooms cake", a fruit cake soaked in spanish brandy and covered with an almond frosting. We ate half of it at the time (June 2002), and the other half was wrapped up tight for a "special occasion." Since then we've moved twice (from Ithaca to Chicago and apartments within Chicago) always keeping the cake in our freezer vaults. We couldn't think of any better occasion than the birth of our daughter and visits from our family to bust out this baked artifact and give it a try. Somewhat to our surprise it still tastes like fruit cake! Quite delicious actually.

Here is a photo of Paul, Lena, and Paul's cousin Cary. Cary and her fiance John were in Chicago for work for the weekend and were able to come join us for brunch this morning which was a treat.

Family visits and the amazing growing baby

Today we went for Lena's 2+ week check-up and learned that she is growing like a champ! Lena now weighs in at a whopping 8 lbs 8 oz. This is up from 7 lbs at her first check-up. Lena got the doc's vote of approval and we're due back in a couple weeks.

This weekend was also a great treat as we had family in from out of town. The first to arrive were Paul's sister Vanessa, her husband Leon, and their daughter Izze. Lena's cousin Izze was a huge fan and couldn't stop talking about 'baby lena'. She also couldn't stop talking about tushes but that is another story.

Here is the fam out Sunday morning for brunch for Paul's 31st birthday. The rookie parents seem to be having a blast but the daughter seems sceptical. We had a great meal at the local pancake house with Vanessa, Leon, and Izze.

On Sunday afternoon Paul's aunt Lois and grandmother Isabelle arrived. Here is a photo of Paul, Lena and aunt Lois. Lena enjoyed passing her afternoon nap in Lois' arms.

Here is a somewhat cryptic photo of Lena checking out her great grandmother Isabelle (they seem quite enamored with each other).

Grandma Isabelle and Izze had a great time Sunday reading books and singing songs.

Paul's sister Vanessa, brother-in-law Leon, and Lena hanging out at the park near our apartment.

Paul, Izze, Vanessa, Lena (she really is in there), and Morgan in downtown Chicago this morning. We met up for breakfast at the Hotel Intercontinental - a former Mason hall and one of the coolest buildings in Chicago.

Here are the sibs and the cousins.

Lena's first farmer's market and photos from home

This morning Lena ventured out to her first Farmer's Market (the Green City Market north of downtown Chicago) where her parents got some fantastic fruits and she made a lot of fans.

Here are Paul and Lena taking a break at the market.

Morgan and Lena back at home enjoying some time together in the afternoon sun in the office.

Every day we're learning more about Lena, who she is, what she likes, and where she likes to be (which so far includes pillows on the desk, the centerpiece of the dining room table, etc.).

Grandparents,Lena's first concert, and bouncy seats

These photos are a buffet of sorts taken this past week. The three of us have been fortunate to have Morgan's mom and Paul's parents join us after Lena's birth and visit for a few days.

As usual, Candace was able to evade the camera however we were able to document one of her culinary endeavors of the week (chocolate zucchini cake). She also accompanied Lena on her first trip to the yardage store.

Here is a photo of Paul's mom (Gillian) and Lena taken during the days immediately following Lena's return home.

Here is Paul's dad (Alan) and Lena and a stuffed cat courtesy of our friends Danny and Annalee.

This past weekend Lena also ventured out for her first concert! This week the world music festival is occuring at sites around Chicago (truly one of the best things in this city) and the three of us ventured out to Garfield Conservatory on Chicago's west side (also one of Chicago's best things) to hear a group from west Africa perform.

Here are Balla Kouyate and World Vision performing in front of the railroad tracks near Garfield Conservatory.

After such a big time it helps to sack out for a little bit. Here are a couple photos of Lena taken in her bouncy seat this morning.

The cats have been doing great though are already missing having company (i.e., extra laps and hands) around the apartment.

Lena is a week old

Lena celebrating her first week with a nap.

Here are Morgan and Lena at the park yesterday afternoon with Lena snug in a sling given to her by our friends Elizabeth, Pete & Nora.

Paul and Lena checking each other out.

How does this whole bath thing work?

On Monday Lena had her first bath. We found a suitable size container for the festivities - a roaster pan from the kitchen - and then read up a bit (always ones for checking references :). Lena did great and seemed to like being in the water. Below are some photos taken that morning.

Lena comes home

Here are a couple photos from yesterday and today. We got back from the hospital around noon on Friday and have been enjoying settling in. Here are some pics of Lena and Paul at the hospital in Oak Park on Friday morning.

Here are Morgan and Lena back at our apartment yesterday.

Our friends, clockwise from the lower left, Lena, Mark, Becca, and Treat, taken this morning.

Communing of the animals.

Lena Ruth Harnik

We are so happy to announce the birth of our daughter, Lena Ruth Harnik. Lena was born at 8:20 this morning, September 6, 2007 in Oak Park, Illinois. She is incredible. She weighs in at 7 lbs 3 oz and is 18" long. She has a face like a prize-fighter (Paul's also been likening it to a sailor with a five o'clock shadow) after being born in the rather unusual presentation of face first after quite a lengthy period of labor. Here is a photo taken a few minutes after Lena was born by our doula, Hilary.

Here Morgan and Lena prepare for some much needed rest earlier this afternoon.

The three of us in post-birth bliss.

Week 39 - Mexican Lasagna

This weekend we decided to cook and made a big batch of Mexican Lasagna. This is a meal that came to Paul as a vision a couple years ago and is actually better than it sounds. The gist is to replace the lasagna noodles with corn tortillas, the pasta sauce with something more closely resembling salsa, and then to inter-layer ingredients like sweet potatoes and jalapeno peppers, corn and lima beans and onions, zukes and onions, refried beans, and plenty of sauce and cheese. Here is Morgan peeling garlic (from her garden!) in preparation this morning.

Here are all pans on deck, full of sauteeing vegetables. Turned out great though the fumes of frying hot peppers were a bit dramatic.

Paul laying on the refried beans.

Here they are almost finished and plenty to freeze for the coming weeks.

Our buddy Riley sacked out on the bed after a busy afternoon supervising us around the apartment.