The San Jose Schmaus Pack

Madeleine got to meet Noah Gardner for this first time this week. There was about as much interaction as you might expect from an almost 1 month old and almost 3 month old. Madeleine did a lot of sleeping and Noah did a lot of looking around. Nonetheless it was great seeing Aaron and Margo and hanging out with our young children. And thanks to the Gardners for the excellent coffee and other gifts.

I could see this coming in handy on the streets of Philadelphia.

The piece above is from an exhibit by shi jinsong. You can read more at http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/10/view/8457/shi-jinsong-gun-shape-baby-....

Last night we got the most snow I think I've seen since moving to Philly in 2005. The total ended up being 23 inches.

So there's lots of snow and not many good places to put it. Tomorrow morning's commute should be interesting. I'm glad to be able to take the subway and not have to mess around with digging a car out of the snow.

While the snow was falling, Madeleine stayed indoors and spent most of the weekend taking it easy, where "taking it easy" means napping, eating, and filling diapers.  On this latter activity, and to the chagrin of her parents, she appears to have an affinity for going while being changed.

To my surprise, this was somewhat entertaining, and perhaps even endearing, the first 3 or 4 times it happened.  Many diaper changes later, I now approach them with instincts that, in my imagining, are not entirely dissimilar to those of a battle-hardened soldier preparing to engage the enemy.  In the heat of the moment things tend to get messy.

Through all of this diaper business I have learned (the hard way) a valuable first parenting lesson: have all of your supplies provisioned well in advance of the middle of the night diaper change.  Preparedness is your best defense against babies with a flair for dramatic diaper changes.