Caroline Goes to College

Cousins!  Kim, Caroline and Katie

Kim, Bo the bear and Caroline smile in Kim's residence hall.

College?  Already you ask?  The last post was her first day of school!  Yes, kids grow up quickly!  And speaking of growing up quickly, Ted, Caroline and I visited our nieces/ Caroline's cousins in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the middle of September.  Kim is a sophomore at the University of Michigan and Katie is a recent U of M graduate, living in a fabulous first apartment and working in a nearby Detroit area suburb.  We strolled Main Street after dark, had dinner at a brewery and toured Kim's dorm.  A fitting "college" experience for a 10 week old, I would say!    

First Day of School

Caroline and Shannon on the first day of school.

Ted and Caroline walk the downtown canal at lunch.

Caroline started "school" (i.e. day care) three weeks earlier than planned, due to an opening in our first choice of a center.  Caroline's "school" is located downtown near Ted and I's employers, walking distance for us both.  Her "class" room (and assigned crib) overlooks the downtown canal.  See the above photo with Ted for her "view"- much better than her parents' offices!  I was eager to return to work and therefore we have learned the two working parent juggling act very quickly.  We have "baby swapped" in the parking lot on a couple of occasions and have already been called to pick her up early due to a fever.  The fun times are just starting, we believe!

Arty Instagram Photos

We can never take enough photos of Caroline.  And of course, the best moments are missed on film, but will be ever present in our memories.  I have used Instagram to attempt to take some filtered photos from a different perspective.  Enjoy my attempt at art!

Happy Baby

Caroline has been a smiler since our first night together in the hospital.  I didn't know babies smiled so early!  She then began to smile with her eyes open.  Now she smiles so wide that her gums show and she follows her smiles with a coo and other conversational notes.  Adorable!  Enjoy the smile in action above...

Busy Baby

This baby is on the move already.  The arm and leg action can be constant sometimes.  Now she adds a variety of facial expressions and jabber.  She must work off that big formula belly, I guess.  Go Caroline, go!

Party Girl

Siblings and spouses- Ted, Cassie, Brad, Shannon plus Caroline all dressed up and ready for the party.

Caroline's first friend is unofficial family member and true partier, Mason.  Pictured: Mason and his mother, Tara; Charlotte and grandaughter, Caroline

Sherry (Shannon's IUPUI colleague) and Caroline

Ted, Caroline and I (Shannon) have celebrated Caroline's birth with family and friends over the last two weekends- first on Sunday, August 5th with my coworkers and then with family and friends at my parents' house in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Saturday, August 12th.  There was lots of food, smiles and encouraging words.  We played pass the baby... you needed a number to cuddle with Caroline- and there was a time limit since she was in such demand!  She slept through both parties for the most part, but looked adorable as she snoozed.  We thank our gracious hosts and everyone else for the good wishes. 

Baby Olympics

A yawn or a burp?  You decide!

The happy Baby Olympian, Caroline Feeney

These last few days, Caroline and I (Shannon, that is) have had the Olympics on during the day instead of one of our usual Pandora music stations.  Caroline likes loud music... if you aren't one of our neighbors and hence haven't heard.  She is a social gal too... thus the constant Olympic commentary seems to work well as nap time background noise.  

Ted and I have decided that Caroline would be a medal contender in the Baby Olympics.  I, therefore, declare Caroline the gold medal winner of burping in the 2012 Baby Olympics.  She has always been a hearty, consistent burper- but how those loud noises come out of that little body, I am unsure.  Yesterday, she was a contender in the non nap marathon.  How does a child who is less than one month old not sleep during the day?  Thankfully she slept well at night (as did I, as I passed the baton to Ted in that relay)- she always sleeps well at night.  Is that a category in the Baby Olympics too?  If so, we are lucky competitor's parents!