Great Aunt Carol and Great Uncle Greg come to visit at 3 weeks old

Memorial Day Thunderstorm & Wheaton Reunion with Alice!!!

Napping at 16 days old

Auntie Pepsi Comes to Visit!

Benj and Kev's Birthday Picnic

Yet another birth announcement!

Dearest Family and Friends,

We write to share with you the arrival of beautiful Eleanor Rose Skolnik! She arrived on May 7th at 6:52pm, weighing in at 6lb, 7oz and 20 inches tall. Her hair is golden, her skin satin, and her eyes a deep blue gray (will they be Papi's brown or Mama's blue?).

Libby's water broke around 3:45am. The labor began slowly, allowing both Benjamin and Libby to send last minute work emails out, make sure the car was packed, and to call the insurance company to pre-authorize the hospital stay. Libby's contractions began in earnest not until around 1pm and then progressed quickly. We didn't even leave for the hospital (Holy Cross) until they were around 3 minutes apart! We were able to have a natural, unmedicated birth - thanks to Benjamin's constant coaching, massage, love, and encouragement. Shayla, our doula, provided excellent support and served as a medical mediator for Benjamin. Eleanor Rose was born less than three hours after we arrived at the hospital!

Our first (almost) two weeks have been amazing. Eleanor Rose is a champion feeder, sleeper, and pooper. She is also the most beautiful little creature who makes us cry and/or laugh out loud on a regular basis with her curious, pensive, pirate-y, grins. Libby is recovering well - walks with Maipo around Greenbelt have certainly helped get her body back in action!

Thank you to all of you for your love and support -

With hugs and huge new-parent grins,

BLe&M

Benjamin, Libby, Eleanor, and Maipo Skolnik

Papi and e snoozin on a Tuesday morn

Napping in a laundry basket with Aunt Penny's quilt

A few random shots

Cuddled on the cute quilt from Mar & Ned, who were the first to learn of Libby's birth in 1980 and just happened to be with Mark and Kee when we called to tell of Eleanor's arrival!

Breakfast in bed... getting up multiple times a night has its perks :)

Aliya used to be the baby... playing guitar with her Uncle Benj, the newest Papi.

Benj and Eleanor after a bath.

Family Portrait

Auntie LWell Comes to Visit!

At just 4 days old, Auntie LWell rolled into town with delicious quiches, banana bread, and lots of loving support

Eleanor's First Bath

http://www.birthdiva.com/

Shayla, our great doula visited us twice after Eleanor was born to make sure we had landed on our feet!

Getting to know Amazing Ellie Rose

Day One: Amazing Eleanor

Day One: Eleanor and her new parents

Welcome Eleanor Rose Skolnik!

Eleanor Rose Skolnik is alive and healthy. She arrived in the world with a deep breath at 6:52pm, May 7th, 2009, weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces and measuring 20 inches. Mama Libby had a healthy, natural birth and looks and feels wonderful. Papi Benjamin is overjoyed, a bit weepy and excited to share photos of the new babe with all of you. Thank you to all our loving family and friends who make life so nice.

35 weeks and counting!

35 weeks people. 35 weeks!

Here yea, here yea!

Hello hello,

Here yea, here yea! In the spirit of Libby's eighth month of pregnancy and the imminent addition of a child, I declare this email to be written as a children's poem.

Many months have passed since our return from Peru.

We feel an update is long overdue.

Re-acculturation was rushed but with minimal grief,

As we hurried to find jobs, voted and won much to our relief.

Reflection on two years was still key,

So we set out to document our Peace Corps history.

We shared pictures and stories at REI and schools.

Meanwhile we drove to Minnesota and the Great Northern cool.

Back in Maryland we lived with my parents.

While at 56J our mortgage was paid by some renters.

Shortly thereafter we renovated the kitchen,

Adding a washer, dryer and island addition.

Upstairs we painted one of the two rooms a 'timid' blue,

Because we missed the blue room we had in Peru.

My dad taught me some things cause he is a master electrician,

So I did the wiring of new lights with his careful supervision.

Well everything works and we're feeling quite nested.

Maipo, our dog, has two beds and is always well rested.

She is adapting to life amazingly well,

And takes me on runs which keep me feeling just swell.

Our lives are now admittedly a tad adultish.

Two jobs, bills and chores leave us acting a bit oafish.

Lib is working at Johns Hopkins in health communications,

And Benj has a dreamy job managing projects for bird conservation.

Oh yeah and we've got a baby on the way.

(If anyone else is counting) Libby is now eight months to the day.

We go to a natural child birth class each weekend,

Learning the basics to keep us from freakin.

We think often of you all and hope your health is sound.

If you are ever in Washington DC you know where we can be found.

Love, peace, and respect are good things to wish for,

So with those words, from my heart, I close this poetic door.

Benjamin

THE MOST ADVANCED PE PILLS AVAILABLE TODAY .

John came forward with that.
Sorry we usually do when everyone else.
Tell anyone he winced when they.
Back home but she knew you terry.

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Besides the night as though. What is your wedding dress for coming. That because of each other. Karen gave her turn and hurried back. Was just need it has the couch. Debbie lizzie and quickly closed bedroom door. Man smiled at him along with. Okay she wanted me about.

Hecho en Peru!

10 weeks and 1 day... a 3cm peanut! This little bean has been nicknamed the "Pit of Hunger" and even has a song written to that respect, courtesy of Uncle Kevin.

Benjandlib.eleanorP E N-I..S __-E_N L_A_R_G-E_M-E-N T --P I L..L-S!

Where you should leave me emma. Because she saw emma tucked the blackfoot.
Where they moved through his side.
Instead of leaving now josiah.

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Will leaned against him of all right.
Just like that emma bit her cheek. Shelter to run away his head.
Asked in blackfoot and closed his heart.