Trent and Liz Richardson

Baby Beau Update

2009-02-22T21:21:00.005-05:00

We're way overdue for a Beau-update. Especially considering he's a big boy (3 mos, 16+ lbs). He might beat us up if he hears about our negligence. For that matter, we also have not given Lillie enough attention either. What they say about the 2nd versus the 1st is very true (at least in regards to pictorial documentation). A brief recap...

Christmas went well...the amount of toys Lillie received bordered on the ridiculous. New Years was a rager [insert laughter]. Lillie turned 2 on Jan 12. We continue to be very proud of her...she's so special. And well, Beau is just a great baby. For example, he actually sleeps which is a pleasant surprise! Did I mention, he's a big boy? Liz goes back to work next week...time flies.

Christmas 2008 Photos

2008-12-13T22:59:00.006-05:00

Another great job by the folks at Portrait Innovations on our Christmas photos. The photographer got some good shots of Beau. And gosh, how cute is Lillie?!? We hope you enjoy them as much as we do. Merry Christmas.

Baby Beau

2008-11-16T23:21:00.005-05:00

We welcomed Beauregard (Beau) Wynne Richardson to this world on Friday, November 14th at 2:32 AM in the Hylton Birthing Center at Prince William Hospital. He weighed 8 lbs 6 oz and measured 22".

Beau is doing great. He had his first pediatrician appointment this morning and he passed all his developmental tests with flying colors. Liz is feeling good and is recovering quite well. And of course, Lillie is happy...she now has a little brother to boss around for the rest of her life.

Of course, more updates to come, but in the meantime, here are some photos at the hospital.

Day Out with Thomas

2008-10-26T17:14:00.005-04:00

We recently went to Strasburg, PA for a Day Out with Thomas. Strasburg is located in Amish country and it's a beautiful area. We stayed overnight at The Historic Strasburg Inn. We look forward to going back again some day with #2. Check out the photos here.

Burke Lake Train Ride

2008-10-11T16:48:00.002-04:00

You'll notice a theme during the next few posts. Next stop Strasburg, PA to visit Thomas the Tank Engine. Here's our warm-up at Burke Lake Park earlier this summer.

The End of Summer

2008-08-27T21:52:00.006-04:00

We would love to say that our Outer Banks vacation was a dream come true, but alas, it was a tougher one. We were all a little disappointed in Corolla NC, and to add insult to injury, Lillie and Trent were sick with "flu-like symptoms." Regardless, we still had fun...Lillie got to spend quality time with her cousins, Liz got some needed rest, and Trent crushed beach chairs with the SUV.

On another note, Lillie had her first day of school this week. She started attending a near-by, private, Christian academy. We're very pleased a slot opened-up for her to attend this school. She's just too smart to be outside of a curriculum environment. Overall, she's doing well, but of course, it's an adjustment from her past routine. We have no doubt Lillie will acclimate and this is the best course for her future.

Lillie's First Haircut

2008-07-27T17:26:00.003-04:00

A short video of Lillie's first haircut.

Lillie's 18-Month Update

2008-07-24T22:47:00.006-04:00

One thing is for sure and that's the fact we have a rambunctious toddler on our hands. We keep saying it to ourselves, but Lillie's development over the past 18 months has been amazing. She's a happy--and vocal--little girl with quite the personality. We really couldn't be prouder. She weighed-in at 22 lbs and measured 31.25" at her last checkup.

Please take a look at the recent photos from our July 4th weekend and a recent trip to celebrate Trent's great-uncle and aunt's 50th wedding anniversary (Ann & Bud). We hope to see more of our friends and family over the summer.

e2M

2008-07-06T22:24:00.004-04:00

For the folks who received an email from me previously then excuse the following excerpt...

"After a long and undistinguished career at PHR+A, I've decided to move onto greener pastures in an attempt to get my family off food stamps. The fine folks at e2M have been duped into believing I actually know something. In fact, they've hired me as their Assistant GIS Manager. Many of you also know about my ongoing attempts to serve my country. Well, they just took too long (surprised?) and e2M brought the bling."

I'm now entering my third week at e2M and things are going really well. My coworkers are great to work with and it's been a refreshing change of pace and scenery. The position is challenging, but there are a ton of opportunities. And to boot, the commute is shorter which is always nice. In other words, I'm comfortable saying that I made a good decision and I'm looking forward to the future.

Number Two

2008-06-08T22:33:00.004-04:00

Sometimes it's tough remembering if you've told everyone so we decided on a brief broadcast. We're expecting "Baby Number Two" on November 22. Of course we're excited, but we also feel a little more comfortable this go-around. Liz is doing well and feeling great and everything points towards a healthy pregnancy. And no, we're not finding out the sex again. We're also starting to make some logistical changes around the house. As one of my buddies recently stated...get ready to switch from a zone to a man-to-man defense. Wish us luck...cheers!

Cedar Island, Virginia

2008-05-13T20:53:00.008-04:00

I recently conducted a GPS shoreline survey of Cedar Island, Virginia as part of my ongoing dissertation research along the Virginia barrier islands. The focus of my studies over the past few years has been Parramore Island which is directly south of Cedar Island.

Cedar is unusual along the Virginia Eastern Shore because it is/was privately property. The vast majority of the barrier islands along the coast are part of the Virginia Coast Reserve which is owned by The Nature Conservancy. The Virginia barrier islands constitute one of the longest stretches of coastal wilderness remaining on the entire US Atlantic Coast.

The bottom line is that the Virginia barrier islands are a special place--but unfortunately--the system is falling apart and rapidly. And that's where I hope my research answers some questions. For those of you wondering what a mixed-energy, wave-dominated, retrograding barrier island actually looks like, then here you go.

View Larger Map

Catch-Up, Again?

2008-04-21T23:02:00.003-04:00

Yikes! I just noticed that we're really behind posting photos (can you say 'January'?). And yep, you guessed it. You know what that makes me. So before we become irreparably behind and just give up...here you go.

Lillie's 1st Birthday Party

Grab Bag

Easter 2008 (Marion, VA)

Easter Photos

2008-04-03T22:50:00.008-04:00

Our little girl, Lillie Mae, just keeps growing up. Alot of people tell us she's amazing, but of course, we especially think so.

Even though some of her Easter photos photos are adorable, she's even cuter and more personable in person. (In our humble opinion).

GMU Senior Night 2008

2008-03-27T22:45:00.004-04:00

What can I say? I've been a sombrero-wearing, root beer-drinking, cigar-smoking donkey. And well, the blog's content has suffered as a consequence. But not to fear, we've got great stuff from our trip to Marion this past Easter weekend.

In the meantime, I hope you have a passing interest--or perhaps even enjoy--a short video of George Mason Senior Night 2008. (Let's not just not talk about their performance in the NCAA's).

Delilah (1996-2008)

2008-02-20T17:17:00.009-05:00

This morning we said goodbye to our family dog and loyal companion, Delilah. We're sad our friend is no longer with us and we'll miss her terribly. However, we'll always cherish the time we spent together.

Delilah was a smart, loving, and playful canine that enjoyed--well--being a spoiled dog. When Liz picked her from the litter she knew that Delilah was special and that certainly proved true. We know that she was loved by so many, and we thank you for spending time with her.

Delilah loved catching frisbee and chasing balls to the point of exhaustion when she was younger--we imagine that's what she is doing right now. A thought or prayer for our dear friend is appreciated.

Puerto Rico in 3 Minutes

2008-02-10T23:02:00.000-05:00

I tried my best to boil down our week in Puerto Rico. And well, here's the final result. I hope you enjoy watching the video as much as I do.

Estamos seguros de que será nuestro viaje en 2009!

Housekeeping

2008-01-24T22:11:00.000-05:00

Forty-three posts in 2007 and a heckuva start to 2008 warrant some catch-up and housecleaning.

Please note I've shortened the photos list, but not too worry because archived photos can be accessed through the 'All Albums' link. Once again, I'll plug subscribing to the blog via FeedBurner ...it's the only way to access 'Richardson', and no, you will not be spammed. It's simply the occassional "Trent, Liz, and Lillie post" delivered to your inbox.

Onto the real content...

Of course, we enjoyed our first family Christmas with Lillie. It was relaxing, hectic, special, and all that fun Christmas stuff. New Years was also a blast...lock the doors, load the shotgun, and ride out the storm with our Y2K supplies!

Perhaps even more enjoyable, we went to San Juan, Puerto Rico in early January for a little tropical winter getaway. It was quite a good time...more details to come later, but check out the photos in the meantime. In fact, CW and Pam (Liz's parents) made the trip. And frankly, we welcomed the company and the extra set of eyes and arms for Lillie.

Btw, what do you think about our luxurious accomodations??

When Elmo Grows Up

2007-12-26T22:06:00.000-05:00

Lillie recently had the opportunity to attend "When Elmo Grows Up" at the Patriot Center. We splurged for floor seats and that was a great decision because she really enjoyed the show. Nothing like an 8-ft tall Big Bird, an enthusiastic Elmo, and the entire Sesame Street cast to brighten your day!

As I mentioned, we had aisle seats on the floor so the characters would occasionally come down and walk through our aisle (Zoe even reached out and touched her at one point). Alas, she was pretty much done after the intermission, but it was a great experience.

Sunny day, sweepin' the clouds away, on my way to where the air is sweet...

First Steps

2007-12-16T14:47:00.000-05:00

Lillie's walking has really advanced over the past two weeks. Here's a short video demonstrating her ability. Darn cute in our eyes!

Lillie's Christmas Photos

2007-12-06T12:54:00.000-05:00

Portrait Innovations did a great job with Lillie's Christmas photos.

We were really impressed with the the studio, its photographers, the number of photo packages, printing speed, and just in general, the quality of the product. This was even bigger accomplishment since Lillie was tired and not into the whole scene.

With that said...Ho, Ho, Ho. Let's head to the North Pole!

Let The Frenzy Begin, aka Happy Holidays

2007-12-03T12:38:00.000-05:00

Well, the holidays are upon us once again. We hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving. We stayed local this year so we got to spend alot of quality time with Lillie (nevermind my trip to Charlottesville to watch Virginia lose to Va Tech once again...ugh, boo, hiss).

Where to start with Lillie? She's taking her first independent tentative steps, barking like a dog (yes, when she actually sees a dog), pointing to body parts when you name them, identifying objects on flash cards (ball, cat, balloon, etc), and so on and so forth. In other words, she's darn smart in our humble opinion.

It's my goal to have Lillie's Christmas photos up shortly. In the meantime, enjoy this smorgasbord of photos. We'll have a short video of her walking in the coming days.

Happy Halloween

2007-11-04T22:07:00.000-05:00

Washington has a winning record (!) so Lillie really wanted to celebrate as a Redskins cheerleader for Halloween. It was a great idea especially considering how cute she looked. We 'trick-or-treated' around the neighborhood while visiting some friends. All in all, it was a great first Halloween for Lillie.

Lillian also ran in a 5K race since the last post. We did well considering it was the first time running with the stroller at that distance. Please check out our photo album for a big update.

Yummy...Want Some?

2007-10-21T22:32:00.000-04:00

Lillie has enjoyed "real food" for months and her menu continues to expand. She even prefers to feed herself. In fact, she also likes to spread the wealth.

Nine Months Update

2007-10-14T19:58:00.000-04:00

Has it really been an entire month since the last post?? I guess we've been busy chasing around Lillie. And yes, it's becoming a challenge!

Lillie has alot of energy (despite still not sleeping through the night). The speed of her development is amazing...standing without support (briefly), babbling "words", wrestling cats, climbing stairs, recognizing body parts. We figure that we only have a few more weeks until we're REALLY trying to keep up with her.

There's nothing major to report over the past month. With that said, we hope you enjoy the most recent addition to our photo album. Just wait till you see her Halloween outfit...

Lillie Crawling

2007-09-16T20:57:00.000-04:00

By popular demand, here's a short video of Lillie crawling.

Lillian On The Beach

2007-09-06T22:59:00.000-04:00

Here's a brief video of Lillie standing and babbling during our recent trip to OBX. We'll get some additional footage of her crawling during the upcoming weekend. It's several weeks later so you can imagine that she's developed her skills even further. In the meantime...

Outer Banks Vacation

2007-08-27T22:31:00.001-04:00

Here are the vacation photos we promised last week. We spent a week in the Outer Banks with Liz's family. Of course, the week went by quickly...isn't that always the case? We had good weather and a nice house, but we were surprised this year at the number of people in Avon.

Needless to say, Lillie is awfully smart and darn cute. She enjoyed the beach, but jeez, a 7 month old and plenty of sand makes a mess. In regards to her development, Lillie is now crawling even though she would prefer to walk. And believe us, she's trying! She's also eating a bunch of different foods. If she would only sleep...

Stinky Stinky

2007-08-19T21:32:00.000-04:00

A big update is coming later this week...Lillie crawling, babbling, standing, and of course, our vacation in the Outer Banks. In the meantime, please enjoy "Stinky Stinky."

Trent's Birthday

2007-07-31T20:22:00.001-04:00

Lillie went to her 6-month checkup a few weeks ago, and once again, she's doing great. She weighed 16 lb 12 oz and measured 26.5". Our nurse practitioner was very pleased with both her physical and intellectual development.

We also celebrated my birthday last week (7/24/75...yep, the big 3-2). Our niece and nephew (Abbey and Mac) were in town visiting their grandparents; we all went to dinner at California Pizza Kitchen.

Finally, my parents came up this past weekend to visit Lillian, and of course, bearing birthday gifts! Speaking of presents...guess who got a GMU men's basketball jersey for the upcoming season?? As always, check out the photos.

Six Month Professional Photos

2007-07-16T22:08:00.001-04:00

We thought Lillian's six-month birthday was a good occasion for another round of professional photos at JCPenney. We can send you the information necessary to order prints if you wish. All you need to do is send us an email.

Of course, you can always enjoy taking a look at our beautiful baby girl by heading over to the web album.

Trip to Marion

2007-07-09T21:37:00.000-04:00

Liz, Trent, and Lillie recently traveled to Marion to visit Trent's family. Lillian was introduced to her Southwest VA roots for the first time after an eventful 5 1/2 drive. Of course, Jeff and Lynn enjoyed spending time with their granddaughter in their own home. Furthermore, LMR's great-great aunts and uncle (Jane, Ann and Bud) had the opportunity to meet her for the first time.

We also had a great hike at Hungry Mother State Park. BTW, it's the second-most visited state park in the Commonwealth. And with good reason...you should take a gander at the photos.

Booster Seat

2007-06-28T21:07:00.000-04:00

Lillie Mae began sitting in her booster seat during supper this week. Speaking of eating, Lillian is currently eating Earth's Best bananas, pears, sweet potatoes, and peas (yuck). In fact, she even tried Cheerios yesterday and loved them.

We're off to Marion this weekend to visit my family. We should have lots of beautiful photos from Hungry Mother State Park.

Sleep Apnea Surgery

2007-06-26T12:42:00.000-04:00

I recently underwent surgery to treat my obstructive sleep apnea. The procedures which included a UPPP (removal of the uvula and soft pallette) and a tonsillectomy were performed by Dr. Eric Furst at Fairfax Hospital.

The goal of the surgery was to open up my airway thereby lowering the severity of my sleep apnea and reduce the level of snoring. I'm happy to report it's been over three weeks since the surgery and I feel great. Most importantly, I'm snore-free (almost unbelievable!) and I wake-up refreshed.

I will admit the first 10 days were painful, and at times, it was a difficult recovery. Not surprisingly, swallowing was initially very difficult so I subsisted on Boost, Jell-O, popsicles, and Gatorade for over a week. I eventually transitioned to soup, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. Needless to say, I've been making up for lost calories over the past week.

Many thanks goes to my family for their support during the whole affair. Only one final test remains...the post-operative sleep study. If my sleep apnea levels have diminished from the "severe" to the "minor" range, then I'm home-free for the rest of my life (hopefully)!

Father's Day

2007-06-18T20:59:00.000-04:00

The Richardson family had a great Father's Day weekend which was highlighted by a number of events including Lillian's first keg party, a trip to the pool, and a cookout on Sunday. Our visitors on Sunday included Pam and C.W. (Liz's parents), our comrades (Christian, Amy, Conrad, Finn), and Trent's buddy and his girlfriend (Quentin and Tara). We hope to see more of our friends and family this summer.

We haven't heard from people in awhile so let's get those comments flowing. As always, you can check out the photos.

Rainforest Jumperoo

2007-06-07T21:24:00.000-04:00

Needless to say, Lillian loves her Rainforest Jumperoo! However, I wake up in the middle of the night with that song in my head. Speaking of restless sleep...Lillian has just recovered from her first head cold. In reality, she was quite the trooper, but thank goodness for infant nose drops and Children's Tylenol.

We've posted a number of photos from Memorial Day weekend and a Kincheloe family visit. Lillian will be making her first trip to Marion to see Trent's family in the coming weeks.

Solid Foods

2007-06-04T17:59:00.000-04:00

Lillian has started her transition to solid foods based on the recommendation of our pediatrician. We first fed her rice cereal last week and she took to it like a professional. This week we added sweet potatoes to the mix. She now protests when her bowl is empty.

Lillian has shown quite an interest in food during our meals over the past several weeks. Her primary source of nourishment is still Liz, but we're pleased to see her eat so well.

Four Month Checkup

2007-05-22T21:50:00.001-04:00

Lillian went to her four month checkup this Monday. She weighs 14 1/4 lbs, measures 24 1/2", and has a 16" head (all 50 percentiles). She may be average in stature, but advanced in intelligence. The nurse practitioner said Lillian demonstrated the development of a 6 month old. As you can imagine, we're very proud and happy parents.

We've added many pictures to the photo album. You can see some photos of Lillian from this past weekend (swinging at the playground, visiting Burke Lake, and hanging out). You can also travel over to my pictures from Louisiana (technical tour and festivities).

We hope you have an enjoyable Memorial Day.

Goin' Swinging

2007-05-19T19:53:00.000-04:00

Cute, but make sure to take your dramamine.

Wedding Anniversary

2007-05-19T19:34:00.001-04:00

We celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary on Thursday, 5/17. The festivities were forced to wait until I returned from New Orleans. Some day I'll have the wedding available to view online.

New Orleans

2007-05-16T22:41:00.000-04:00

I'm in New Orleans this week attending the CS '07 conference. I presented my research on Tuesday afternoon. I received several compliments afterwards. More importantly, my paper generated feedback from many prominent coastal scientists and engineers. On Thursday I'll be on a technical tour of the Louisiana coastal zone--Fourchon and the Timbalier Islands.

A few random observations, the cuisine is fantastic, the people are wonderful (but watch your back), the city is still very much recovering from Katrina, the French Quarter is wild, and I could eat bread pudding all day. This has been a long trip away from Lillian and Liz...looking forward to returning home.

Jeff and Lynn Visit

2007-05-06T22:51:00.001-04:00

Trent's parents (Jeff and Lynn) visited Lillian this weekend. They arrived on Saturday for a short, but eventful weekend. Saturday included grilling out and bath time, while Sunday consisted of brunch and yard work. I know what you're thinking...wild and crazy!! Seriously though, they enjoyed spending time with Lillian and were amazed about how much she has developed over the past weeks and months. Needless to say, she is not lacking in personality.

It's been awhile since we posted new photos, so check 'em out.

Lillian in the Tub (Part Deux)

2007-05-02T23:03:00.000-04:00

We removed the bath sponge from Lillian's tub shortly after I published the previous video (Bath Time). Since that post, she has really been 'splishin and splashin'! Alas, she's not as animated when the camera comes out, but you get the idea.

P.S. Watch out for my first Google Map Mashup this weekend. One hint...get ready for an interactive tour of Parramore Island, Virginia.

Bath Time

2007-04-24T21:11:00.000-04:00

Splish Splash, I was takin' a bath
Long about a [Tuesday] night
A rub-a-dub, just relaxin' in the tub...

They was a-splishin' and a-splashin',
Reelin with the feelin, movin' and a-groovin',
Rockin' and a-rollin', yeah!

Meet the Hartwigs

2007-04-15T22:00:00.000-04:00

This weekend, Lillian met her great-grandparents (Lynn's parents--Leon and Marilyn), great-aunts (Terri and Lisa), and cousin (Nathan). They enjoyed meeting Lillie Mae after dining on the fare of our exuberant neighbor: Alberto, he catered our wedding reception. After Lillian took a brief nap, we then proceeded to watch some Planet Earth, fix a dresser drawer, play some video games, and take a bunch of photos.

You will also note the new video below titled, "Filling the Pants." This is the first foray back into video after our big hit, "Lillian Cooing." Wow, big pressure to meet expectations this go-around! For those interested--and who wouldn't be--you can check out the extended footage.

In summary, thanks for coming up guys and we're glad Lillian finally had the chance to "Meet the Hartwigs."

Liz to Work, Lillian to Day Care

2007-04-12T22:47:00.000-04:00

Apologies for the tardy update, but we've had our hands full over the past week and a half.

Liz officially went back to work on Monday. She had 12 weeks of maternity leave and appreciated every moment with Lillian. The first morning of day care was a difficult change, but Liz and Lillian have adjusted well throughout the week. We're blessed with a terrific in-home day care provider (Raj). She even got Lillian to take a bottle today! This is a big development for us--of course, especially for Liz.

I had my PhD oral comprehensive exam this week. It was as bad as it sounds. One piece of advice...don't pursue a doctorate unless you're a glutton for extreme punishment.

Of course, please check out the new photos courtesy of Liz. Once again, we urge everyone to please subscribe to our blog...this service will not generate spam!

Professional Photos

2007-04-01T16:41:00.000-04:00

We received the preview images of the photos we had shot last weekend. Needless to say, we had a great photographer and several of the pictures are darn cute.

If you would like to order any of the photos, then please let us know and we'll pass along that information.

Spring 2007

2007-03-25T22:52:00.000-04:00

I'm in the middle of comprehensive exams this week so there's not alot of time for a lengthy post. However, we still posted new photos to celebrate the arrival of Spring 2007.

And let this be a fair warning when visiting our home...watch out for the drunk cats who invade the baby's space!

Of note, we had professional photos taken of Lillian this weekend. They did a really nice job and the photos are great. We'll have a web link available by next weekend so folks can order their own prints.

Psst...baseball season starts in 7 days.

Two Month Checkup

2007-03-18T21:16:00.000-04:00

Lillian had her two month checkup on Monday, 3/12/07. We're happy to report she passed with flying colors and took her first round of vaccinations like a champ. Onto the vitals...she now weighs 11 lbs 9 oz and measures 23 1/4". These are both very healthy numbers and we're quite pleased with her development.

Some miscellaneous notes, we're currently trying to get Lillian to sleep in her crib during the night...she's rolling onto her back during tummytime...Liz goes back to work in three weeks.

Finally, please note you can now subscribe to the blog (see the widget to the right). You will automatically receive an email when we post a new thread. What does this mean? Immediate notifications of updates and the end of randomly checking for new posts. Thanks to everyone for participating in our blog and we hope to get more comments.

Lillian's Announcement

2007-03-11T13:28:00.000-04:00

Lillian has an urgent message that she wishes to share with her admirers.

UPDATE: There were 112 unique views of this video over the past week!

Sleep Apnea

2007-03-09T23:04:00.000-05:00

It's official, Trent has been diagnosed with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea. It all started when Liz noticed that his snoring was worse than usual. Trent met with a reputable Ear, Nose, and Throat physician and this doctor strongly suggested that he get a professional sleep study. The first study analyzed his sleep patterns and the second one involved Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) testing and calibration.

Recently, a study published in the journal SLEEP finds that people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at an increased risk of having cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, sleep apnea produces general 'wear and tear' on the heart, brain, and lungs which leads to a shortened lifespan. Needless to say, Trent is thankful to have pinpointed a major issue, but nevertheless, apprehensive of the potential treatments and lifestyle changes.

What would be your treatment option: CPAP or surgery?

Dress Up Weekend

2007-03-05T22:15:00.000-05:00

We have added to our web album a number of photos from this past weekend. Lillian had several elegant, 3 month outfits that screamed, "model me." She proceeded from the bikini competition to the formal outfit and finished with evening wear; a very impressive performance. Speaking of loud noises, Lillian is now taking naps in her crib during the day--a major breakthrough in our estimation. She simply gets cuter by the day.

P.S. Apologies for the lengthy delay in posting updated photos. Also, please note the pictures available on the web are not suitable for large, hard-copy prints. Let us know if you want a high resolution version of a particular photo(s).

Lillian Goes to the Gym

2007-02-25T23:15:00.000-05:00

Lillian went to the gym this weekend--the Fisher Price Rainforest Gym. Watch the video below for all the crunches and squats. She's becoming more vocal and her arm movements have some purpose. She also has quite a smile that a photo does not capture adequately. It's certainly been amazing to watch the developmental changes over the past six weeks. Updated pictures are coming later this week.

GMU Basketball Game

2007-02-21T22:04:00.000-05:00

Lillian went to her first public event this week: a GMU basketball game. Her presence paid off with a Mason victory on Senior Night.

Maybe she should have attended the games more frequently this season?!? It's been a disappointing February, but we still have faith.

One Month Birthday

2007-02-11T19:25:00.000-05:00

Wow, Lillian is one month old this Monday. Did we mention that she's already reciting Shakespeare while running a 5K? Simply amazing! She had a number of visitors this weekend. Please watch the video below for the action-packed summary.

Super Bowl XLI Weekend

2007-02-05T20:55:00.000-05:00

Lillian was very excited about the Colts big victory this weekend (check out the photos). She was adamant about sharing a video of her trip to the shopping mall. Alas, there's no footage of her first purchase of Dolce & Gabbana at Nordstrom, but you can witness her intensive preparations.

First Bath, First Stroller Ride, First YouTube

2007-01-29T21:23:00.000-05:00

Lillian had her first real bath this weekend; her cord fell off a few days beforehand. To our mild surprise, she enjoyed the experience. The following day we decided to christen the Graco stroller due to the beautiful (June)uary weather in Virginia. Lillian alternated between fussing and sleeping--I think Liz was pleased to just get out of the house.

Of course, photos are located in our web album (links to the right). I've also posted a short 1 minute video of the stroller ride. Keep tuned for more updates.

Two Week Check-Up

2007-01-26T18:29:00.000-05:00

Lillian went to the pediatrician today for her two week check-up (http://www.cmanva.com/). She is up to 8 lbs and 20.75" which represent a healthy gain in weight and length. Liz continues to have success breastfeeding and Lillian is obviously getting plenty of milk! At this point, her pattern is a tad backwards, sleeping during the day and cluster-feeding at night. We received a number of tips from the pediatrician to turn this schedule around, e.g. introduction of the pacifier and waking techniques. In summary, Lillian is doing very well and we appreciate every day.

Family Visits Lillian

2007-01-22T23:56:00.000-05:00

Trent's parents (Jeff and Lynn) visited Fairfax this past weekend in order to meet their granddaughter. Liz's niece and nephew (Abbey and Mac) and her brother (Pat) and sister-in-law (Bern) also made the trip. Lillian continues to be a great baby and all enjoyed meeting her.

Lillian Mae's Birth

2007-01-19T17:30:00.001-05:00

Lillian Mae Richardson was born on Friday, 12 Jan 2006 at 11:18 PM in the Prince William County Birthing Center. She weighed 7 lbs 8 oz and measured 20.5 inches. Parental bias aside, she's a cute baby with a good temperament and in great health. Liz is recovering quickly after a long labor, but rapid delivery. All the grandparents are very pleased and Liz's mom (Pam) was especially helpful during the labor. We brought Lillian home on Sunday around noon and we've thoroughly enjoyed having her at the house.

Coastal Sediments '07

2007-01-19T17:18:00.000-05:00

Trent's first professional journal article--Historical Shoreline Changes and Morphodynamics of Parramore Island, Virginia (1852-2006)--was recently completed. The paper was developed in partnership with the chair of his dissertation committee, Dr. Randy McBride (George Mason University). He will present his research at the ASCE Coastal Sediments '07 conference in New Orleans this May.