And then we were three

Today the Allen grandparents returned to Oregon. Sensing the gravity of the event, baby was serious this morning.

Perhaps her seriousness was partially caused by tiredness; last night she wouldn't go down 'til 1, and then she kept Summer up from 3-4 and me from 5-6. So in addition to looking serious, she spent some quality time napping on grandma this morning -- froglet-style.

And then the time for the drive to Logan drew near. Pictures remained to be taken. Among them, grandma and baby with quilt (whose provenance you can read if you expand the following image to 100%).

On the way out for more poses, I caught glowing mama with hair blowing in the wind, holding smiling baby. The image is already a great favorite.

First pose: grandparents/parents, daughter/mama, and (squirmy) daughter/granddaughter.

Second pose: three generations of Allen (or Pederson/Allen/Greene) women.

Third pose: the nuclear family.

And with that, it was off to Boston with us. We had an airport meal and a tearful farewell. Sadly, baby wasn't able to stretch "agoo" into a proper farewell. And then we were three.

Or, perhaps in baby's mind, four. After the grandparents were through security and out of sight, we three tucked ourselves away in Logan's Special Baby-Room to feed and change baby. The room is a cozy closet with a perch for feeding moms, a counter for soiled babies, and a sink for washing one's hands after wiping down soiled babies. Dads must stand or squat (or choose to wait outside, I suppose). Back to there being four of us in baby's mind, though: the Special Baby-Room included a very large, very clean mirror. Baby was very interested in her doppelgänger.

Also, she was shockingly unharried by her extensive time in Massachusetts. The trips to and from the airport included only a very few shouts. Once we were home, however, baby was not so content. Having just the two of us parents around after time with grandparents, neuroscientists, and extended family must have been deeply disappointing. She's made her way to sleep now after much fussing. Hopefully tomorrow she'll be happier again.