Kristine Lilly far from Beijing, dealing with other kicks

For those of you wondering where Kristine Lilly has been lately, the short answer is Brookline -- not China.

While her longtime US Women's National Soccer Team struggled today in a first-round loss to Norway 2-0, Lilly, 37, remained Stateside, on maternity leave, tending to 2-week-old Sidney Marie from her Brookline home.

According a story today by the Globe's Paysha Rhone, Lilly is content to sit this Olympics out and spend her six-week leave with her baby.

"It's been amazing," Lilly was quoted as saying about first-time motherhood. "This has to be the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Here's the rest of Rhone's account:

Mom and daughter visited dad, Brookline firefighter Dave Heavey, at work last week, she said.

"Hopefully, she'll love some sport. She's starting to move her head, so she's eager to do something." Lilly said she'll start working out in September, in preparation for joining the Boston Breakers next spring in the Women's Professional Soccer league.

And the 20-year veteran hasn't ruled out a return to the national team. "I'm not quite through with that," she said.