Welcoming Our Daughter

As you may already know, George and I welcomed our daughter into this world on Wednesday night. 

Madeleine Ngaire

27 June 2012 at 10:30pm

7 lbs. 4.2 oz. 19.5 inches

Our first family photo. This was about thirty minutes after birth.

I'll write more later about the motivation for her name. For now, here's some help on pronunciation: Madeleine Ngaire.

We think she's just beautiful...

"I know that heartbeat..."

Daddy's long toes

Proud (Maybe Slightly Tired) Daddy and Daughter

Ready to go home!

Arriving home about 22 hours after Madeleine's birth...

First time on her sheepskin from New Zealand

And, after a baby photo comparison, I think you'll agree with me that she most closely resembles her proud Daddy.

Mum

Dad

Madeleine

Our family of three is doing well as we make our way through this new learning experience. We're all feeling a bit new, awkward, and sleepy. Please be patient with us as we celebrate our newest family member, adjust to our new demands, and attempt to make the most of technology without letting it exhaust us further.

Weekend in Photos

It was another low-key weekend filled with waiting (and a lot of naps for this tired pregnant lady).

39.5 weeks

You'll never leave Brown Bag hungry. 

Mending. Check.

My rings look so nice after their "spa" treatment. Too bad my hands are too swollen to wear them comfortably for more than a couple of hours at a time.

I spent Saturday night making labor-inducing eggplant parm. So far, no cigar. 

I love fresh fruit season. Peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, pineapple. Yum.

The Subaru crossed over 10k while we were out and about this afternoon.

How was your weekend?

Weekend in Photos

We had a relatively low-key weekend as we continue to wait for our daughter to indicate that she wants to join us.  

George hung our Bob Steiner ceramics using ultra earthquake-proof techniques. 

Every card I make carries this stamp (my name in Mandarin characters...or so the nice man in Beijing told me).

Well timed, junk mail gods. 

38.5 weeks (aka very pregnant)

George's first Father's Day

I want to kiss the designer of this dress. It was a favorite travel dress before pregnancy and has carried me all the way through the pregnancy, too. 

We attended our fifth and final baby class (infant CPR) and our third Swedish location. I think we're ready.

So true. 

It'll be a week of waiting and trying to enjoy pre-baby peace without getting too anxious.  How was your weekend? What's on tap for your week?

Early Father's Day Message

Sunday is Father's Day here in the United States.  Listening to all of the fatherly advice and memories on the radio today, I've become weepy several times in anticipation of watching George and our daughter grow their beautiful relationship.  This was the first thing I heard on KUOW this morning, and it literally brought tears to my eyes: Wil Smith and his daughter, Olivia.

Sheets & Changing Pad Covers

When my mom came to stay in May, our main projects were the sheets and changing pad covers for the nursery.  I think that she thought I was a bit crazy to sew things I could easily buy, but she was still a good sport.  Turns out, we are a great team...with most of the credit going to my mom, who did the dirty work (ironing seam allowances and feeding elastic through sewn seam allowances).  In less than half the time it would have taken me on my own, we finished the projects, and I think we're both pleased with the results.  I know that Baby Girl will love sleeping and pooping on them.

I was originally intending to do a tutorial on these projects, but, with my energy fading, you'll have to be satisfied with a mere fashion show...and links to the tutorials that helped us along the way (sheets, changing pad cover).

Fitted Sheets
Sewing fitted crib sheets is not necessarily less expensive than buying them already made, but it does allow for selection of some pretty fun patterns for the sheets.  Current SIDS safety recommendations suggest that a crib only contain a tightly fitted sheet (no quilts, bumpers, stuffed animals, or other cute items that could turn deadly), so it seems worth it to make the sheets extra special.

Here's what our baby will be sleeping on:

Polka dots!

Sharks, rays, and cleaner fish...from New Zealand.

Happy fish!

This is probably my favorite fabric because the pattern mimics the pattern of the rug under the crib.

See? Virtually the same pattern as the fabric.

Changing Pad Covers
I'm not really sure about the cost effectiveness of the changing pad covers because I haven't priced the standard mass-produced variety.  The general construction of the covers is much the same as the fitted sheet, but you need slightly more fabric to wrap around the edges and don't have to worry about the fit being so tight.  I have a hunch that I'll be making a fourth one of these babies during nap time in the near-ish future because rumor has it that nappy/diaper changing time is not always pristine.

Here is what we have at present:

Love this fabric from Ikea. I used it to cover a lumbar pillow, too.

Polka dots again!

Combo of the baby quilt binding fabric and sharks, rays, and cleaner fish.

What's the verdict?  Worth a bit of work to have unique nursery linens?