Happy Halloween!

"She's Quite A Girl"

So she is finally here! Margaux Violet was born via c-section on Friday, October 24th at 4:57 a.m. She weighed 7 lbs. 6.7 oz. and measured 20" long. She is absolutely delicious and we are madly in love with her! We went to the hospital on the morning of the 23rd for induction of labor and after 16 hours realized that it just wasn't happening. It turns out her presenting position was a bit off and she also had a tight/short cord around her neck. The c-section recovery is painful and it was not what we had imagined for a birth experience, but to keep it in perspective we have ourselves a gorgeous and healthy little daughter. Patrick is a total natural at being a daddy and I love her so much that I find myself tearing up over it several times a day! Buddy & Jasper are adjusting like champs and we are very proud of them. My parents and my sister Susan and brother-in-law Dennis are staying with us and have been a huge help. Patrick is returning to work today after a week off and I am home until mid-January. My dad, who is a man of little words and a tad nervous about holding tiny newborns a whole lot, leaned over Margaux and I on his way out from visiting us in the hospital and said, "She's quite a girl!" I agree, quite a girl indeed. I plan to link up my Picasa albums to this blog very soon.

Tree Top

(The hutch with the finished doors attached...my sister Ruth did a beautiful job! And brother-in-law Doug fit the dowls to wedge them in place! Thanks!)

I got this idea for the tree branch while flipping through a Pottery Barn Kids catalog not realizing that Patrick would be so gung-ho to take on the project by himself. More power to him, it looks great! We got the branch from my parents' property in northern Michigan and Patrick painted it to look like birch and added the artificial leaves and moss along with a few birds and nests. I love it! We are on the lookout for a bluebird and possibly a small owl and butterfly. This weekend Patrick is going to sponge paint a bit of blue sky and white clouds on that little corner of the ceiling.

More pics...

Lara & Trish
Paula, Addison & Mandy

Also in attendance were some other cherished friends. I met Lara ten years ago when we worked together at a medical office and her mom Trish is as cool as they come! Lara was in my wedding and her dad, Rudy, officiated at our wedding. I have also been blessed with new friends in Melissa's family...her mom Paula and her sister Mandy. (Of course her dad, Dean, was not in attendance!) Patrick and I both miss our families and so it's a beautiful thing to have found a little bit of family here in Chicago!

Baby Shower III

Nurses rule.
Peggy & Silvia
Melissa & Addison
Peggy's little old girl, Toto.

Yesterday was my third and final baby shower hosted by my three friends/co-workers Peggy, Melissa and Silvia. It was a warm and gorgeous fall day and it was held at Peggy's home in Park Ridge. And just like I predicted, it was my loudest & rowdiest shower of the three...like the grand finale of the fireworks! (Complete with drinking games and all!) There was way too much delicious food and I received so many wonderful and generous gifts that I did not go to the apple orchard this morning as planned, but stayed home to try to organize so that we can have more than just a walkway path in our livingroom! I had such a fun time and I have been amazed by the support I have received from my friends at work...I have the BEST co-workers in the world!!!

Sleepy Boys

It was a lovely autumn day and great weather for an afternoon snooze!

More Nursery Decor

Baby, baby, baby! (Chant it like Jan Brady's "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!") I know, it's all I talk about lately...baby stuff. But really? It's kind of all I have right now! I promise I will try to get some portion of an interesting life back once I'm not pregnant anymore...but I won't even pretend that this blog won't also be plastered with the new little princess very soon! ;-)