Betty Week 1

We left the hospital with one name:  Bettylou. 

 Then I had to go back into the hospital for a test and changed the first name to Betty because Bettylou sounded too informal when I was filling out paperwork.  But Hush was unsatisfied and by chance the birth certificate office called me to ask me about something else, so I took it as a sign and changed her official name to Betty Lou Ophelia.  Everybody is happy and the names all suit her.  She can have two middle names, Jude does too.  From henceforth I won't limit myself to just a first and a middle.  My next baby (oh yes, I still have baby fever) will have like seven names.

Going home outfit

Going home from the hospital in my fancy robe.


All of Betty's receiving blankets are fabulous.  When they're this little you rarely see their clothes because they're wrapped up all the time.  I go to the fabric store and buy a yard of whatever fabric I like, hem the edges and wrap up my babies in colors.

Jude 6, Mimi 7 1/2, Silas 4 1/2, BLOB 3 days.

Mimi and her own personal live baby doll.

Obligatory to-die-for yawn shot.

Grandma came to town the day we got home from the hospital.  She was infinitely helpful taking the big stinky germy kids out on activities and to and from school.  Grandma Pamma didn't get quite enough baby time, but I tried to get some quiet holding time for some time each day.

Pam always does our babies' first baths.

Sitting dangerously

Hello Kitty and Cheetah are her favorite colors.

This baby is attached to me 90% of the day and yet I have very few pictures of myself holding her.

Cupcake hat and cheetah.  Having a girl is great.  Hush was observing the other day that he thought when she was born he wouldn't care what she wore and wouldn't mind putting her in blue clothes or whatever, but then since he's had her all he wants to do is surround her with cutesy cupcakes and pink and butterflies.

Mimi gazing and having sister time.

This wrap is our newest baby accouterment.  Pam and I made this imitation moby wrap and it is proving to be the best way to let Mimi and Jude snuggle the baby without me worrying about her head flopping around.

Jude loves to hold her in the mornings while he watches cartoons.  I haven't put her on Silas yet because he rolls around too much.

I love bassinet shots.  All of my babies have slept in this for the first few weeks they're alive.

Jude sneaks out in the evenings to get extra one-on-one snuggles.

Hush and his new baby deserves their own post.  This is the man who had never held a newborn before, for liability and fear purposes.  And now with his own tiny baby snuggled on his chest he looks at me and says, "It feels like our life is just beginning now that she's here."  He marvels at how her fussing evokes concern about her well being rather than annoyance at the cries.  I've watched him execute his first diaper changing, attempting to dress a limp newborn, figuring out what soothes her, bolting awake at her least 3am wail, and just staring into her perfect little face.  In the evenings it's mostly daddy time from the minute he gets home and he misses her when he's at work during the day.  There is nothing like watching a man fall in love with his baby daughter.  This is my favorite part of having this baby.


I'm a firm believer in wrapping babies nice and tight so that they feel safe.  Betty is loving this little baby straitjacket. It has a two way zipper so you can change them without unwrapping.

Babies make the best accessories.  Better than a mink stole.

And Silas with his tiny baby.  He loves to snuggle her and is militant about making sure his hands are well sanitized.  I should buy stock in hand sanitizer.  He is very very careful with her.  It's much easier having kids old enough not to be dangerous.