Monday, December 27, 2010

Happy Christmas!!






















Sorry for the quality on these pics-- they're off my phone. I need to
upload some of the bajillion photos taken on our spiffy camera--but thethought of booting up my computer has filled me with such law school PTSD that I haven't been able to stomach it.

Eleanor has been a goodsport while she has been trussed and staged for multiple photo
shoots-- in multiple outfits. She got a ridiculous amount of stuff for christmas...enough that's it's a good thing she usually goes through more than one outfit a day.

Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas. We were just excited to have our little bundle with us...and she did in fact loving laying down under the tree. 

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!! We have so many things to be thankful for -- but most of all the safe arrival of our little "indian."

Much love -- Mike, Britt and Eleanor

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

She's here!

Pictures, birth story, full gush of a proud mother to come -- but in the meantime enjoy this: 


Eleanor Mae Ratelle, born November 16, 3:24 am, 8 lbs. 3 oz, 19 1/2 inches long.


 More pictures here.
And here.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

40 weeks...or close enough

So no...I don't have a baby yet. 

And despite the serene appearance of these pictures, I am still the normal impatient person I have always been and am feeling very ready for a baby now, instead of a bump. 

So, these are my *last* official bump pictures...and here's hoping that this baby decides to greet the world sooner rather than later and put a big smile on Mom's face. My official due date is 13th/14th/15th (I believe the tide schedules in Maine are involved...as well as El Nino)..so baby is not late...yet. But somehow, I believed my darling alien would surely want to break free from the womb and stretch its limbs in a proper way. 

Apparently not. Apparently its more fun to gyrate in a way that would put Shakira to shame inside of a stretched abdominal cavity, rather than the great wide wonder of the world.

So, I am resigned to rotate back and forth at night like some hot dog at the 7-11 station, and I am considering having a plaque installed on my favorite bathroom stall. Come on...let's start this party baby...get your game face on and join us!!

Is Michael ready? Well...the Daddy-to-be has chosen to celebrate these last few days of fatherlessness by killing Cubans and Russians in a drug-induced torture frenzy (e.g. Call of Duty: Black Ops). Maybe not a time-honored tradition of yore, but he has been game for nightly eating-out dates while we revel in the lack of a carseat/infant SUV. Parenthood...here we come. 








38 Weeks











Monday, November 1, 2010

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Celebrating the arrival of Baby Ratelle...

I felt like the luckiest pregnant woman alive on Saturday to have such great friends and family celebrate the upcoming arrival with this beautiful shower. Thank you so much to Kelly (hostess/pregnant mama), Melanie (master graphic designer/photographer/pie baker and to my wonderful cousins Shalynna, Megan and Elisa who all came with full hands of delicious food! These photos are also courtesy of our new toy, our new Canon 7D camera that we are super psyched about it (don't even ask Mike about it unless you want to hear a sales pitch on its technical aspects worthy of a time-share villa!)...I am no expert photographer yet but it's a lot of fun to play around with -- let's hope we can get up on that learning curve fast with baby "blowing in"...





I loved how the invitations turned out -- all thanks to Melanie's Fifth and Hazel skills. 

 

Yummy Zupa's salad, mini quiches, raspberry lemonade and Provo bakery sweet rolls...





 Adorable handmade hot air balloons to match the invites -- thank you Courtney and Kelly!



Kelly - my favorite pregger cousin who will be right on my heels welcoming her own little one in a few weeks. 




My Aunt Cheryl, Megan, baby Sophie, and my Mom -- wonderful women and moms in their own right. It was a very special treat to have both my Mom and my aunt there to celebrate. 


Our "guessing' candy jar -- since we are all about guesses and surprises with this baby...and the bookmark favors Melanie designed for the guests. 


The best kind of "green" wrapping paper -- using linens from around the house!

 Mel - the ever-able photographer. 



My Mom -- who guessed my circumference (that does make me sound like a planet...huh...) exactly at 41.5 inches! She didn't cheat -- I swear!!


 Mom and Mallory. 

 Emily and Kelly. 


Onesies decorated during the shower. They turned out really cute. 





My law school buddies, Nate, Heather, Erica, Danae and Brittany -- a great group of girls who have been able to survive (so far) the highs and lows...we're almost done!




Vintage wall decor. 

Thank you again to all who made it such a special day! Love -- B