Eleanor's Blessing Day

She wore a gown made with love by her Nana Niece -- while all I could contribute were her matching slippers. Michael gave her a beautiful blessing in our home ward up in Coeur d'Alene and we felt very privileged to have so many of our close family members and friends in the circle to welcome her with love. 

Buddy the elf-- what's your favorite color?

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. 

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

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.

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