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December 07, 2005
Answers
Thank you so much for all of your kind wishes and your compliments on our daughter. We also think she is stunningly beautiful as well as smart and strong, but of course, we're probably not very objective. If you all don't mind, I'm not going to write back everyone individually in favor of doing other stuff (like sleeping) but we really appreciate all the sweet things you all said. And here are answers to your questions:
We're not sharing the name. Sorry. Frog had originally not even wanted to share a photo! He got over that (thank goodness) but "Tadpole" it will be for the time being. She was 3.12 kg/6lbs 14oz for 50 cm/19.7in.
She liked the clean floors enough to pee all over in the kitchen.
The hat in the last post is my shining star hat that I made back in March. Yes, it is kind of blue, which made several people in the hospital say, "Ooooh. He's so cute." but I don't care. It's not even blue. It's kind of periwinkle. The sweater was made by Alison.
The gory details? Uh... here's the short story: I did it natural. I had back labor because she was posterior. It was hard, but not as hard as I had feared and it was the most amazing experience of my life. I must say, I'm really proud of myself and feel super lucky that everything went so well and that I had such a fantastic husband, doula (get a doula) and doctor. Tadpole is healthy and I feel great, though a bit tired, but we've already gone out to the yarn store, which as you can see, was so exciting to my little one that she fell asleep dreaming of sheep and wool and snuggly handknits.
Posted by kate at December 7, 2005 10:58 AM
Comments
congratulations! having a baby is definitely the most amazing, exciting thing in the world! your baby is so beautiful - she doesn't look like a newborn at all with that cute face (and that gorgeous sweater!)
enjoy!
Posted by: jennifer at December 19, 2005 01:27 AM
Looks like *tadpole* will inherit your love for yarn too! :)
Posted by: Emy at December 15, 2005 10:03 AM
Hooray! Not to be a bandwagoner, but I did natural with both of my children, and they were the two most empowering experiences of my life. And yay, a sling (although I can relate to your 'he' comment- I got many compliments on my dog when I carried my son around)!
She is beautiful, what a wonderful time for you and your family.
Posted by: Cathi at December 13, 2005 06:40 PM
she's beautiful. Enjoy this time.
Posted by: Marji at December 12, 2005 05:27 PM
she's beautiful. Enjoy this time.
Posted by: Marji at December 12, 2005 05:25 PM
congratulations, kate and frog! she is beautiful. here's to a happy, healthy, and long life for tadpole!
athena :-)
Posted by: athena at December 12, 2005 04:13 PM
Hi Kate!
Congratulations to you and Frog!
Tadpole is serenely gorgeous and I wish you all lots of fun and happiness!
Posted by: Ellen at December 12, 2005 02:24 PM
YAY! HOORAY! I am FAINTING WITH JOY! So much love to you and Frog and Ms. 'Pole. LOVE!
Posted by: girlbomb at December 12, 2005 12:58 PM
Wow! Kate Gilbert -- not only did you create the most beautiful daughter, but TWO patterns in this month's IK! And they are great. I love the Pearl Buck jacket, particularly that you call it the Pearl Buck jacket, and the beret is tres enchante!
Congratulations~!
Posted by: Martha at December 12, 2005 10:01 AM
Hooray Hooray Hooray!
So happy for you and frog and tadpole. Wishing you all the best. Congratulations.
Posted by: Jenny at December 11, 2005 09:38 PM
there she is that little darlin" See I knew it would turn out all right! congrats. someday she will have meringue with her mom in a paris park. nancy
Posted by: nancy at December 11, 2005 12:21 AM
Oh Kate, she's gorgeous! Congratulations again!
Posted by: indigirl at December 9, 2005 02:03 PM
Tadpole is beautiful!! Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Lora at December 8, 2005 09:58 PM
Tadpole is your Shining Star. Congratulations. And so glad you took her to the yarn store for her first shopping ;-)
Posted by: Nancy J at December 8, 2005 06:00 PM
Glad to hear it all went well. It's hard, but not as hard as we come to expect eh?
Also happy to see you're socializing her to the world of yarn early.
Posted by: Steph at December 8, 2005 02:38 PM
like Catherine, the first thing I've noticed is your baby carrier, is a wrap or a sling ?
I'm a big fan of the wraps from Dydimos ;o)
Did you buy the 2 pink balls we can see on the counter ;o)
take care !
plein de bisous pour Tadpole
Posted by: karen in Toronto at December 8, 2005 01:13 PM
Little Tadpole is adorable!! You and frog have every reason to be proud. I see your are starting her early on the yarn habit:)
Posted by: Nicole at December 8, 2005 11:37 AM
Clearly she is in the right environment and all the fibery goodness will seep into her veins. She and you look fabulous. Rest well and enjoy her.
Posted by: margene at December 8, 2005 11:21 AM
My son was born 12 years ago, right before Xmas. One of his first public appearances was at Xmas Eve mass at the local church. He looked adorable in his little red Xmas sleeper, but lo and behold...the darling boy decided to soak the outfit halfway through the service. I went out to the lobby to change him, whereupon the cold promptly made him pee in my face.
It was a very ABRUPT wake-up-call...it taught me that parenting was definitely gonna be a tough gig!
Tadpole is gorgeous. And you're looking great, too! Lucky maman!
Posted by: Bad Hippie at December 8, 2005 09:06 AM
congrats on the birth of your daughter!
i have had two natural childbirths and am totally with you on the 'it's hard but worth it' part of it. i couldn't imagine doing it any other way.
love your designs and hoping to make your beret from IK winter issue! now go get some sleep! :-)
Posted by: elaine at December 8, 2005 08:36 AM
It's all about priorities :) Good on you, Kate - we're all thinking of you over here :)
Posted by: Katia at December 8, 2005 03:24 AM
Hi Kate! Congratulations! On both your new life in Canada and your new baby. She's beautiful!
Can't wait to see the posts when you start teaching her how to knit.
PS: Any chance that we'll ever know her name? A hint, maybe? (France misses you!)
Posted by: Anna at December 8, 2005 02:45 AM
Tadpole is like a little "heatball" no? Ummm, I remember carrying my little one like that - loved it!
You take care. we're (your blog fans) all so happy for you and the family!
Posted by: Terry at December 7, 2005 08:20 PM
You look great, and of course your little girl does! Good job on the natural labor and delivery. Each person has to make their own choice, but I was thrilled with the experience of giving birth naturally to all three of my kids. My second was so enjoyable that I started considering a third while still in the hospital!
Enjoy the rest if you're able. My opinion is, if you can get away with wearing pajamas for a month- do it! Never again will you be allowed the opportunity without feeling guilty. :-)
Posted by: Tisra at December 7, 2005 07:57 PM
Two patterns in Winter 2005 IK and giving birth to a daughter -- just stop it! Seriously, congratulations to you for all of your wonderful FOs this year. And as for the early-in-life trip to the yarn store? That's my girl, start her off on the right foot!
Posted by: Gina at December 7, 2005 07:11 PM
Congratulations on the strong and bright and beautiful daughter. Best wishes to all.
Posted by: MaureenM at December 7, 2005 06:25 PM
Looks like natural habitat to me!
My sister LOVED having a doula, too. Her husband was skeptical at first, having experience (let's say), but her labor was difficult and he, too, endorses that idea wholeheartedly!
And it does NOT matter what color your child is dressed in, people are going to refer to Tadpole on THEIR whim... I'd have my girls dressed head-to-toe in pink -- they couldn't have BEEN any more pink -- and someone would always refer to "him" or ASK whether it was a boy or a girl.
Thanks for the update, Kate. Get some sleep now.
Posted by: Vicki at December 7, 2005 05:25 PM
I'm not pregnant, but I still want a doula. They're awesome. Snuggly is the perfect word to describe this picture. Congratulations, tadpole mommy! (I just put together the "frog" aspect of the tadpole - it's even more perfect now!)
Posted by: sarah at December 7, 2005 04:55 PM
Tadpole will suit her just fine. She's adorable. I can't wait to see all her knitted loot - but I will wait, while you sleep! Congrats again on the IK designs. I still haven't seen the mag "live," but the previews look wonderful. xox,
Posted by: Julia at December 7, 2005 04:43 PM
so ... is it a frenchy name or more anglo? can you tell us that?
and she looks like a girl -- even with a blue hat.
so cute.
congratulations again.
Posted by: maryse at December 7, 2005 04:42 PM
Congratulations! That picture is so sweet. I had my baby in the yarn store when she was weeks old. She is 17 months now, and "yarn" was her third word!
Posted by: Emily at December 7, 2005 04:41 PM
Oh Kate. You and the Tadpole are adorable. She looks so comfortably snug and content.
By the way, congratulations on those lovely patterns of yours in the new IK!
Posted by: Axelle at December 7, 2005 03:48 PM
a good doula is the best. so is a good carrier. you guys look precious.
Posted by: mrspilkington at December 7, 2005 03:11 PM
Doulas rock! I had a water birth with my second child and the Hypnobirthing coach and doula were such rockstars. Well, I guess I was the rockstar, but they sure helped!
And....when and if you have time I'm tagging everyone today!
http://scoutj.blogspot.com/2005/12/tag-youre-it.html
Posted by: scoutj at December 7, 2005 03:10 PM
I have long maintained that slings are one of the greatest inventions of all time. I carried both of my kids in a sling for a loooong time (when the baby starts to sit up, she can sit in the sling facing out and when she's bigger, on your hip). She's just beautiful, and you look wonderful! Motherhood clearly agrees with you. Enjoy.
Posted by: regina at December 7, 2005 12:57 PM
Congratulations, what a beautiful baby. May I ask what type of sling you are using and how you like it?
Posted by: Catherine at December 7, 2005 12:31 PM
Kate, she's absolutely beautiful, congratulations! "Tadpole" is a lovely name. :)
Posted by: Patricia at December 7, 2005 11:43 AM
