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June 27, 2002

Baby Feet

Estella is so much fun. She is just lately getting interested in faces. Perhaps her vision is getting stronger. Her wide eyed, dispassionate gaze is captivating.
As she changes and grows each day, she continuously entertains. I could watch her all day long. Certain times of the day she will move around in her crib, getting her needed daily exercise. In the morning and after naps, she has grown a little bit and has to stretch, it is painfully cute to watch! She still has the tendency to curl up, look at her little legs. Ouch! Is she ever cute!?! Without teeth she looks like a little munchkin and, suprisingly enough, is still quite cute. Can't get enough? Here is a link to more pictures. And how about her feet? Want to see some beautiful little feet, size 3" - look below.

Posted by clappstar at 02:43 AM | Comments (3)

June 25, 2002

Communicating with Baby

It was recommended by studio ID that I check out these two books, Joseph Garcia's Signing with Baby and Signing: Signed English: A basic guide. These books help establish early communication with baby, prior to development of talking skills. My sister Mel has been a nanny to a little tyke that had been taught baby sign and could really communicate some basic things. She thought it was really excellent. Anyhow if you know about this or have a recommendation for a book or method, let me know.
Also, we have begun speaking Parentese to baby Estella. You can check out the Talaris Institute research on parent baby talk.

Posted by clappstar at 08:44 AM | Comments (1)

June 21, 2002

Estella's Cousins

Estella is the first grandbaby on my side and 8th grandbaby on her side. So that means she has 7 cousins - here they are, take a deep breath because they are all cute (except for Grant and Matthew, who are handsome):
Grant, Megan, Matthew, Madisen, Alyson, Samantha and Morgan

Posted by clappstar at 08:47 PM | Comments (1)

Neat-O City Skylines

This is a really neat page with pixel graphic representations of city skylines. Check out Seattle (thnx kottke.org).

Posted by clappstar at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)

June 20, 2002

Sound Transit is Another Stadium

Paul Allen has his slimy hands all over Sound Transit and will use money to buy public support for the failed, misguided transit plan. Don't believe me? See it here. Remember the stadium debacle? He does not want the light rail to pass because it is a helpful transit option, but because it will encourage business and residential zoning along the rail line making his investments in South Lake Union area more lucrative. He is co-opting political power and leveraging public money to increase his return on investment. Super lame.

Posted by clappstar at 10:04 AM | Comments (0)

June 19, 2002

FC Sure Shot Plays Again

It is World Cup Soccer time and it is FC Sure Shot soccer time. Here is the old team photo.

Posted by clappstar at 11:39 PM | Comments (0)

June 18, 2002

Busy Baby

Estella has been home for one week! She is nearly two weeks old and has already walked around Greenlake four times, seen a matinee movie - she was uninterested and slept through the Bourne Identity, met her great grandparents and soiled about 1000 diapers. How about that for a little baby.

Posted by clappstar at 05:48 PM | Comments (3)

She is Some Baby

I find myself making up the some of the silliest songs to sing to little Estella when I am holding her. Her little outfits are so cute. Check out this one. Even without a cute outfit she is beautiful.

Posted by clappstar at 03:07 PM | Comments (1)

June 16, 2002

Bella Estella

Here she is in her standard sleeping mode. A beautiful sight to behold.

Posted by clappstar at 03:33 PM | Comments (6)

June 13, 2002

Famous Baby

Estella is also now famous at the Mirror Project, check us out.

Posted by clappstar at 10:12 AM | Comments (0)

June 11, 2002

Welcome Home Baby

The littlest Clappstar is home. After nearly a week she is out of the hospital and doing everything just perfect - breathing, eating, sleeping, yawning, crying, even pooping. She is just more than we could have ever imagined. The doctors are amazed at her speedy recovery from a rough case of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome.
Over the last two days, she has taken all her feeding from Robyn and been completely stable without supplemental oxygen. She didn't mind the tube, but they took it out last night after a couple successful feedings (tube-free).
Robyn and Estella were tired of the hospital, so this afternoon, after getting the all clear, the doctor discharged us. So we walked down the long hallways at Children's Hospital with our new baby, out to the car and drove away. When we got home we thought the first thing we'd do with our miracle baby was a walk outside to introduce her to the world. Baby Estella was so happy to come home to the smell and sight of beautiful flowers and two distressed kitties.

Posted by clappstar at 11:58 PM | Comments (1)

June 09, 2002

Out of ICU, Still at Hospital

Estella has greatly improved and was released from the Intensive Care Unit last night. She was moved down to a regular medical ward and had a couple sets of tubes taken out (*ouch*) of her little body. She is taking food (milk) through a feeding tube from her nose down to her stomach, see:

Man is she ever a cutie, strong and beautiful. I got to hold her for hours yesterday watching her facial expressions and inspecting her new little body. Even got to change a couple diapers! Her arms and legs are skinny but strong and she has that little baby grabbing reflex to hold your finger. Her legs and feet still like to tuck up close to her body like when she was still inside the womb. She has long eyelashes and cute little ears.
Thanks again to everyone for support and prayer. That has been a real blessing to us. Children's Hospital is a wonderful place where all the nurses and doctors do a great job and still have time to provide emotional support and reassurance.
It looks like we will still have her there through Monday at least. But her condition is wonderful, she just needs to transition off IV fluid and feed from mom before she is released.

Posted by clappstar at 07:24 AM | Comments (6)

June 07, 2002

Estella Off the Respirator

Great news! Estella is breathing on her own, they pulled the respirator tube today. She is still hooked up to myriad machines that are monitoring her and she still needs to take food and eventually feed from Robyn - but so far she has rapidly recovered!
THANKS to everyone for your thoughts and prayers! She needed extra help and we were blessed by the professional level of the staff at both NW and Children's Hospital.
You can now see her a bit better without the tube in her mouth:

Robyn got to hold her today for the first time. Estella is mostly asleep still so we can't wait to look into her eyes and introduce ourselves.

Posted by clappstar at 03:12 PM | Comments (3)

June 06, 2002

Baby Estella Doing Well

Our tiny baby is still in the hospital but is progressing toward recovery quickly and strongly. Here are some better pictures after they had given her a sponge bath:

Her hair is so soft and fine. Her little neck is a bit chubby and her body is long. She is asleep because of the medication and still has the machine gently helping her breathe.

Posted by clappstar at 08:29 PM | Comments (8)

A Pretty Name

Our precious little baby girl is doing much better at the hospital. She is named Estella Faith and is a wonderful blessing we can't wait to bring home.

Posted by clappstar at 11:54 AM | Comments (3)

June 05, 2002

Our Precious Little Baby Girl

Posted by clappstar at 09:21 PM | Comments (4)

June 03, 2002

Where is Baby

Baby is still not here. Robyn is still doing amazingly well. Aerobics and yoga and walking and cleaning, yet still baby lounges in belly.

Posted by clappstar at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)