Ellie's Story

I was just reading an old scrapbook magazine featuring a layout of "a woman preparing to have a baby." If I had to title Ellie's birth story, it would be the story of a woman UNPREPARED to have a baby.

Now I knew that I was turning 38 weeks on Wednesday, February 1, and that marked the beginning of the "any day now" period. However, it did not occur to me that this was not a hard and fast rule. I'm a very by-the-schedule sort of person who lives off her planner, so the concept that my child would not follow this philosophy simply didn't cross my mind!

On Tuesday, I was feeling sick with a cold so I worked from home. S and I had some Chinese food for dinner and watched Downton Abbey (we're watching Season 1 on Netflix and are hooked!), and then headed to bed early. I woke up at 1:30 AM to use the bathroom, and something strange happened, which I later realized was my water breaking. After spending a few minutes trying to convince the doctor and doula that I was just losing my mucous plug, and I couldn't be in labor because my bag wasn't packed, the contractions started in earnest.

And that's where the fun began, ha! I realized pretty quickly that (1) I was having back labor, and (2) back labor really is as bad as they say it is. I try to block the next several hours from my mind, especially since I hope to have another one! Settling into the hospital room was stressful, but I loved my nurses and my support team. After 45 minutes of pushing, Bunny was born at 12:12 PM. It was such a surreal moment and still is. I can't believe that she's mine.

This week has been an interesting one as we get to know our Ellie-bear. So far, we've learned a few things:

• She really does not like to be wet or dirty. If she's screeching, that's often why
• She prefers snoozing to eating--singular, I say
• She adores being swaddled
• Her bouncy seat is a GIFT FROM HEAVEN and worth far more than the $50 we paid for it. Especially with the birdie sounds
• She despises her bassinet. Good thing we just borrowed it!

Despite these advances, sometimes she screeches and we just don't know why. She's a mysterious little baby:)

Hope to be back soon with some fun scrappy projects! And just to liven things up, tell me something random about YOU!

She has a name!

I wish I had more photos to show you, but the whole connect-the-camera-to-the-computer business takes more than the .05 seconds I have left over from trying to convince my baby that eating is fun:) So stay tuned for those, and forgive me the repeat!

Bunny got her official name in the synagogue yesterday, so I get to share it with all of you! We named her Eliana Bluma, and are calling her Ellie for short:)

It's funny because I've always been very into baby names, but Eliana was never even on my list. When I first suggested it to S, I told him, "you're going to hate this name, but the meaning would be perfect!" S normally dislikes any name that's too long or too feminine, but he actually liked it. After months of thinking about it and debating over nicknames, we decided Eliana was probably going to be the name we chose. As I mentioned above, the meaning is what cinched it. Eliana means "my G-d has answered" in Hebrew, and in the end we just couldn't think of a more perfect name for this baby we wanted so badly and for so long.


Welcome to the world, Ellie-bean. We're so glad you're here!

PS--Since you guys are such generous people, please send out a happy thought that bunny will be able to go home with us from the hospital today--she may need to stay under the bili lights, and I hate to be apart from her! Thank you!

A little update!

Well, I haven't blogged in a few days, but I have a little excuse--a 6 pound, 10 ounce one!

Bunny arrived Wednesday at 12:12 in the afternoon (how's that for timing?). And for those inquiring minds who want to know, bunny is a . . . . . . . . GIRL!

We could not be more thrilled with our baby bean:) And in our humble opinion, we think she's pretty cute!


Coming soon with her name and other details!

Scrappy Sunday--He is Good

Today I have an older layout to share with y'all. I created this layout back in May (I wish I had the exact date). This was one of the lowest points for me in my infertility experience--after an awful disappointment in the previous cycle, I was trying a treatment plan one last time before moving on to the "big guns." I was scared, and frustrated, and to be honest, angry.

One day during that month I felt peaceful. I felt suddenly sure that G-d was with me, that things would work out in the end, and that He would give me the strength I needed to get to that point. I created this layout on that day, to keep my spirits up when my sense of security faded. I used happy colors (my favorite Studio Calico kit of all time, Lawn Party), and created this layout, which may not win any design awards, but which I will always love. The gray background felt calming to me, exactly how I wanted the layout to feel.

I wrote journaling that meant something to me, and creating the layout just made me happy.

I had no idea that this was the month I would get pregnant. I would not find out the news until several weeks later in June, but it was in May of 2011 that my miracle finally came.

Months later, I decided the layout deserved a repeat. I used the same title, and put together a design that made me happy.

I love that my album now has a visual recording of how life can change in such momentous ways. That's one of the best things about this hobby, isn't it?

Don't be afraid to scrapbook the sad stuff--because one day, when things turn around, it will always remind you of how lucky you are, and how quickly life can change for the better.

One of the hardest aspects of infertility is how isolating it can be. According to Resolve (a great IF resource, by the way), 1 out of 8 couples in the world experience infertility. Yet it still feels so lonely.

I know that many of you have been down this road, and still more of you are waiting for your day to come. If you have an infertility story you feel comfortable sharing, please leave it in a comment or link me up to your blog (I will post links in a future post). You'd be surprised how much sharing YOUR story can help others.

Wishing you a happy Sunday, everyone, with lots of dreams come true.

A note on the giveaway--we have a new winner for Box #2! It is.......Tiffany Davis! Shoot me an email and I will get your package out to you:)

Tiffany DavisJan 21, 2012 06:36 PM

Yay! I've followed your blog for almost a year now. tiffanydenisedavis@gmail.com. :)

Staycation fun

A few weeks ago, S and I decided to take advantage of the fact that we live in New Jersey and head off the big city for a little "staycation." It was wonderful--not much packing, not much traveling, and an exciting destination!

S and I stayed at a fancy Sheraton in Times Square:

I know this photo is SO dark and grainy, but I love it anyway--it looks as happy as I felt.

At night, we headed out to a delicious steak place, La Marais, for dinner--and the highlight was that I ate some dessert AND my blood sugar levels were fine! An exciting development in the life of a diabetic:) We then went to this funky theater in Midtown to see Million Dollar Quartet--S's pick, but I actually really liked it!

We topped off the night with some drinks at the bar (virgin over here):

And menorah lighting (which makes me realize, this was really more than a few weeks ago. Oops!).

The next day, we got off to a late start and then headed to brunch.

We rounded off the day with a Trader Joe's stop (I *love* that store. Although next time I go, I want to buy all of the English toffee bars I can see!)

So that was our staycation--probably the last babymoon before bunny arrives. Speaking of which, my due date is THREE weeks away. Eek!

Tell me--what is YOUR idea of a perfect staycation?

Note--giveaway winners posted below. Jenny, please email me by Sunday or I'll have to pick a new winner!

We have WINNERS!

Thanks for playing along with the giveaway, everyone! You are all helping my nesting instinct very effectively (speaking of which, the coat closet is my next victim, so if you're wanting extra coats . . . .)

source

I have two winners to post!

Box # 1 is going to . . . . .

CourtneyJan 19, 2012 08:58 AM

How sweet of you Keshet! I would love a chance to win! Thanks!

Box # 2 is going to . . . . .

Jenny LilacJan 19, 2012 02:58 PM

What an awesome giveaway! I am following your blog!

Please email me at keshet.starr@gmail.com, and I'll get your box out to you!

Giveaway Day!!

Well, the giveaway box in my guest room closet has been overflowing, and causing a few avalanches lately. So I decided it was officially time to pass on all those goodies to YOU!

I have two boxes of scrappy stuff to send out.

Box #1 includes some new October Afternoon (I don't do the Christmas lines, although they're so cute!), and some Crate Paper, Pebbles, Basic Grey and more from last season's releases. There's a Scrapbook Trends issue stuck in for good measure as well!

A little close-up:

Box #2 has some new Cling stamps, Washi tape, Cosmo Cricket, mistables, and a few exclusive Studio Calico stamps stuck in:)

And another closer peek:

If you would like to win a box, here's how to ENTER!

1) Leave a comment in this post by SUNDAY at 8:00 PM.

2) Either follow my blog or leave me an email so I know how to find you:)

*Fine print--I am happy to ship to international winners as long as you can pay shipping! Otherwise, US only please:)

Happy Thursday, everyone!