Birth Announcement
A year ago last week I sent out a birth announcement e-mail (no snail-mailing in this family) to everyone I had ever met:
---------------
Hello all,
Our brand-new baby man entered the world yesterday, Tuesday, April 6, 2004, at 1:30 am. He was almost 8 lbs (can you believe it??) and 19.5 inches long after 3 HOURS of pushing. Michael and I are so fortunate to have the most beautiful, mellow baby in the world -- he was the favorite of all the nurses in the post-partum ward. Mom and baby are doing very well and are now at home getting a new start on life. We thought you might be interested in seeing some pictures of baby's first day and a half -- please consult my website, http://students.washington.edu/cjross/ to see how cute he is!
Love to all,
Claire and Michael and Isaac
---------------
The responses:
-- From my boss --
Dear Claire and Michael:
Brian had already spread the word about the happy events in your home - and now we have this real marvelous picture and we can see that it is really a wonderful beautiful new O'Neal. Very many congratulations and have a very good recovery from the difficult weekend. Sorry that it was so painful at times - but the final end result makes of course all forgotten.
Wishing you a very happy time with your newborn!
Wim
-- from his surrogate grandma Susan --
Isaac is ABSOLUTELY darling! Claire you look fabulous too, but Michael looks a little worse for wear!! Congratulations to all of you!!
--from my professor friend Ron and his staff scientist Isolde --
Hi. Baby looks good. Even cute. Mom and Dad look like they're OK too. Ron and Isolde
--from my friend, coworker, and baby-advice guru Claudia --
Congratulations to you both...he really is a cutie.
Love, Claudia
--from my friend Angela, who lives out here in Seattle but is a Purdue grad --
WOW!! :) I'm so happy for you, Claire! I wish I could have been at your baby shower, but thank you so much for sharing the pictures and baby announcement email.
Happy Baby!
--from my friend and coworker Doug --
Congratulations! That is a cute baby--most newborns look like Yoda to me. You
look really happy in the photos. Mike, on the other hand, looks fried. My best
to all of you,
Doug
--from my friend Tyan and her fiancee (now hub) Terry --
Claire and Mike,
Isaac is beautiful! Congratulations to both of you. And special congrats to
Claire for having a short labor. May we all be so lucky. Please call or e-mail
me if you need or want anything. Terry and I will be happy to make and deliver
food whenever you want some since I am sure you will be very focused on your new
family member. Don't hesitate to ask for anything!
Love,
Tyan and Terry
--from good friend Jen --
Congratulations!!!
What a sweetie you have! He is truly very handsome. Do I detect a Claire nose on this little gentleman? I can't wait to meet him in person sometime. (Andy is coming to visit at the end of the month....maybe we'll stop by then and that will give you enough time to recoup and be ready to greet visitors)
Claire, I hope things are going well with your recovery and that your parents are a huge help to you!
--from friend and coworker Marissa --
Miss you already....and Isaac too. What am I going to do without my girl
around for three months??!! :-) I'm so happy for you. Congrats and take advantage of your well deserved time off. I wish you and your new familia all the best. Let me know when I can visit, I can't wait!
Luv,
Marissa
--from friend Ashly, who gave me a baby sling as a shower gift --
Hi Claire,
Congrats! I also pushed for three plus hours on the first one, so I have
felt your pain. Well done! When do you want your free sling lesson?
Love, Ashly
--from old college roomie Liz --
Hey Mom and Dad!
Wow! Congradulations both of you! Tell Isaac I said "yo, what's up foo?" I hope
you and your new family are all doing well. It was great to see the pictures.
Take care!
Love, Liz
--from the Gages (Claire's Aunt & Uncle & Cousins) --
Hey guys! What a gorgeous kid! If Grandpa Walt and Grandma Jane were smiling
any bigger their cheeks would split open.......enjoy him, he will be 13 and taller than you before you know it!
So happy for you guys!
The Gages
--from friend and coworker Jan --
Hi Claire, Isaac and Michael,
congratulations to the growing family. Good to hear that the main actors are doing fine - it almost seems on the pictures that you and Isaac are having a great time and Michael has suffered the most...
Wish you all the best
Jan
--from dear old buddy Matt --
Welcome to Babyville U.S.A!
Congrats!
We are kinda disappointed though that he wasn't named Matthew Kurtis Evan O'Neal, but I guess we'll be able to deal.
-White
--from Grandpa Ross's coworker --
Hi, Claire,
Though we've never met, your Dad has been keeping me posted on the "Baby Watch" over these past several weeks. Having two little grandsons myself, I knew the anxiety and expectation he and your Mom were going through (and I know you and your husband were, too!).
Thanks for sending the picture (due to problems with my laptop, I had to e-mail it home to view it)....we are so excited for all of you. Best wishes, and we look forward to meeting you and your family if you come to Indy for a visit.
Congratulations!
Dale & Glenda Hill
--from friend and fellow mom/grad student Jiyun --
Hi, Dear Claire,
Congratulations for your baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He is so beautiful! Can't imagine how excited you are now?......
Enjoy being a mom and take care! And good luck about looking for the nanny!
Jiyun
--from dear old buddy Kurt --
Hi Claire,
I heard about the birth of your child, and I just wanted to write you really
quick and say CONGRATULATIONS! Now I'm rather unhappy to hear that you didn't name the kid after me, but I guess that I'll live. Dana told me that there are pictures somewhere... I'll have to check them out. Now it's time to move back to the Midwest so old Kurty can baby sit for you.. yeah I'm sure that's all you want, Kurt babysitting for you.. probably sounds more like a nightmare. I'm trustworthy though I swear. Anyways, I'm at work and I think that it's about time that I leave early. I just wanted to say hi and congrats. Tell Mike that I say hello.
Kurt McKain
IT Specialist
--from research collaborator in Denver --
Dear Claire,
Congratulations to you and Michael on the arrival of your beautiful new baby Issac!!!! I enjoyed the pictures on your web site very much. We have just returned from a wonderful weekend visit at our younger daughter's home in North Carolina. Becky and her baby Scotty were also there, so we had the pleasure of seeing our newest grandson for the first time together with our other two grandchildren.
Best wishes for your speedy recovery and for happiness and good health for your family.
Randy
--from old high school chum Holly --
claire-
he's BEAUTIFUL!!!! I'm so glad you still have my email address, I know we haven't talked for a while! So how are you? I think (apart from Steve what's his name) you are the first of our small but elite group of friends to have a baby! Congrats!
--from dear old lab chum Adrian --
Hey Claire,
CONGRATULATIONS! Sharla and I are so excited for you and Mike and little Isaac. Sharla can't stop looking at your pictures of him on the web. She especially likes the bath time ones. And of course she wants a little one more than ever now ...thanks alot! :) We're very happy for you and wish you the best.
Adrian
--from Claire's undergrad research supervisor at IU --
Dear Claire,
I am so happy for you and Michael. Wendy and I are expecting our third daughter. You look like you are thriving (both as a mother and a student). We're all so very proud of you...keep in touch...
Any suggestions for girl names are appreciated.
D
--from dear old lab chum Amy --
Hey Claire,
It is great to hear from you. That boy of yours is too cute and there is no mistaking who his Daddy is. I will check your website to keep up with the little booger's progress. Congrats on the baby.
-------
I had wanted to preserve these for posterity, so here they are, in blog-stone.
---------------
Hello all,
Our brand-new baby man entered the world yesterday, Tuesday, April 6, 2004, at 1:30 am. He was almost 8 lbs (can you believe it??) and 19.5 inches long after 3 HOURS of pushing. Michael and I are so fortunate to have the most beautiful, mellow baby in the world -- he was the favorite of all the nurses in the post-partum ward. Mom and baby are doing very well and are now at home getting a new start on life. We thought you might be interested in seeing some pictures of baby's first day and a half -- please consult my website, http://students.washington.edu/cjross/ to see how cute he is!
Love to all,
Claire and Michael and Isaac
---------------
The responses:
-- From my boss --
Dear Claire and Michael:
Brian had already spread the word about the happy events in your home - and now we have this real marvelous picture and we can see that it is really a wonderful beautiful new O'Neal. Very many congratulations and have a very good recovery from the difficult weekend. Sorry that it was so painful at times - but the final end result makes of course all forgotten.
Wishing you a very happy time with your newborn!
Wim
-- from his surrogate grandma Susan --
Isaac is ABSOLUTELY darling! Claire you look fabulous too, but Michael looks a little worse for wear!! Congratulations to all of you!!
--from my professor friend Ron and his staff scientist Isolde --
Hi. Baby looks good. Even cute. Mom and Dad look like they're OK too. Ron and Isolde
--from my friend, coworker, and baby-advice guru Claudia --
Congratulations to you both...he really is a cutie.
Love, Claudia
--from my friend Angela, who lives out here in Seattle but is a Purdue grad --
WOW!! :) I'm so happy for you, Claire! I wish I could have been at your baby shower, but thank you so much for sharing the pictures and baby announcement email.
Happy Baby!
--from my friend and coworker Doug --
Congratulations! That is a cute baby--most newborns look like Yoda to me. You
look really happy in the photos. Mike, on the other hand, looks fried. My best
to all of you,
Doug
--from my friend Tyan and her fiancee (now hub) Terry --
Claire and Mike,
Isaac is beautiful! Congratulations to both of you. And special congrats to
Claire for having a short labor. May we all be so lucky. Please call or e-mail
me if you need or want anything. Terry and I will be happy to make and deliver
food whenever you want some since I am sure you will be very focused on your new
family member. Don't hesitate to ask for anything!
Love,
Tyan and Terry
--from good friend Jen --
Congratulations!!!
What a sweetie you have! He is truly very handsome. Do I detect a Claire nose on this little gentleman? I can't wait to meet him in person sometime. (Andy is coming to visit at the end of the month....maybe we'll stop by then and that will give you enough time to recoup and be ready to greet visitors)
Claire, I hope things are going well with your recovery and that your parents are a huge help to you!
--from friend and coworker Marissa --
Miss you already....and Isaac too. What am I going to do without my girl
around for three months??!! :-) I'm so happy for you. Congrats and take advantage of your well deserved time off. I wish you and your new familia all the best. Let me know when I can visit, I can't wait!
Luv,
Marissa
--from friend Ashly, who gave me a baby sling as a shower gift --
Hi Claire,
Congrats! I also pushed for three plus hours on the first one, so I have
felt your pain. Well done! When do you want your free sling lesson?
Love, Ashly
--from old college roomie Liz --
Hey Mom and Dad!
Wow! Congradulations both of you! Tell Isaac I said "yo, what's up foo?" I hope
you and your new family are all doing well. It was great to see the pictures.
Take care!
Love, Liz
--from the Gages (Claire's Aunt & Uncle & Cousins) --
Hey guys! What a gorgeous kid! If Grandpa Walt and Grandma Jane were smiling
any bigger their cheeks would split open.......enjoy him, he will be 13 and taller than you before you know it!
So happy for you guys!
The Gages
--from friend and coworker Jan --
Hi Claire, Isaac and Michael,
congratulations to the growing family. Good to hear that the main actors are doing fine - it almost seems on the pictures that you and Isaac are having a great time and Michael has suffered the most...
Wish you all the best
Jan
--from dear old buddy Matt --
Welcome to Babyville U.S.A!
Congrats!
We are kinda disappointed though that he wasn't named Matthew Kurtis Evan O'Neal, but I guess we'll be able to deal.
-White
--from Grandpa Ross's coworker --
Hi, Claire,
Though we've never met, your Dad has been keeping me posted on the "Baby Watch" over these past several weeks. Having two little grandsons myself, I knew the anxiety and expectation he and your Mom were going through (and I know you and your husband were, too!).
Thanks for sending the picture (due to problems with my laptop, I had to e-mail it home to view it)....we are so excited for all of you. Best wishes, and we look forward to meeting you and your family if you come to Indy for a visit.
Congratulations!
Dale & Glenda Hill
--from friend and fellow mom/grad student Jiyun --
Hi, Dear Claire,
Congratulations for your baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He is so beautiful! Can't imagine how excited you are now?......
Enjoy being a mom and take care! And good luck about looking for the nanny!
Jiyun
--from dear old buddy Kurt --
Hi Claire,
I heard about the birth of your child, and I just wanted to write you really
quick and say CONGRATULATIONS! Now I'm rather unhappy to hear that you didn't name the kid after me, but I guess that I'll live. Dana told me that there are pictures somewhere... I'll have to check them out. Now it's time to move back to the Midwest so old Kurty can baby sit for you.. yeah I'm sure that's all you want, Kurt babysitting for you.. probably sounds more like a nightmare. I'm trustworthy though I swear. Anyways, I'm at work and I think that it's about time that I leave early. I just wanted to say hi and congrats. Tell Mike that I say hello.
Kurt McKain
IT Specialist
--from research collaborator in Denver --
Dear Claire,
Congratulations to you and Michael on the arrival of your beautiful new baby Issac!!!! I enjoyed the pictures on your web site very much. We have just returned from a wonderful weekend visit at our younger daughter's home in North Carolina. Becky and her baby Scotty were also there, so we had the pleasure of seeing our newest grandson for the first time together with our other two grandchildren.
Best wishes for your speedy recovery and for happiness and good health for your family.
Randy
--from old high school chum Holly --
claire-
he's BEAUTIFUL!!!! I'm so glad you still have my email address, I know we haven't talked for a while! So how are you? I think (apart from Steve what's his name) you are the first of our small but elite group of friends to have a baby! Congrats!
--from dear old lab chum Adrian --
Hey Claire,
CONGRATULATIONS! Sharla and I are so excited for you and Mike and little Isaac. Sharla can't stop looking at your pictures of him on the web. She especially likes the bath time ones. And of course she wants a little one more than ever now ...thanks alot! :) We're very happy for you and wish you the best.
Adrian
--from Claire's undergrad research supervisor at IU --
Dear Claire,
I am so happy for you and Michael. Wendy and I are expecting our third daughter. You look like you are thriving (both as a mother and a student). We're all so very proud of you...keep in touch...
Any suggestions for girl names are appreciated.
D
--from dear old lab chum Amy --
Hey Claire,
It is great to hear from you. That boy of yours is too cute and there is no mistaking who his Daddy is. I will check your website to keep up with the little booger's progress. Congrats on the baby.
-------
I had wanted to preserve these for posterity, so here they are, in blog-stone.
posted by Claire at 8:06 AM
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