A bit of an early Birthday dinner for Megan at Doug and Char's house gave them all the excuse they needed to be near Claire. They are pretty great grandparents, and are having lots of fun...Claire is just so somber.

Mom and Claire have returned home from the hospital as of 10/28/07 afternoon. Both are doing fine and are happy to be home where they can sleep relatively uninterrupted. Dad is happy to be home in his own bed too. All three of us were able to share a room at the hospital in order to get to know each other, but having our own space is great.

Dad finally finished the nursery. The new window is in and lets light in beautifully, and there is a great shelf to store whatever little girls want to display. Mom's sewing was complete before going to the hospital, and she was just waiting on Dad to get things finished so the curtains could be hung.

Thanks to our parents and family who saved special items for sharing. Claire's room is complete with the knitted blanket that Megan came home from the hospital in over 30 years ago. There is the quilted blanket that Aaron dragged around the house as a toddler. There are some of our childhood books. There is a rocker that was a wedding gift to Aaron's great grandparents' almost a century ago that has made its debut as a nursing chair. There are also many items and gifts that you all have contributed.

Claire has everything she needs and more. We are grateful for our blessings, our health, our warm and cozy home, our friends and family, and our time together.

Until next time, good night, sleep tight.

Claire Lauren Patterson

Born 10/26/07 at 9:32pm

Weighed 8 pounds and 8 ounces and was 21.5 inches long.



Claire's entrance into the world was a high point in Mom and Dad's life. She is a beautiful girl with blue eyes. She is eating, sleeping, and filling diapers like she should. Mom plans to take 12 weeks off before returning to work part-time, and is recovering from laber and birth well. Dad has taken 2 weeks off to get to know his little girl and help Mom out at home, and is enjoying Mom and Claire's company. Both sets of grandparents were able to see her and hold her within her first 24 hours of life, and she is looking forward to meeting Uncle Ryan Baines from Colorado, and Auntie Monica and Uncle Rich back in Iowa.



Her baptism is scheduled tentatively for 11/18/07 at Mizpah UCC in Hopkins, MN.