Happy Critter Feet

Oh, the places you will go with these feet, Ále...nante yie...

Grandma and Grandpa Sigala Groove with Ále

cycles...

We've settled down into a reasonable routine comprised of iterations of the following: sleep...poop...change diaper...breastfeed...burp...Sleep durations are usually ~2 hours, though last night she wowed us with 3.5 hours of quality snoozing! Mom and Critter have the breastfeeding thing down to a smooth exchange...Ále starts her "boob-radar" when she wakes up and starts rooting in all directions in search of milk...when presented she can pretty much latch herself on and autoregulate...Diaper changes have been less nasty than anticipated, though Ále squawks up a storm at having her britches swapped out...we use this to wake her up for feeding...As I type this Jeanette and Ále have finished a feeding and both are drooping gracefully- Ále on the boppy pillow bundled in a blanket and Jeanette conked out, drooling gracefully in the chair...time to carry my girls upstairs for bed...

Cornucopia of photos...

Ále and Paul at 3 days...Jeanette claims a strong resemblance...What do you think?

For she on honeydew hath fed and drunk the milk of paradise...

Woohoo...we're heading home...

Ále poses with one of her nurses, Lisa, as she gets ready to leave Packard hospital, see the world, and head home...Mommy's first breath of fresh outside air in 6 days.

Sincere and hearty accolades to the entire staff at Packard for their compassionate, attentive, and cheerful care during our stay!

big daddy time

Ále charms her fanclub...

Three Generations of Ducut Women...

Ále gets her groove on...

Ále entertains Mommy and Daddy with some neonatal breakdancing...

Alejandra "Critter" Ducut Sigala Arrives!!

Right out of Mommy's tummy...7lbs 12 oz. of joy!

LABOR...later on...

Things got rough after ~20 hours of contractions...

LABOR...

Here are some photos and video clips of J in early labor before the going got tough...

I'm Coming Out So You Better Get the Party Started!!!!

J's water broke at 7:30 tonight as we just sat down for dinner with Nick and Desha- surprise!! The sexy Mama started initial contractions at 8:30 with a second at 9:15pm...the little one is coming now... We went to Packard Hospital for them to evaluate. Critter's hearbeat looks great and by 10:30 contractions are every 7 minutes and starting to get J's attention...We're checked into Hotel Delivery and getting settled. J's contractions are every 5-7 minutes and 1-2 minutes long.

Web Picture Album is on-line... woo-hoo!

So a new year's resolution: don't be such a lazy butt about sharing photos with family & friends... to this end, an evolving archive of albums down memory lane has been set up:

http://picasaweb.google.com/JDucutSigala

First albums include pictures from her numerous baby showers - critter-girl likes to party! :) Enjoy!

Good times, great friends & family get-togethers, delicious food... Thank you to everyone for your kind, generous welcome & support of this little one into the world... you are truly a blessing!!! Any day now!

Waiting...

Went for a short hike south of Monterey yesterday with Cousin Leslie to embrace the new year...