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Linus has received a whole bunch of wonderful and beautiful presents for his birth, but some of them stood out because they were made especially for him.
Such as this fantastic play mat that he got from his uncle and aunty:
It has his names on it as well as his date of birth and of course his logo. Michel designed the birth announcement cards for all three children. You can see Linus' card here. It looks great and already it's well used and loved.
It came with this cute cuddle cloth:
From very good friends Linus got this cool t-shirt:
He'll definitely be wearing it all summer long!
My colleague made this wooden plate for us:
She burnt the logo on it somehow. I don't know exactly how she did it, but I think it turned out lovely.
We also received a wonderful book that's titled 'Linus'.
Now although this wasn't especially made for him it's very nice nonetheless. The book on the left is a very much appreciated present from Levineke.
Next post I'll show you the handmade presents Linus received. These unquestionably deserve their very own post!
By the way, I'm back at Flickr after about a year's absence... it feels good again (I quit when you were forced to register with Yahoo). So if you want to take a closer look at my photos you can do that here.
Last week I went on an Etsy shopping spree. Amongst the things I bought were two pairs of baby shoes for Linus.
Aren't they cute?!
The shoes in the middle are from BabyBug and the ones on the right from MiniToes. Both shops take custom orders as well.
The monkey shoes from Robeez were a present for Simon's birth and even though he wore them often, they are still in a very good condition.
This is a photo of Simon wearing them... those shoes were far too big for him still!
While I was digging for photos I also found this sweet photo of Amber when she was about ten weeks old. Oh that belly!
I remember that this was the first and last time that she wore those shoes.
Do you mind that this will become a totally soppy baby photo post?! I hope not, because here is another photo of Simon wearing his bunny shoes!
I wonder what happened to them? I haven't seen them while I was sorting baby clothes...
Finally, the shoes that Linus is wearing today are also worth a photo.
They were knitted by my parents' neighbour. So sweet and such a great job of her!
Well, all these shoes may be cute, but I think anyone would agree that nothing beats teeny tiny naked baby toes!!
Isn't it great this new Typepad interface?! I'll try to make it all look a little more decent after I've peeled the potatoes...
I may be biased, but I really do think that I have three beautiful children.
I mean look at that pretty face!
Now look again...
Yeah, that's scary, isn't it?!
This is what she looks like with two cherry tomatoes stuffed in her cheeks. Luckily it didn't stay that way.
Thank you to everyone who was brave enough to read my birth story and who left a comment! I didn't think anyone would read it, since it was so looooong! I really wanted to write it all down for myself. I know how quickly you forget the details, so it gives me a very satisfied feeling that it's documented.
On Thursday the 3rd of April I woke up restless and cranky.
Even though I was only 3 days past my due date I was getting unbelievably
impatient.
I asked Michel whether he would ask his father to come pick up Simon; it would
be nice for Simon to spend a day with his grandpa... and who knows what might
happen today?
I'd had little sleep that night, so I went back to bed until around noon.
Michel made us a scrumptious omelette for lunch and I thought back to Amber's
day of birth when Michel also made us a delicious lunch.
We hung around until it was time to pick up Amber from school. By then
I had decided that I wanted to go somewhere, so we went to a restaurant in Hilversum Hilversum
We left the restaurant and went shopping for dinner at the supermarket where
we used to shop. Another trip down memory lane. We decided on soup, salad and
bread for dinner.
We arrived back home at around 5.30 pm. I got out of the car and waved to my
neighbour. Through the window he enquired with whether there was anything
happening yet. He did this everyday and I sighed a little. I shrugged and shook
my head.
At that moment my waters broke.
Without letting my neighbour know I hurried inside and went to the toilet
straightaway. Michel and Amber followed me, but were still unaware of what just
happened.
Once I pulled my pants down I started to sob. The amniotic fluid was positively
green... the baby had pooped. No homebirth for me! I was very disappointed.
At this point Michel and Amber realised what was going on too. I showed Amber
my green undies. She thought it was yucky. Until this moment I had kept a tiny
option open for Amber to be present at the birth if the circumstances were
right. Seeing her reaction I knew this wouldn't be a good idea and impossible
anyway since we would be going to the hospital.
Michel started getting busy right away. He phoned the obstetrician, she
would come immediately. He also phoned the mother of Amber's friend... she
would be picking her up. I was so happy that Simon was already at opa's!
Of course we hadn't prepared a bag yet, so Michel started packing. Meanwhile I
was trying to stop dripping everywhere.
The obstetrician came. She had a look. Yes, it was very green and I was 3cms
dilated. We had to go to the hospital right away. Unfortunately, she wouldn't
be present at the birth, since I was now considered a 'medical' case. Another
bummer, but I was able to accept it as a fact... I knew there was nothing I
could do about it.
We kissed Amber goodbye and we got in the car... back to Hilversum
I was going to give birth in the same hospital where Michel and I first lived
together (1997) and where we both had had jobs. I had worked there for nine
years. It felt as if we were about to close a circle.
We were excited and had a good 20-minute ride. I had three mild contractions in
the car and one in the car park. We walked to the appropriate wing on the
second floor; we knew the way. It was 6.30 pm when we arrived there.
We were welcomed by the obstetrician that would help us with the birth. She
was young and kind. She said her shift would end at 11 pm. I hoped the baby would have arrived by then, because I didn't want someone else taking over half way.
We were shown into our room which was light and spacious. It was also warm, so
I took of my jumper. It felt a bit weird being in that room, I knew I would
deliver the baby right there on that bed. Such a different feeling from being
at home where you're so free to do whatever you want.
I was put on the bed and two belts were strapped around my belly to monitor
the baby's heart and the contractions. I felt so unfree! I wanted to move
around and not lay helplessly on my back. The obstetrician didn't really seem
to understand this, but she told me that I had to stay like this for at least
half an hour and then I would be allowed to walk around. The contractions were
still easy to deal with, they came around every 5 minutes.
Michel went to get a sandwich. Of course we hadn't had dinner. He brought me
a magazine which I tried to read, but I couldn't concentrate much.
I was distracted by the heartbeat of the baby. It sounded so loud and it made
me wonder whether it was alright. The obstetrician turned the sound down.
At 7.30 pm she finally unstrapped the belts... I was free! The obstetrician
and nurse said that they were going to have something to eat, but that we could
buzz them if we needed them.
I wanted to go to the toilet. With my other two births that was a favourite
spot of mine to tackle the contractions. Once I sat down there the contractions
got a lot more serious. I had to vomit (hello, omelette and apple pie!) and I
knew this was a sign that things were moving fast. I told Michel to buzz. The
nurse came and pulled me from the toilet. I wanted to brush my teeth, but she
told me to leave it (I still quickly did!). She moved me along to the bed even
though I was in the middle of a contraction.
They started to get everything ready. In between two contractions the
obstetrician checked how far dilated I was: 8 cms. The contractions had gotten
painful: I was very focused. I was shaking a lot; I couldn't stop it, it was
all the adrenaline going through my body. I was proud my breathing went so
well. I felt it coming from deep inside, once again proof to me how natural
this experience was.
The baby was about to come out now. Michel changed places with the nurse.
She held my hand now, while Michel prepared himself to pull the baby out (from
the turning of the shoulders). He had done the same with the other two
children.
They told me that with the next contraction I had to pull up both legs with
my hands and push. This didn't seem possible to me and when the contraction
came it was indeed impossible to lift my legs even a centimetre. However, at
that moment the situation changed. The baby came out too quickly. The nurse
became very stern with me and she told me breath, breath, breath. She told me
it was the only way for the obstetrician to keep things undamaged 'down there'.
From that moment I concentrated merely on the nurse's left eye. She was wearing
glasses and I was staring into her eye as I was breathing all contractions
away. I knew it was necessary, but it felt unnatural. The pressure was so
enormous, but I breathed as if my life depended on it. The nurse said I was
doing very well. Without any pushing I felt the baby slide down and then he
came out.
Michel said it was boy. Hadn't we suspected it all along?
It was 8.18 pm. I had definitely made it before 11 pm!
They placed him on my chest. He was so beautiful and clean! And he was
crying so pitifully. He was Linus Hugo.
The placenta had to come out. The obstetrician told me to push. It was
strange pushing without contractions. It came out very easily. She showed it to
us... amazing seeing that baby room! Michel cut the umbilical cord. Such a
momentous moment, cut off from me... you're on your own now, little one!
Linus was placed at my breast. It took him quite a while to latch on (longer
than with Amber and Simon), but finally he did and not long after that I heard
the first gulps of milk going through his throat. To be able to feed and sooth
my child in such an easy way is still a miracle to me.
I needed stitches. It hurt very much, but looking at my beautiful baby
helped me through it.
Michel and the obstetrician did all the necessary tests. The score was
excellent. Michel bathed Linus to get the last of the green muck off him. I
looked on admiringly while he dressed him. He did it so calmly and relaxed. He
held Linus for a while and then gave him to me.
Michel started phoning family and friends. Everybody was happy, but still a
little unsure about the name. Well, he was Linus anyway!
I wanted to go home, but we had to stay two hours after the birth for
observation. But I was allowed to shower, which was lovely. After I'd put on my
clothes I started packing our bag, but the nurse pushed me in a wheelchair. I
had to wait until we were ready to go and then Michel pushed us towards the
exit. I was holding Linus in his maxi cosi in my lap. I was giggling the whole
way, I thought it was such a funny picture.
Michel went and got the car and we put everything in it. Linus went into the
back. I really wanted to stay with him, but I also wanted to sit next to
Michel. As a compromise I held Linus' hand the whole way. I couldn't see him,
since he was facing the other way, but I was certain that he was awake the
whole journey. He held on to my finger so tightly! I was completely happy. We
were both elated; we joked and laughed the whole way.
It was wonderful to bring Linus into our house. We sat and stared at him for
a while. It was 11 pm. We had a cup of tea. Michel kept saying that it was as
if I'd merely done the dishes instead of giving birth. I was totally awake, I
could have done anything at that moment, but Michel wanted to sleep. It was
strange that the other children weren't in the house, but it was very special
to spend that first night with just the three of us in our attic room.
This was six weeks ago. Not long, but Linus has already found his own unique
place in our family.
He's gorgeous and adorable and the five of us are really so happy together!
Even though Linus lives on a strict diet of breastmilk I made him a couple of bibs that I'm sure will come in handy in the future.
I made the patchwork with some of my favourite Dutch fabrics combined with the fabric that I bought on Queensday.
They close with a handy snap (it took me an embarrasingly long time to work out how to adjust these guys...) and are backed with terrycloth.
All in all, I'm very satisfied with these bibs.
However, not as satisfied as I am with the matching cuddly cloth that I made:
Somehow I love how this turned out. The colours, the texture, the pretty ribbons... I'm telling you, if Linus decides for some reason not to cuddle with it then I will!
We've been having the most wonderful spring weather for some days. We enjoy it as much as we can, spending whole days in the garden.
Linus loves to sleep outside in his pram and when he wakes up hungrily then I just breastfeed him there and then. I cover him up with a blanket at such times, since the sun is really strong and the last thing that I want is for him to get sunburnt. However, all of his blankies are pretty warm so that this was becoming a rather sweaty bussiness... I had to make a 'light' blanket!
So that's what I did this morning, hurrying while Linus was taking a nap.
I used a cotton diaper and one of my lovely Dutch fabrics. Windmills, tulips, the whole lot. I really just sewed to two fabrics together and then 'quilted' it with some squares around the images. Easypeasy, but exactly what we needed.
I'm going to use this for his carseat as well, so that he won't stick to that either. I might have to make another one.
But first I'll finish my other Dutch project... patchwork bibs!
On thursday evening my sewing machine and I were reunited and we were both thrilled! It gave me a taste for more, much more. I have so many ideas swimming around in my head; I just need some time to get going. I do think the evenings are best for sewing. Michel and I agreed that we'll both spend some evenings a week being crafty. He'll work on his writing and I will be sewing. A good plan, no?!
Now what did I make? Something quick and very useful... burp cloths! Although I have quite a stack of them already, I never seem to have enough. Linus regularly spits up quite a bit of milk, so I need a clean cloth constantly. Besides, the ones I have are boring!
I used a nice soft towel for these. Drew a rough flowerlike pattern and dug up my fanciest biastape. Sewed it all together et voila! Six pretty burp cloths that no baby will be ashamed to be seen with.
Although I must say that Linus (who is 1 month old today, by the way) seems rather unimpressed by them...
Yesterday all the Dutch were merry, because we celebrated Queensday!! Hurray, hurray, long live our Queen!!!
Everyone is (almost) obliged to wear something orange, so the children were dressed appropriately.
We ventured out to the free market as early as we could (which was after 9 a.m. but still!) and already there were quite a lot of people there, but a little later it was so busy that at places the crowd was hardly moving anymore.
Luckily we decided to carry Linus around instead of taking the pram with us.
It was a very successful morning. We all scored some great bargains, the children payed games and Linus behaved very well.
It's so much fun to see that people sell the strangest things on Queensday... I just had to take a photo of this mountain of ugly dolls.
This was my modest haul:
Fabric (love the teapot fabric!)
And two adorable prints. I fell in love with the one on the left immediately. These will definitely be reframed and hung somewhere nice.
So all in all a very good day that we ended with an indoor bbq.
Read more about Queensday and what we did previous years here and here.
