You be the judge

So we got ahold of our baby photos from way back then. I'm accepting the fact that Sloane is going to look like Jess. I've already heard it. But I'll leave it to you people to decide. I certainly can't tell who she looks like (or what parts of each of us she has). To me, she just looks like a baby -- anyone's baby. 

Have at it!

Kelly the Prodigy (prodigy of what still being determined) 

Sloane the Cute ("Where's the pudding?!")

Jess the Fierce (perfecting the "Kelly, seriously, what are you doing?" scowl) 

Grandparents, pee attacks and photo ops

Last week was my first back to work and I have to say I was NOT ready to leave my girls. Jess handled it like a rock star mom. Every day it got slightly easier, however I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

Sloane is largely unchanged, though Jess thinks her face is filling out. Sloane hasn't taken this insult lightly and has has started spitting up and pawing at her face in obvious disgust with the way she's letting herself go. We had our one-week checkup and I have to say I'm proud of Sloane. She takes coaching well and successfully peed all over the nurse and scale (another shot at her alleged weight gain).  Everything checked out well, although she was measured at 1/2" shorter than she was at birth. With her shrinking, sleeping all day, and, frankly, chronic addiction to milk I can only draw one conclusion: Sloane is turning into a cat.

In other news, at the end of this week Sloane was visited by Ginja (Grandma) and Skipper (Grandpa) Van De Walle. Grandma Myrna unveiled her grand Baby Quilt which can probably double as a rain tarp over Target field should the need arise.  Sloane showed her appreciation by sleeping. Grandpa Kirk, not to be outdone, came bearing your traditional new baby gifts: a hacksaw and beer (okay, both were for me).  Sloane showed her appreciation by sleeping. But we want to thank both for driving all the way up from Arkansas! It was a lot of fun.

Photos!

Sloane being defiant with grandma

Smiley grandma and Sloane doing her best "Popeye"

Sloane giving her best "WTF?" look at grandpa. Most people look at him this way though.

To recoup some of the costs of raising a child I'm considering charging people $5 to hold her and $25 if they want their photo taken. Had I done this at the hospital I'd be up a few thousand dollars already.

Bonus photo! Post-bath with the curly hair. That's Jess' leg on the left. Just kidding.

It begins

B-day + 4 "The Homestead" 
---

Well, we're back home and the first few nights are in the bag. A big thanks to grandma Weishaar for...freaking EVERYTHING. She stayed with us for a few days and made the transition go SO much smoother. She worked so hard to make things as stress-free as possible while allowing dad and mom to sleep. She cooked, she cleaned, she held Sloane (though who wouldn't want to do that), she offered advice, she hugged, she changed diapers...personally, I think she's part robot.

Jess is doing well and I'm trying my best to pick up where grandma left off. Being 0% robot means I have to work 156% harder. But that's okay. As long as everybody is happy. We're hoping to take Sloane out for her first "walk" soon, though she'll probably slack and expect us to push her in a stroller. Maybe I can scrunch up next to her and Jess can push us both.

We also had a visit from a nurse yesterday (standard procedure) and we passed (whew!). Sloane was an ounce above the weight she left the hospital, so she's going the right direction even if sometimes she'd rather sleep than eat (hard to blame her, really). I'm getting to the point where I'd prefer to be fed in a similar fashion but the suggestion fell on deaf ears. Babies have it made, man.

We're currently trying to figure out what to have Sloane call the grandparents. After an internet search, here are some of my favorites:

Grandmother:

-Bubbie (very Jerry Maguire)
-G-Ma (very hip. "Sup G-Ma? Word.")
-Mimsy
-Mums
-Mimo (rhymes with "Nemo" which is the name of a very famous animated fish)
-NotherMother (like "another mother." On second thought, that's weird)
-Salsa (delicious)
-Ginja (grandma-ninja? Awesome.)

Grandfather: 

-BoBo
-Drampa (sounds like the name of a brand of scotch or antihistamine)
-Gwampa (both fun to say out loud and reminiscent of the name of Hagrid's half-brother giant in Harry Potter)
-PamPawPap (ridiculous)
-PawPaw (cute cute)
-G ("Ain't nothing but a G-thang baby"  <---rap)
-Popsi
-Mellowman (Mega Man villain? <----video game reference)
-Poppers (Not bad, but I'd prefer Poppers!!)
-MoreDaddy (because it'd be fun to say in public: "Come on, Sloane, let's go see MoreDaddy" and watch people's reactions)
-P-Pop/PopZ (if either is thinking about joining a hip-hop label)
-Skipper (I think we have a winner)

As for me, I'm considering going with: Chancellor, as I enjoy the power such a title suggests. I suppose I'd be okay with "father" but only if it's said with a British accent.

Okay, I've rambled on long enough. Now for your fix of cute:

Sloane Rae Van De Walle: veteran sleeper

Sleeping again? Really?

Stop the presses! We have eyes! Quick! Somebody blow the Vikings touchdown horn.

Oh nuts. Asleep again. But one of those "awwwww" moments so we'll let this one slide. 

Once again, more photos can be found on our Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/castle_vandewalle/

Prepare yourself for cuteness

Hey rock stars,

Today we brought Sloane (and Jess) home from the hospital. It was a bit nerve-wracking. Now it's on us (and you, because we might be calling you for advice so don't get too comfy).  Everybody's vitals look good (though nobody checked mine. I'm fine, doc, thanks for asking). The doctor was amazed by all the "good questions" (his words) I asked. Little did he know I was stalling so we didn't have to leave.

Point: Kelly

I don't want to brag, but the moment we brought her over to the reception desk we got a chorus of five simultaneous "awwwwwww"s.

Point: Sloane

I got the car seat figured out with a little help from Darla the Nurse. Sloane looks so tiny in it. We had a feeding at home and now she's resting with grandma. Jess is resting too. What am I doing? I'm writing this blog and keeping up with the quota of cute for all those who can't be here to soak it all up. I may have to post all of the most recent photos here, because....well I'll just let them speak for themselves.

Sloane channeling the Force. What you don't see is the TV levitating and slowly spinning off camera.

You know you wanted a closeup

Mom & baby being all together.

Sporting her fancy new dress.

If you didn't think she could get any cuter...

...you were wrong.

Getting her closeup for the hospital Wall. That's Nurse Deb. Hi Deb.

The Van De Walles: Jess, Sloane, Kelly

Sloane Rae Van De Walle

Ten tiny fingers, that always want to play,

That never stop exploring that wonder of today,

Ten tiny fingers, that from the very start,

Will reach out for tomorrow yet always hold your heart.

Sloane Rae Van De Walle

Born: August 3, 2010  5:39 p.m.

Weight: 5 pounds, 15 oz.

Length: 18.75 inches

Astrological sign: Leo

Hair: Oh yeah. Dark. Curly. Thick. Beautiful. 

Cutest baby of all the babies on the hospital board: Are you kidding? She puts those ug-os to shame.

Before it all began. 'Twas not all smiles during...

...but it was moments after. Totally worth it. 

5 pounds, 14.6 oz (15 rounded up). About the weight of a dozen Pro V1s. 

Sloane with grandparents and Aunt Alyse

I wanted to see her eyes to see if she was plotting something (she was. Plotting to be cute).

Hogging my beautiful girl. Heart turning to mush. 

B(aby) Day +1 Jess with Sloane (check out that hair!)

Mom and baby are doing fine. Thanks to grandma Kay, grandpa Gary, uncle Layton, uncle Ethan and aunt Alyse for coming up. Big thanks to the Cherokee medical staff for being absolutely awesome. And a big thanks to my gorgeous wife for her hard work at delivering Sloane. She is amazing and I don't know how she did it. She's already a great mom. 

About this blog: This blog will be a great resource for those interested in Sloane photos and updates (I'd say updates about Jess and I, but let's be honest, you're much more interested in the way cuter, mushier one). Because we're taking a photo about every three seconds, there are going to be way too many to post here. As such, please visit our Flicker account for many, many more: http://www.flickr.com/photos/castle_vandewalle/

My head is still spinning. 

Stay tuned, it's going to be a heck of a ride.