Happy Birthday Rakaia Rose Orenstein

in granny's cardi with mc hammer pant look

(>the fashion perils of cloth nappies - watch that VPL miss rakaia!)

Rakaia turned one week old yesterday! (>she was technically due today! but evidently couldn't wait to join us). It felt like quite a milestone getting thru the 1st week. SO much to adjust to!!! We feel so lucky to have been sent such a little angel who (so far) seems to have little trouble being in the world. It's amazing how much she's grown and changed even in seven days...

By the way we forgot to mention her vital stats for those who might've been interested: she was born 5 pounds 8 ounces (2.5kilos) which is kinda smallish but obviously still perfect!!! Joel had to race into baby target on monday morning and buy her some 00000 jumpsuits b/c everything we had for her was too big! Granny Jillian has knitted her a special made to measure cardi (see photo above) that will probably only fit her for a couple of weeks but she's loving it so far. Nana Lavinia has just about finished a special tiny merino singlet for her too.

nana lavinia from NZ and rakaia say hello

It was really cold and stormy in Gippsland for most of the week (with flash flooding to boot) so we stayed indoors and nested. The sun finally came out yesterday so RR has had some outside time and some rays on her skin. She was a little jaundiced for a few days (not uncommon) - so some vitamin D has been just what the doctor ordered.

sunbaking (you can't touch this!)

She's been knocking back mummy's milk like a champion and sleeping lots (letting mum and dad get some too, praise the lord!) and every day spends a little more time with her eyes open taking in her surroundings.

Checkin things out from her beanbag.

And no, that's not a bizarre head-dress- its her baby sling.

yummy yummy yummy i've got love in my tummy....

sleeping in with daddy

PS: a few friends have emailed asking for pronounciation advice so here's the rub: ra-KAI-yah... It's a maori word and the name of a river (and a small country town) near my home town Christchurch in New Zealand. I can trace my maori ancestry back 68 generations to a man named Rakai Hau Tou - so we felt like there was a nice connection there too.

We passed through the Rakaia township on our road trip in NZ over the new year. We already had the name in mind but decided we'd just wait and see.....