Time Beginning: 4 days old
Ursula Bayes Gillingham-Ryan sleeps late this morning after torturing us all night.
We are done, or, rather, just beginning. After 50 hours of labor, from Monday night to Thursday morning, Sara Kate went to down the rabbit hole and emerged radiant, beautiful and perhaps more exhausted than she'd ever been in her life.
I, for my part, had the distinction of passing out at about 2/3 of the way through the ordeal, regrouping with a shower and fresh change of clothes for the final push, and realizing that I had just become #2 man on the planet.
We came home on Friday afternoon and even though there are a few punch-list items still to finish, the apartment feels amazing and luxurious. We cooked all weekend (the days of eating out are over for awhile), and are really enjoying the place. It makes a difference when the oven really works and the fridge really can freeze ice. Since we're not 100% done, you can count on more posts documenting the finish up in the next few weeks.
Thanks to everyone for your kind thoughts and words over the past week. We read them on returning home and our friends read them in detail before that, and then chose selections to read aloud to us. They got a hoot out of the whole thing and are amazed at our online community.
And thanks so much to Jill, Aaron, Regina, Molly and Amy for carryng the show in my absence.
And now...onward!
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
Oh, she is beautiful (and so cute all wrapped up like that). If I can say one thing to you it is you should dummy down your expectations of yourselves for the next couple of months. Just take it easy.
PS- would love to see pix of the finished apt.
Oh, I love the name Ursula! Good morning, little sleepy bear!
Oh, wow. How beautiful! What more can one say? Congratulations, you guys.
Greetings UBGR!
i would have expected a much more perfect swaddling...
just kidding congratulations.
thanks for sharing Ursula with us! Her full name just screams brilliance.
All the best to you three.
oh she's so beautiful. congratulations maxwell and sara kate :)
grace
What a beautiful name for such a beautiful bundle. And welcome to a radically, terrifingly, astonishingly, breath-takingly gorgeous new world, new parents!
Welcome to the world, little girl!
Enjoy your baby-moon... and your rebirth as parents.
Life will never be the same.
Now that is the best little package ever. Congratulations on your new family (and cozy new home.)
Thank you for sharing pics with us and continuing to let us in on your life.
I was wondering how you would handle posting pics of the babe, who of course can't say yay or nay on this, but these pics are quite anonymous, both because of the swaddling and also because of the relative anonymity of the "newborn look"! So, I am wondering how you will be handling online pics of the child and whether you even consider that an issue.
I continue to be so thrilled for all three of you!
Congratulations to the both of you! what a beautiful beginning to this part of your lives.
What a beautiful sweet girl! Take good care of her and yourselves!!
keep that blankie! (even that it says "property of {insert hospital name here}) Isabella loves her and no, I didn't stole it, they gave it to me. i don't know why they even bother printing that message!
Congrats and welcome to the club.
joel
she's lovely! congratulations again!
And I'm still stunned by the 50 hours of labor!
My first two thoughts upon seeing the top picture:
1. Awwww, lookit the cute tiny itty bitty baby!
2. Wow, look at how smooth and white that wall is!
Great job on home and child both. May they bring you much happiness.
Ursula is a lovely name, and yet unusual enough that she probably won't have to force her teachers to clarify, "Which Ursula do you mean -- Gillingham-Ryan? Or Smith-Barney? Or Jones-Jarred?"
*cooing noises at the little cutie*
*braying laughter at the part of the story where the father-to-be fainted*
Good morning Ursula! Happy 4 days on the planet. So many friends in such a short time, what a lucky girl. We look forward to watching you grow up in blog-land.
There are these pockets of peace in the early days, moments of unparalleled stillness. Perhaps it's the power of contrast. Ursula is lovely, and a lucky girl to have such an evocative name. Best of luck as the last of the work is completed in the apartment.
So sweet!
What a sweet shy little lady she appears hiding coyly behind her blanket. We'll see how long that lasts. Congratulations on the renovation too.
Actually 50 hours is an eternity if you think about just pulling 2 consecutive all-nighters of just being awake even just on a dare.
Actually it was probably mainly total exhaustion that made the new papa pass out.
But to think about having to put forth physical effort for that long, the mind really reels, and after going to that kind of trouble, it's really kind of no wonder why the love that mothers have for their children tends to be rather fierce.
Miracles. We forget sometimes. You both made this incredibly beautiful miracle and let us be part of it. Gratitude to Maxwell and Sara Kate. Welcome Ursula Baynes Gillingham-Ryan. You are the best reason to be a part of this community.
Enjoy each second and every breath.
Congratulations! What a beauty. And kinda rockin' a Mother Teresa look in that hospital pic.
50 hours.... no words.
Awwww... what a sweet picture! And it brings back the sweetest of memories for me, when 3 years and 2 days ago we brought home our own daughter (I was ALMOST right about the birthdate!).
Congratulations and the very best of wishes!
These precious days pass so very quickly -- savour them and relish in them.
And take LOTS of pictures -- Ursula will change so much so quickly it will take your breath away.
Anyone with the marvelous name of Ursula Bayes Gillingham-Ryan is destined for something special. Maybe a new furniture line?
Thank you for the pictures, she is lovely. And man, am I jealous, I'd give anything to be able to sleep like that.
Salut !
Welcome to the world- little Miss Ursula!!
May your life only be filled with joy and happiness, sweetness and light!
Shari
Congratulations once again on beautiful baby Ursula! (Now please go back to your much-deserved maternity/paternity leave; and enjoy your precious first days of parenthood. The world of AT looks to be in more-than-able hands in your absence.)
*blinkblink*
:)
What a wonderful gift to the world you have both brought forth. Many blessings and much peace and happiness to you all as you establish your new life together as a family.
(And Curtis, Smith-Barney and Jones-Jarred?!? Your mind works in mysterious and hilarious ways!)
Congratulations!! She looks so sweet all wrapped up on the bed. Enjoy every good moment & try to enjoy every bad too. They grow so fast, she'll be onto the next phase of her life before you know it. Best of everything to the 3 of you.
Congratulations once again!
Ursula sounds very German nobility, somewhat Bavarian...I'll raise a beer to her.
Curtis, you crack me up.
Great name. Adorable little one. Congratulations, SK and Maxwell.
Such a demure young lass, with her little head just poking out of the swaddling.
I think her name is just lovely.
Congratulations again!
Awwww......!
:::devolves into into cutesy unintelligible cooing noises:::
Looking forward to the days ahead as she grows older and tries out the latest designs in cribs, sippy cups, etc.
congratulations! i am so psyched for your lovely new bundle. what a lucky little girl and how beautiful that she can read these posts someday and think back to the nest mom and day created for her arrival.
She's a precious bundle of joy!
Congratulations! This time last year we were welcoming our own little one into the world. He turned one on Friday as we reflected on quite frankly, the most tiring year of our lives. Despite the achy back and sore muscles from carrying the little mite, the dark shadows under our eyes from lack of sleep and our unexpected fascination with all things poop related, there are the very special quiet times when you watch them slumber, or the immense love you feel when they greet you with smiles and laughter first thing in the morning. Enjoy these days and good luck with the remaining renovation. I hope she sleeps for you!
You must remember to sleep when she sleeps! It will make all the difference.
Congrats! She's lovely.
She's really lovely and I love the name. Lucky girl, lucky parents. Congratulations!
How precious. Blessings for all the best:)
Oh, I love it when they are all little and wrapped up like that. (Before they get pick enough to simultaneously head butt you and kick you in the crotch.)
She is absolutely gorgeous - many congratulations.
Congrats!
Be VERY VERY kind to yourselves for the next couple weeks or so. Unless it'll get you evicted, don't fret about deadlines and what not. Just succumb to the new sleep whenever you can schedule. You'll all be much healthier in the end.
Further proof that small is beautiful. Plus, UBGR makes a really cool monogram.
Congratulations!
Thanks for not pulling a Suri Cruise and making us wait 5 months to see Ursula. She is adorable. And do not write off going out to dinner. Once you get past the initial exhaustion, dinners out with a 0-6 month old are quite nice. If you are lucky they sleep thru most of the meal and you get a chance to feel connected to your former life. Try it as soon as the new Mom feels up to it. And if you are worried about stares from patrons, go early. Hipsters who don't like babies rearely dine before 8pm
Yeah, cute, but more importantly, what's the paint color used on the wall behind the bed?
KIDDING!!!!
She is gorgeous and excruciatingly adorable.
Oh, the darling. Welcome home.
What a beautiful little tot. And it's great to see her in the comfy-looking, slept-in bed. And I LOVE the "I'm a girl" sign...lest she forget or, perish the thought (kidding), change her mind. Very funny.
I think the "I'm a girl" sign is standard issue in hospital nurseries... well, standard issues for the girl babies, at least.
She looks so little! -- even for a newborn!
What are her weight and length? Eye color?
That's a good name.
So precious! Congrats! Love the name
This post brings tears to my eyes. She's a lucky girl, and you're lucky too. Best of luck.
How cute! Congratulations!!
olar
Congratulations guys. She's beautiful.
Though, now as a faithful reader, I think we're all going to be expecting regular updates!
She is so beautiful. Congratulations! :)
Congratulations!
so impressed...thanks for posting pics (I was really hoping to get my baby "fix" for the week).
Congratulations, new family!
She's just lovely. Now your jewel box of a home is finally complete with little Ursula.
How darling!
When I was in labor and nothing much was happening, I sent my DH to bed in a side room. :-) So he had 6 hours of sleep and was only awake for the first bit and the last three. It was better than having him so tired and confused and, well, panicked. Poor thing. There were still two points where he nearly lost it, though!
Her flesh tones don't match your color scheme. You'll have to do something about that.
Mia, that might be the funniest post ever!
What a beautiful, little gift--cheers!
congratulations! she's wonderful. do update us on how she likes it all!
Yay! :) Congratulations!!!!
Congratulations on your much-anticipated bundle of joy! Ursula is a wonderful name, full of magic.
So perfect!
Congrats!
Beautiful.
Congratulations on jobs well done.
What a sweetie-baby! Thanks for sharing her picture(s) with us...and I'm impressed that at four days old she's already insisting on the "big bed". All the best of everything (especially sleep, right now!) is wished for the three of you!
Thanks for sharing with us. Foot massages and casseroles for the new parents!
gorgeous! congrats to you both!
1bs
Yes, Mia, that was absolutely hilarious!!
Big hugs and congratulations to the entire GR family. : ) I'm SO happy for you all.
Congrats!!
I once worked with a lovely Ursula, and have always liked the name since that time. Congratulations!
mazel tov!
I just wanted to say congratulations on the newest addition to your family! No doubt, each time you look at her you probably marvel just as the bible writer did that stated "...in a fear-inspiring way I am wonderfully made..." (Psalms 139:14) And while 50 hours of labor sounds more than exhausting (I don't have any experience as a parent, yet), you agree that "the fruitage of the belly is a reward" and as the years pass you will find truth in the words "Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the sons of youth." (Psalms 127:3,4). Enjoy your little one!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS! and welcome to the best part of your lives!
BEAUTIFUL!
Congratulations to the new family! I was so surprised to see, and you should meet my friend's newborn, Owen Ulysses, born three weeks before this little beauty. If you're ever on Bergen Street, stop by! Hope all is well! All the best, Clarissa (from ages ago)
Ursula is lovely! Thank you for posting the pictures for us. And how sweet to read about you and your friends enjoying all our commentary. That made me smile. Congratulations again!
Maxwell and Sara Kate,
Wishing you and your little one much joy and happiness.
Kate
She's beautiful! Congratulations!
Yay!
...and as one of three Marys in my first grade class, thank you for picking your own name for Ursula!
Congratulations to the happy mother, your baby is really adorable. Take care and feel merry every day. Looking forward to enjoying more photos of your baby.
When you said you realized you were now #2 man, I thought you meant you had a boy.
Though not very melodic, Ursula is a cool name. I've only met one Ursula in my 22 years in NYC.
So glad to hear it was a normal labor and not scheduled around the doctor's golf game.
awww.. she's a cutie! i was on labor for 36 hrs. and i thought that was the longest labor a woman could ever have! you beat me up to it. whew!
Beautiful! Just beautiful! congrats!