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November 2003
Go to: Archive index | December 2003
 Sat, 01 November 2003
Happy Birthday to me!
 Well yesterday was big day! It was my birthday! Yep, I was 11 days early but now I'm here, and apparently I'm cute! My code name was Rapunzel but my real name is:
Zoe Anna Margarete Watts
More details and photos soon (when my slacker staff get their act together), but for now, here are my "specs":
Birth: October 31, 2003, 4:34pm (a Scorpio)
Weight: 6 lb 9 oz (2.9 kg)
Length: 19.5" (49.5 cm)
Sat, 01 November 2003
OK, Dad's finally got his act together and posted some pictures of me.
Mon, 03 November 2003
First night sleeping at home!
Well we all survived our first night home, but my staff are exhausted. I've arranged for my Web master to post more pictures of me from yesterday's trip home (scroll to about 2/3 the way down for the new pictures)
I slept when I got home. Just as we arrived the Kouri family arrived with balloons for the mailbox (how nice!). Mum had a lie down too, while Dad got things a bit organised. Gail and Alfred arrived with a big tray of Lasagna, then soon after that, Bob and Charlene dropped by and brought big trays of marinated chicken, macaroni and cheese, and vegetables. So we won't have to worry about cooking for the week. Heather also dropped by with food and to lend me her swing and to check on us - what lovely friends we have!
I'm feeding round the clock every 3 hours, so Mum & Dad didn't get too much good sleep. There's also nappy/diaper changes to be done and burping after I get fed, so that leaves very little time before it all starts again. I've assured them that I'm worth it! Apparently it will get easier after a week. Certainly with Grandma Rakkar arriving on Thursday (she was planning to arrive before I did, but I tricked her), things will be easier.
Tue, 04 November 2003
We went to the pediatrician today, my first visit. I had to strip down to my nappy - not overly pleasant but I was OK about it and didn't complain too much. I was weighed and I'm now 6 lb 2.5 oz, which is 0.5 oz below the 6-3 I was when I left the hospital. That's not too bad, but the doctor wants to see me again on Friday to make sure my weight is going up.
 Mummy lost one of her earings in the delivery room. So I thought I'd arrange for a replacement pair, from Tiffany. They are rose cut amethyst drop earrings, in 18k white gold. I also got them to say thank you for looking after me these past nine months. She likes them a lot!
Fri, 07 November 2003
 All this week I've been receiving LOTS of flowers and even a very cute bear from people all over the world - Australia, England, India, here in Raleigh - wow! Thanks everyone! The picture to the right is one bunch of lovely flowers and my very own bear (click the picture to see what's written on the bear's top).
Today I am one week old! Happy birthday to me! We'll be celebrating this afternoon (around 4:34pm) with a bottle of champagne.
My Grandma is now here - she arrived last night - so everyone's very happy about that. She's been helping do stuff around the house (eg laundry today) so people can rest. She also brought me lots of presents too. I like her already!
Went to the pediatrician for the second time today. I'm putting on weight now and the doctor is happy about that. I'm now 6 lb 5 oz (last time I was 6-2.5). I was 6-9 when I was born and hopefully I will be back up to that mark by this time next week.
I've posed for various photos - for my fans, you know. Check 'em out in the Photos of me category
Fri, 07 November 2003
I had my first bottle feeding this afternoon. My grandma fed me. Seemed OK - nothing to complain about. Mummy said "hooray!".
Sat, 08 November 2003
 We celebrated my one-week birthday in style last night with champagne all round. The champage was a yummy bottle of Veuve Cliquot, which Mummy and Daddy got as a Christmas present from Anna Wearne just before they left Australia for America.
Today was my first road trip! We all jumped in the car (I was carried) and off we went to Babies R Us to buy stuff. Then we had lunch at Atlantic Bread Company.
Oh, and please check out my new guest book. I'd like to hear from all my fans!
Wed, 12 November 2003
I've been receiving lots of phone calls from people round the world, wishing me all the best and stuff. People from India, Germany, and Australia. Very nice.
Yesterday was my Mummy's birthday (I arrived early so she could have her own day). We celebrated with champagne, then Mum had a celebratory nap in the afternoon. Grandma made everyone chicken curry for dinner - Yum! Mummy got lots of flowers for her birthday too.
And thank you to everyone who sent me messages on my guest book. Such lovely messages!
Wed, 12 November 2003
 My grandma is so clever! She just received the Award for excellence in teaching from the University of Queensland. How about this:
"Associate Professor Dorothy Watts is an inspiring lecturer, whose clarity, humour, insight, and enthusiasm for her subject have earned her numerous accolades and resulted in countless students deciding to major in classics and ancient history and developing a lifelong interest in the discipline. Her teaching evaluations over a long period of time attest to her students' responses to her commitment to quality teaching. She sets high standards and challenges her students to achieve them."
Read the award for more! And check the video at the bottom of the award page too. I, for one, am impressed!
In other news, my Dad finally got his act together and booked our flights to Australia in Easter. We have a week in Brisbane then a week in Melbourne, with a highlight of spending Easter Saturday at Strathvea in the Yarra Valley to celebrate Mark & Helen Waddington's joint 40th birthdays.
Fri, 14 November 2003
Overheard in the lounge room: "She's quite cute, you know......except when she screams her head off"
Fri, 14 November 2003
Went to the pediatrician today for my two-week checkup. I wasn't impressed at all by the whole situation and let everyone within earshot know about it. I'm now back over my birth weight, so that's a good thing. I'm now 6 lb 13 oz, up from 6-5 a week ago. I'm also now 20" long (initially 19") and my head is 13¾" (initially I was 13" in circumference). Fortunately, my associates had brought food with them, so I settled down after I hit the bottle.
Wed, 19 November 2003
Such wonderful friends I have. Both Linda and Diane from Daddy's work gave me presents this week. A lovely outfit and blankey from Diane. And Linda gave Mummy and Daddy a gift box of goodies from Southern Season. Not for me apparently. That's OK - my staff deserve it, especially these last few days!
Went on my inaugural walk on Sunday since it was unseasonably warm. Just through the housing development. Most pleasant.
And its so nice of everyone to write in my guest book. Thanks everyone!
Thu, 20 November 2003
I'm now having baths, now that my umbilical cord is all gone. I can't say I'm overly impressed with this concept of bathing in water, but I'll get probably get used to it. I haven't been comfortable much, today and yesterday. Not sure why yet, but I'm up and down all day. Poor Mummy and Grandma. This is also Dad's first week back at his office now after two week's off.
Fri, 21 November 2003
Three weeks old today!
Happy birthday to me! Today I'm three weeks old. What a big three weeks it been so far.
Sun, 23 November 2003
Mum and Dad went out last night to see How the Other Half Loves at Raleigh Little Theatre, while Grandma and I stayed home. They had dinner and saw the show with Andy and Sylvia Parks. A very pleasant evening so I'm told. It was good of me to let them have a night out on the town.
 Dad's discovered a new invention: ear plugs. Can't think why he'd need them - I thought he'd like me whispering my sweet nothings in his ear when he's "burping" me. I think he's a bit deaf, so I've been speaking up a little so he can hear me better.
Mum, Dad & I went for a walk round the neighbourhood this morning, since the weather is so nice (20°C or so), then the four of us went to Bear Rock Cafe and had lunch (sitting outside no less). Most pleasant.
Wed, 26 November 2003
I'm developing a new trick that my Mummy calls my "sleeping budda" trick. Here's how it works: I eat some of my bottle, but not all of it, then when Mummy tries to burp me, I pretend I'm asleep, put on my budda expression, and ignore her requests to burp. Then, when she thinks I'm really asleep and tries to put me down, I go "ah ha - tricked you!" (in baby screaming-my-head-off speak), which makes Mummy pick me up again. Then the game repeats again. Fun huh?
Grandma's new nickname for me when I'm grumpy: "bum-pot". Harsh but fair I guess.
Thu, 27 November 2003
Thanksgiving dinner
This afternoon, we have friends coming over for Thanksgiving dinner. Bob & Charlene, Sloan & Ravi, and us. Bob's cooking his deep fried turkey! People are arriving after 3pm, so its an afternoon-evening affair. Here's the menu. Yum!
Appetizers:
Cheese Straws (Sloan)
Shrimp platter (Kiron)
Aioli Platter (Charlene)
Spiced Nuts (Sloan)
Beverages:
Wine (Kiron)
Champagne (Kiron)
Martinis (Bob)
Entertainment:
Background music (Zoe)
Sitting and looking cute (Zoe)
Dinner:
Roasted Root Vegetable Soup (Charlene)
Southern Fried Cajun Turkey (Bob)
Gravy (Charlene)
Mashed Potatoes (Sloan)
Glazed Carrots (Sloan)
Green Bean Casserole (Sloan)
Braised Kale (Charlene)
Hot Cranberry Chutney (Charlene)
Raw Cranberry Relish (Charlene)
Desserts:
Coffee and Liqueurs/Cognac (Kiron)
Pie (Sloan)
Chocolate Torte (Charlene)
Fri, 28 November 2003
My grandma made the table arrangement (click for a larger photo)
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Before dinner, we had champagne, Pimm's, and martinis made by Bob. The yummy food was polished off with a couple of nice bottles of wine: a 91 Woodstock Shiraz and a 94 Wyndham Estate 555 Hermitage, plus a 2001 Wyndham 777 Semillon. I abstained, preferring to stick to my own bottle.
A very pleasant evening had by all. Thanks for coming!
Oh, and did you know that I'm four weeks old today. Hooray!
Sun, 30 November 2003
I'm a month old today (or as good as).
Click the image for a larger version
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Its been a long weekend for everyone (Thanksgiving). I had visitors over yesterday - Paul & Heather, with Kate and Rachel. Kate is four now and Rachel is one. Had a nice lunch out today at Applebee's Grill too - that was very nice. After lunch I went in my stroller and we all went shopping. Then after that, I went home for food and a nap, while Dad went to visit Linda in hosptal (who was recovering from her heart operation).
Check out my new exercise video on the right (or is it baby semaphore?)...
Go to: Archive index | October 2003
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