I’m happy to announce that my wife Elanne gave birth at 9:44pm on July 23, 2011 to a beautiful baby girl.
Sylvie was born at home (in our bed, as a matter of fact!) weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces.
She’s healthy and doing very well as she explores this wide world outside the womb, and is diligently perfecting her breastfeeding technique.
Elanne and I are tired, as expected, but overflowing with joy and wonder. All the cliches are true – but don’t come close to expressing the reality of what it’s like to bring a child into the world and meet her for the first time. Of course all of you who are parents know exactly what I’m talking about.
I’m taking some time off from seeing patients and everything else I do to bond with Sylvie, rest and find a rhythm in this new family configuration. I do have a blog post I wrote before Sylvie’s birth I may post next week, but other than that things will be pretty quiet around here until I return to half-time work on August 8th.
In this quite space I’ve also had time to reflect on how fortunate I am to have such a passionate, engaged and supportive audience here on the blog, on my podcast and on Twitter and Facebook. I feel honored to be able to do this work and share it with you all, and I’m so grateful for your presence in this community.
I’ll leave you with a few more pictures… daddy has to change a dirty diaper!
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Sondra Rose says
Congrats & enjoy your babymoon!
Action Mortgage says
Great info dude!!
gary says
my first time commenting here, love your podcasts chris, congratulations on your new girl!!
Erica says
Congradulations Chris! Your baby is absolutely adorable! 🙂
Angela Sparks says
Congratulations from another home-birthing mother of four, all grown now. Sylvie is gorgeous! It has been such a treat to share your journey through your blog and podcasts. I look forward to sharing more of your healthy skepticism.
Sandra Brigham says
Congratulations! And the pic with her feet is precious!
Andreas says
Congratulations Chris and Elanne! Also, that’s a great looking bicep holding Sylvie.
Jack Kronk says
So neat! Nice healthy weight too! What a precious blessing she is.
We just watched that documentary that Ricki Lake made called “The Business of Being Born”.
They explore the differences between home births and hospital births.
Ya dunn good Chris (and Elanne).
Davie says
Congratulations!!! Enjoy it all.
Liz Downunder says
Chris and Elanne, congrats, and welcome to the world, Sylvie. Enjoy a slow, quiet babymoon, it does whizz by so quickly. And i understand the cliches…I remember when my first child was born I kept telling everyone that I couldn’t believe how beautiful he was, he was like a gift of light, so perfect and tiny and passive and sweet. ENJOY!!
love from liz
Brooke says
Just beautiful! Congratulations, I am so pleased to hear that the birth at home went well. Enjoy and have fun 🙂
simona says
She’s perfect and she’s lucky to have you as parents. All the best wishes for you.
Michael Barker says
Congrats on starting an adventure which change your life in ways you can’t possibly know.
Maggie says
Yay! Congrats & many blessings!
Ned Kock says
Congrats Chris!!!
Jim says
Beautiful! Congratulations!!
Patrick says
What a beautiful girl and a name to match. Congratulations.
Kurt G Harris says
Congratulations! I was just about to email you to see if the happy “event” had occurred yet.
Take Care… Hope you bought some AU before the runup : )
James Randorff says
Congrats, doc-daddy! 🙂
grace says
OMG She’s perfect!!!!!!!!!!! And epigenetically too! 🙂 Congratulations Chris and to your beautiful wife!
Ted says
God bless her. Best wishes in the days (and nights) ahead. -T.
Janeen says
What a blessing! You daughter is beautiful and looks like a picture of health! Give your wife a high five from me! She’s done a very good thing indeed.
Lou says
Congratulations to you both! She’s beautiful – enjoy all the moments of wonder!
Anne says
She is precious. Congratulations!
Brenden says
Congrats! She is adorable!
Jackson says
Congratulations to you and your family, she looks beautiful.
No doubt she is one healthy baby.
Best regards,
Jackson
Kathy says
Congratulations on your beautiful new daughter! And thanks for sharing the pictures!
Becky Leppard says
Love those precious feet. Enjoy the miracle and have fun bonding.
susan says
congratulations, her little footsies are adorable!
WP says
Congratulations, Chris! Many blessings for the newborn!
Stephanie says
Congratulations! She is absolutely beautiful. Enjoy your time with her 🙂
terrence says
Congratulations on your beautiful little girl, Chris and Elanne.
I found with my son that the particular day was ( yes, down to the day) was the best day. Babies, toddlers, grade one, two, three,… was the best.
Try some feet pictures of all three of you – babies, mommies, than daddies ((()))
Carol Wright says
What a beautiful little girl . I know how happy you must be, as happy as I am with my two lovely daughters. May Sylvie bring as much joy into your life as my daughters have in mine.
Dana says
FEETS! Teh FEETS! *mooshymelt* d’aaaaawwwwww!!!
Congrats to both of you! Babies are awesome. 😀
Lindsay says
Congratulations! What a beautiful baby girl! Enjoy this time with your new family.
Cherry says
Congratulations! The pictures are so precious <3
I think it's super cool that Slyvie was born where she was probably made. Good thing it wasn't at the movie theaters! 😛
Kidding aside, thank you for sharing this special moment with us.
szara says
I’m so happy for you both. Glad to hear all went well. Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl.
Roger Elliott says
Congratulations Chris, she’s absolutely beautiful. I’m so impressed with your wife and your bravery and conviction in doing childbirth the natural way. Our second was born this way and it was such a different experience. Enjoy.
Chris says
Great news and beautiful photos
Gail Griffith says
How wonderful! She is beautiful, and a blessed child to be born into your family.
Peace
Gail
Kymberly says
Congratulations on your home birth! It’s never too early to start considering the possibility of homeschooling when the time comes. One perk is that it provides greater parental control over your child’s nutritional environment. : )
Kayla says
Seems to me like these things are going hand in hand. Once you jump off the band wagon its hard to get back on!
Ben says
Congrats. Beautiful family. Best wishes.
Jessica says
Awwww! She’s gorgeous! SO happy you were able to have a home birth and that everything went smoothly. That is always such a blessing to hear! 🙂
Enjoy your time with your family. Now is such precious time!
Katharine says
Marvellous news. What a relief!
Margaret Wilde says
Congratulations and best wishes!
Denis says
Congratulation from the UK. 8 pounds, 6 ounces is a good weight.
nicole says
yahoo! congrats guys! babies born at home are such happy babies…and so are their mamas and dads who get to be comfy in their own beds 🙂
Ellen says
OOOOH those little feet! Mazel Tov! Or maybe Mazel Toe.
Rachel says
Many congratulations are your new family member 🙂
Tim Lundeen says
Congratulations! I’m delighted for you and Elanne.
Justin Ross says
Congrats! I’m glad everything went well. 🙂
The Life and Adventures of Cateepoo says
She is stunningly beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing her with us. Congratulations.
Lisa says
Those pictures are so precious! Congratulations.
Lynn & Bob says
Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl! And for having her “the old fashioned way”. We forget how natural a process it is, or rather, can be. All the best to the 3 of you!
Cara Zaller says
She’s absolutely perfect! Congrats.
Elena Sarytchev says
Chris, wow….how beautiful she is! How very great to hear that everything is wonderful! My sincere congratulations and warmest regards!!
Julie Mikos says
Hooray and welcome to Sylvie! Looks like you’ve been taking some gorgeous pics on your own, but let me know when you want to schedule our photo session! Can’t wait to meet her!
Paul Jaminet says
Congratulations Chris!!! A beautiful baby! My best to Elanne.
Rosalyn Larson says
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!
Having a baby is a wonderful thing.
All my best to you and Mommy,
Rosalyn
Petros says
congratulations man, she’s beautiful. Hope mom and daughter (and you i guess xD) are doing well! Thanks for everything you do, enjoy you’re work.
Tracy says
She’s adorable and squishy! It’s great to hear that the home-birthing went so well. The baby feet picture is a heart melter! Much congrats to the new rents, and happy diaper changing! 🙂
Liss says
Congratulations! there is nothing more precious than a healthy new life coming into this world. Enjoy fatherhood and all the best to you and your new growing family!
Amanda says
Congratulations! She is adorable!! Enjoy every moment you have with her 🙂
Sandhya says
What a beauty! Congrats to you both.
Raj Ganpath says
Hey Chris – Many congrats to you guys!
Nikki says
The cliches are true! I remind myself to enjoy every moment, especially when I’m awake in the middle of the night breastfeeding because it really DOES go by very fast! Enjoy this magical time with your family. She is gorgeous and I love her hair!
Resurgent says
Many Many Congratulations…!!
Chava says
How wonderful! As we say here, mazal tov! She is amazing. Enjoy her!
chuck says
Congrats!!! Sounds like you guys grew a good one. Keep it up.
Suzan says
Congratulations!
Jane says
Ah, you forget they were once that tiny!
Lola says
I’m just listening to a podcast now and I saw t his. Congratulations… how beautiful.
Genevieve says
Have a wonderful Babymoon! She is BEAUTIFUL!! There is nothing more peaceful or more precious then a sleeping baby on your chest. God bless you and your family Chris!!