Mommy rocks!

 

Proud Papa

 

Kissing cousins

 

Go Bears!

 

Clara had fun hangin' with her Chicago cousins today. Brian, Mandy, and baby Ainsley

Hoorah, my cousins are coming!

 

Funny Faces (tech issues are resolved)

Spa Treatment with Jean

Clara's 1st Movie

Am I going to be warm enough?

Let's Polka

Clara is bigger today and her hair is coming in. To celebrate her almost 1 week anniversary we're going for a walk today on Montana Ave.

Pretty in pink

Home from the hospital

Today I came home from the hospital and decided to wear my special pink going home outfit. We just got home (very relieved to be here) and are getting settled in. Mommy is doing well, on her feet and walking around.

Who do I look like?

Everyone seems to have a different theory on who I look like. What do you think?

What about gifts?

Some have asked what to do about gifts for Clara. She has a gift registry at Bellini in Santa Monica, which is 310.394.6420. Bellini is a little bit behind the times when it comes to online systems, so you will have to call the store directly to access the registry. Other Bellini locations won't have it.

Beyond Bellini, Clara already has plenty of clothes for 0-6 months, so outfits for 6-12 or even 1-2 years would be better.

Some think of a check as a lame gift, but not us. We would happily accept donations to the Clara Eliot Baby Nurse Fund of Santa Monica.

Gifts should be sent to our home at:

The Eliot Family
201 Ocean Ave. , Apt. 1001b
Santa Monica, CA 90402

Hello everbody! It's me, Clara.

She chose her own birthday!

Clara Margaret was born at 4:55am this morning at Cedars. She came out looking perfect and weighed 6.9 lbs (20 inches). Pictures to follow...

Sveta is doing great - out of it following the operation - but all systems normal.

Welcome Clara!

You say its your birthday

Clara is in a breech position and so will be born via c-section. Today we scheduled her birth for December 23, 2006 at noon (as long as Mom doesn't go into labor before then). We were amazed that such a thing can be scheduled -- it seems so modern.

Mommy @ 36 weeks

Zeke is keeping Clara's car seat warm. Thanks buddy.

What's in a name?

Clara is both an English and Russian name that comes from the Latin word Clarus, which means "clear, bright, famous." Clara is the lead role in Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, a ballet traditionally performed at holiday time. Clara was the 246th most popular name in the United States in 2005, with 1,297 baby girls receiving the name. Other famous Claras: Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross and Clara Bow, a 1920's film star known as the original "it girl".

Margaret (Clara's middle name) is of Greek origin and means pearl. It was the name of nine queens of England, France, Austria, and Scotland. It is both an Eliot and Shadrova family name: Clara's grandmother Margarita, great-grandmother Marjorie, and great-aunt Peggy --all variant forms of Margaret.