Prologue

That is, the first week. Sulwen Drapkin, daughter of Tanna and Stephen Drapkin, weighed in at 8 pounds, 6 ounces on August 16, 2007, 10:43am at the Sutter Medical Center in Santa Rosa, CA. The plan was that she would be born at home in a water bath, but circumstances intervened, and mother and baby had a helicopter ride from Timber Cove to Sutter on the morning (before) she was born. However, she and Tanna were back home in the afternoon that day, and they are both doing well. So is the father.

So, where did the name Sulwen come from? Most websites about names that I have seen say that Sulwen is Welsh (sometimes Scottish) and means "bright as the sun". Tanna and Stephen say "brighter than the sun" and I'll give them that.

Of course, there are many pictures, so I've picked out some of (what I think are) the best. Pick and choose, or whatever. We start out, actually, a few days prior (five days) to her arrival with this picture of mother and daughter. For the rest, I will simply make a listing of shots with a few words (mostly) about the subject. For record purposes, pictures with names prefixed by "d" came out of Stephen's camera (don't know who clicked) and those prefixed with "q" came out of my camera (mostly I shot them, but not all). This first below was taken by Hailey with her cell phone (aren't cell phones wonderful? (Thanks, Phillipe) Sometimes I wonder about that.).

Thursday, August 16, 2007: Birth Date!

  • Sulwen has arrived!
  • Sulwen at home with Aunty Hailey (or Hailey-Mama, since she is genetically identical to Tanna)

    • Friday, August 17, 2007: Grandparents arrive!

  • First a moment of rest with Stephen
  • Nanny Drapkin gets some Sulwen time
  • A three generation Drapkin picture
  • A little later, Grammy arrives, but Sulwen snoozes on
  • Grandad tries to get some eyeball time, but ...
  • The grandparents and Sulwen
  • Using Hailey's label on this one: The Genetic Team

    • Saturday, August 18, 2007: More relatives arrive!

    The grandparents repressed their urges and stayed away from Sulwen this morning. At lunch we met Nancy at the Sea Ranch Inn.
  • Here we are with Hailey, ocean in the background
  • Meanwhile, Sulwen gets a little quiet time
  • And maybe a bit more in the arms of Hailey
  • If pictures don't lie, she prefers Grammy
  • On the other hand, maybe not
  • On the third hand, Grammy's lap is not so bad
  • But then the cousins arrive, here Aunt Laura holds Sulwen while Fiona looks on
  • Uncle Evan shows off his baby holding skills
  • Finally Sulwen gets back to Daddy

    • Sunday, August 19, 2007: A day of relative (in two senses) calm!

  • Daddy gets aanother chance to relax with Sulwen
  • Nanny takes a hand with Sulwen
  • At last Tanna gets to hold Sulwen (while a picture is taken, I mean)
  • That felt so good, here's another one
  • A little later Evan pops around for another turn

    • Monday, August 20, 2007: Goodbye to the cousins!

  • Ahhh, life's good!
  • After that, what could be better than relaxing with Laura
  • Or even put up with Fiona
  • In fact, even with Ian
  • Finally, a chance to get some well-earned rest
  • Even better, some Hailey-Mama time

    • Tuesday, August 21, 2007: More Grammy and Grandad!

  • But first, a little Mommy time
  • Followed by a little Poppa time
  • Then Sulwen gives Grammy a a wide-eyed look
  • Worth a long look
  • I really do like Grandad, I'm just giving him a hard time
  • Time for a Drapkin Family portrait
  • Who are those people?

    • Wednesday, August 22, 2007: I'm getting the hang of this stuff!

  • First swimming lesson
  • Followed by a ride upstairs with Dad
  • And a little rest
  • Then comes Grandad taking a picture out my window
  • A little Grammy time is good

    • Thursday, August 23, 2007: One week old!

  • Sulwen at rest on the arm of Grandad
  • Again, different arm
  • Then, some more Grammy time - got to rest up for
  • The party and here's the cake
  • Another family portrait , with cake
  • Dad says blow out the candle
    • It's been quite a week.