My daughter, Ramona
Thursday, August 8, 2013
My wife Heidi and I are excited to announce the birth of our daughter. Ramona Mira Cavalier was born on August 5, 2013 at 4:36 a.m., weighing 8 lbs. 8 oz. and measuring 19.5 inches.
It was a 37-hour labor, but in the end she was born after only eight pushes over eight minutes. Ramona held out in the womb long enough to share astronaut Neil Armstrong‘s birthday. We are thrilled to be parents and to welcome Ramona into this world.
Ramona’s name
Ramona means “wise protector” (Spanish). The Hebrew name Rimona means “pomegranate.” As for her middle name, Mira means “sea, ocean” (Sanskrit), “peace” (Slavic) and “wonder” (Latin). Mira is also the name of a red giant star in the constellation Cetus.
Songs about Ramona
Ramona has been the subject of many excellent songs, including “Ramona” by Louie Armstrong, “Ramona” by Beck, “Ramona” by Guster and “To Ramona” by Bob Dylan (and the Dylan cover by Sinéad Lohan).
Ramona’s conception
The ultrasound machine dated Ramona’s conception to our wedding night, November 11, 2012, which was less than two days after Heidi and I returned from 40 days in Europe. We had our extended “honeymoon” before getting married on 11/11. However, there is the chance that Ramona was conceived on our last night in Paris on Thursday, November 8. We were staying in a hotel in Montmartre. So, she might be a French baby. Maybe she can be Amélie.
Ramona’s recent past
This was Ramona as a fetus, about seven and five months ago – with a raised fist each time:
This was Ramona at home earlier today, at three days old:
Ramona’s imagined future
This is how I imagine my daughter at age 3 (little girl from a Borealis Press greeting card):
This is how I imagine her at age 5 (Ramona Quimby in the book Ramona the Pest):
This is how I imagine her at age 6 (Flora Guiet as Amélie Poulain in Amélie):
This is how I imagine her at age 8 (Sarah Polley as Ramona Quimby in the 1988 TV series Ramona):
This is how I imagine her at age 9, minus being orphaned (Judith Vittette as Miette in City of Lost Children):
This is how I imagine her at age 16, minus the pregnancy (Ellen Page as Juno MacGuff in Juno):
This is how I imagine her at age 23 (Audrey Tautou as Amélie Poulain in Amélie):
This is how I imagine her at age 24, minus the seven evil exes (Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona Flowers in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World):
I am fascinated by our daughter and eager to watch her grow and reveal her personality. What kind of person will she become? What will she do with her life?
I am so grateful for her existence. ♥
My wife and I will surely post more photos of Ramona to Flickr, since we are each taking dozens of shots per day right now.