It was only a month ago that I announced that Mheir and I were growing our own little bookworm. My news today is that our daughter was born last Monday, April 5th. She's doing well, but she arrived about 10 weeks early, so she'll be in the hospital for at least the next few weeks.
I'm spending as much time at the hospital with her as I can, and am thus taking a bit of a leave of absence from the blog. I won't be posting or accepting any offers of books for review. Terry will be continuing the Children's Literacy Roundups as she can, but I won't be contributing right now. I'm putting all of my energy into my little girl.
For those who might be interested, the first book that we read to her was One Night at the Zoo by Judith Kerr (reviewed here - last week's reviews were previously written and set up as delayed posts). We're starting to order books from the wish list that I set up last month, and appreciate the suggestions that many of you made. We can't wait to get our little one home from the hospital, and to read to her in a more cozy environment.
I will be sending out one issue of my Growing Bookworms email newsletter this week, so that subscribers know what I'm up to. My apologies to the many people who just signed up for the newsletter (subscribers flooded in after a recommendation from Donalyn Miller). I'm sorry about the timing - but I hope that you'll stick with me, as I'll be back to posting, and sending the newsletter, as soon as I can. Thanks for your patience!
Congratulations to you three! Love and blessings.
Posted by: BookMoot | April 13, 2010 at 11:20 PM
Welcome to the world, baby girl! Sending you and your family all the best. Be well and come home soon. :)
Posted by: Little Willow | April 13, 2010 at 11:21 PM
Ahh, who cares about that other stuff right now. Congratulations!!!! And yes... I echo "be well, and come home soon :-)" to the newest addition!
Posted by: Gregory K. | April 13, 2010 at 11:52 PM
It's all about the baby right now, Jen. Take care - all three of you and know that we are thinking of you so very much.
And, echoing LW, welcome to the world, little girl!!
Posted by: Colleen | April 13, 2010 at 11:54 PM
Aww! Little bookworm arrived! Hope all goes well and that she can come home with you very, very soon!
Posted by: Lenore | April 14, 2010 at 12:26 AM
Welcome to this world, baby girl! Jen, my first child was born early and indeed, you must save your energy for her and those visits at the hospital...a very special hug to all three of you!
Posted by: Rasco from RIF | April 14, 2010 at 01:27 AM
Congratulations!!! :o) :o) :o)
Posted by: Tarie | April 14, 2010 at 01:39 AM
Congratulations, being a mom is one of the most important jobs in the world. Your daughter is very lucky to have you and will be one very well read child. Best wishes!
Posted by: Jan@eatingyabooks | April 14, 2010 at 02:43 AM
Congratulations! Take all the time you need for your little girl. Best wishes for the three of you!
Posted by: Sarah N. | April 14, 2010 at 03:19 AM
Congratulations and best wishes and prayers for your little girl and family!
Posted by: Jeff | April 14, 2010 at 03:27 AM
Congratulations! Send up prayers for all of you!
Posted by: Sandra Stiles | April 14, 2010 at 03:34 AM
Congratulations Jen and baby girl. I'm sure things are crazily hectic but I hope she gets to come home soon. And I noticed she was born the day Duke won that National Championship so you have two things to celebrate.
Posted by: Paige Y. | April 14, 2010 at 03:45 AM
Dear Jen,
As the book-loving Mom of a beautiful six-year old girl who was born 10 weeks early and spent her first weeks in the NICU, I can very much relate. Save all your energy for her, and for yourself right now. Books and the blog and your followers will always be here.
Sending you blessings and all good wishes!
Posted by: Emma Walton Hamilton | April 14, 2010 at 03:52 AM
Congratulations Jen...and we will be there when you return.vNow it's family time!
Posted by: Marge Loch-Wouters | April 14, 2010 at 03:59 AM
Jen, congratulations! I will be thinking of you three lots and hoping that all goes well.
Posted by: Charlotte | April 14, 2010 at 04:00 AM
Congratulations, Jen! I'm sure you're excited and exhausted at the same time. We'll all be thinking of you and wishing you the best. Take all the time you need. The books and the readers will always be here!
Posted by: Dawn Riccardi Morris | April 14, 2010 at 04:06 AM
Congratulations, Jen! That little girl just couldn't wait to come out and start reading. :) Good luck and don't worry about the blog. Everyone will still be here when you and the family are home and well-rested.
sarah
Posted by: Sarah | April 14, 2010 at 04:16 AM
congrats! tend your bookworm and we'll see you when you get back.
Posted by: david e | April 14, 2010 at 04:29 AM
Congratulations! Big hugs to all of you :). Yay for new bookworms!
Posted by: jama | April 14, 2010 at 04:39 AM
Congratulations, Jen! I'm glad you and baby girl are doing well. And don't you worry about the blog - we'll all be thinking of you and waiting for you whenever you return.
Posted by: Abby | April 14, 2010 at 04:46 AM
Sending many congratulations and much love to you from Maine! We'll all be thinking of you!
Posted by: Leila | April 14, 2010 at 04:49 AM
Congratulations! My prayers will be with you all. I know it's tough having her there.
Posted by: Jennifer@5 Minutes for Books | April 14, 2010 at 04:49 AM
Congrats Jen & Mheir! Best wishes for your little one and I hope she is home soon. She just couldn't wait to get out and see the Red Sox - could she :)
Posted by: Kathy | April 14, 2010 at 04:54 AM
Sending lots of thoughts and prayers your way that your new little bookworm is out of the hospital and home with you very soon. Congratulations too!
Posted by: Tricia | April 14, 2010 at 04:58 AM
Jen, congratulations to you and Mheir on the birth of Little Bookworm!
Posted by: Susan (Chicken Spaghetti) | April 14, 2010 at 05:11 AM
Congratulations! Enjoy your crazy kangaroo time and fabulous NICU nurses. The interweb will be waiting for you whenever you're able to check back in.
Posted by: EM | April 14, 2010 at 05:25 AM
Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! Yes, please don't worry about the blog right now...your daughter comes first and your new job as a Mommy takes priority!
Posted by: Janelle @ Brimful Curiosities | April 14, 2010 at 05:31 AM
Congratulations, Jen! I'm glad to hear you're all doing well, but definitely take the time you need to take care of her -- and yourself! She comes first!
Posted by: sprite | April 14, 2010 at 06:08 AM
Congrats. Thanks for sharing such happy news.
Posted by: Doret | April 14, 2010 at 06:13 AM
Congratulatations to your family! Of course your little bookworm should come first...will still be here when you are ready to return!
Posted by: Susan (The Book Maven) | April 14, 2010 at 06:36 AM
Congratulations! May I recommend - Ten little fingers and ten little toes by Mem Fox? My little girl loves the rhythm and rhyme of the story and I love the cozy storytime. :D
Posted by: Christina | April 14, 2010 at 06:39 AM
Jen, congratulations! I'm glad to hear she is doing well. I know how hard it can be to have a baby in the NICU---I hope *you* are getting lots of nurturing, too. Please let us know if there is any way we can be of help. My heartfelt congratulations to you and Mheir. Welcome to the world, baby girl Robinson! :)
Posted by: Melissa Wiley | April 14, 2010 at 06:52 AM
Yeah! Congratulations ... I'm betting it was all the great stories you were reading her already that helped her decide she wanted a more comfy environment NOW! I echo all the others in the Welcome to the World, and second Christina on Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes! It's a great one.
Posted by: Terry Doherty | April 14, 2010 at 06:55 AM
Such wonderful news! I am reminded that all of my sister's kids were preemies and turned out just fine. Take care, and do get a little sleep! (I'll say a prayer just in case.)
Posted by: Kate Coombs | April 14, 2010 at 07:08 AM
Ditto to all these comments -- just concentrate on your little world -- they don't stay little for long (I know everyone says this but it's true). This community will still be here (you will be missed, of course).
Posted by: Robin | April 14, 2010 at 07:29 AM
Congratulations! Though I'll miss the regular updates, it's completely understandable. I hope your little girl gets to go home soon!
Posted by: NicoleS | April 14, 2010 at 07:37 AM
Congratulations to a very lucky little girl, and to her mother and father. Lots of love and book/story thoughts coming your way!
Posted by: Becky Levine | April 14, 2010 at 07:42 AM
Congratulations! Wishing you many precious storytimes in the days ahead.
Posted by: Olugbemisola | April 14, 2010 at 07:54 AM
Sending lots of happy and positive thoughts to you guys. xxx-ooo
Posted by: PJ Hoover | April 14, 2010 at 08:15 AM
I'm so happy for you all and glad she's doing well. She's lucky to have such a dedicated mom.
Posted by: Janssen | April 14, 2010 at 08:20 AM
Best wishes to your family! I hope your daughter has a fine literary-inspired name (only fitting I think) and is happy, healthy and home soon!
Posted by: Susan | April 14, 2010 at 08:52 AM
Totally understandable. Congratulations, Jen! Sending best wishes.
Posted by: Kim | April 14, 2010 at 08:59 AM
Congratulations, Jen! Thoughts and prayers sent your way.
Posted by: Angie | April 14, 2010 at 10:10 AM
Dear Jen and Mheir and baby girl, sending you love and hugs. Huge congratulations on your early stork delivery! My cousin's little girl was born at 26 weeks and is a big robust toddler now; hard to believe she was once so tiny!
xoxo
Posted by: Laini Taylor | April 14, 2010 at 10:48 AM
Congrats on the little girl! Hope she can come home soon... we'll miss your presence while you're gone.
Posted by: Melissa (Book Nut) | April 14, 2010 at 10:55 AM
Congratulations, Jen! Best wishes to all of you!
Posted by: Barbara Shoup | April 14, 2010 at 11:24 AM
Congratulations to you and Mheir! That is wonderful news and best of luck to all three of you. :)
Posted by: Rebecca | April 14, 2010 at 11:48 AM
What a surprise! Congratulations and best wishes to all three of you. Glad to hear you're reading to your little bookworm already!
Posted by: Sheila Beaumont | April 14, 2010 at 11:55 AM
Congratulations Jen and Mheir! I'm so glad your daughter is doing well and getting the best of care. Take care of yourselves. We'll be waiting for you when you come back.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hugs!
Posted by: Vivian | April 14, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Congratulations!!! I know it's an unexpected start, but welcome to the world of parenthood. Sending love and good wishes.
Posted by: MotherReader | April 14, 2010 at 12:11 PM
Congratulations: Hope you'll all be home together soon!
Posted by: NTE | April 14, 2010 at 12:33 PM
Congratulations, Jen and family! My nephew was born two months early and weighed only 2 lbs at birth. He was in the NICU for a month. Now, he's almost three, perfectly healthy, loves sports, and is doing great! Hang in there and try to get some rest. Your blog friend in Arizona,
Kate
PS I keep forgetting to tell you: nursery rhymes! My kids are two and (almost) four, and they both love nursery rhymes. We own at least five different nursery rhyme books. My thinking is: you can't go wrong with rhymes that children have been chanting for literally hundreds of years! We have Mary Engelbreit rhymes, Iona Opie and Rosemary Wells, and a couple of those black-and-white checked board book style nursery rhyme books. We read from them almost every day. But anyway, enough about reading, congratulations on your daughter!
Posted by: Kate | April 14, 2010 at 01:07 PM
Best wishes and many warm hugs. Bumps in the road always shake us up, but in the end they give us strength knowing we can adjust to changes, have people around us to support us, and can handle anything! Wishing you the best of care in your NICU. Many congratulations for all of you.
Mary Ann
Posted by: Mary Ann Scheuer | April 14, 2010 at 01:15 PM
Congratulations, Jen! Wishing you and your little one best.
Posted by: praba | April 14, 2010 at 01:34 PM
Congrats Jen and Hubby! Your little family will be in my prayers, hoping that you will be able to take home your little girl very soon! Enjoy every minute and don't worry...we'll all still be here when you come back!
Posted by: The1stdaughter | April 14, 2010 at 02:42 PM
Congratulations, I'm so happy for you! Praying that your little one will be home in your arms enjoying all the books you can possibly read to her very, very soon.
Posted by: Ruth @ Bookish Ruth | April 14, 2010 at 02:52 PM
Congratulations, Jen. Many good thoughts and wishes coming your way for a very short hospital stay. I will miss your blog, but you spend lots of time holding and reading to that baby and getting some rest. I will be looking forward to your return.
Posted by: Stephany Hughes | April 14, 2010 at 02:57 PM
Wow! Congrats and we definitely understand you taking time off to be with your baby. Hope she comes home soon!
Posted by: melissa @ 1lbr | April 14, 2010 at 03:49 PM
Congratulations to you and your husband! My prayers are with you and your baby girl, that she may get healthy quickly and come home. Jen, we will miss you but we'll be here when you get back.
Welcome to the world baby girl! Get strong and come home so mommy can share many wonderful books with you!
Posted by: Shelly Burns | April 14, 2010 at 04:28 PM
Jen~ I feel like such a doof that I missed you were expecting... But I am so glad you baby girl has arrived safe and sound. Early, but I love a girl that is punctual! Congratulations! I hope baby Robinson continues growing with your love. Here's to hoping for a real BookWorm!
Posted by: Megan Germano | April 14, 2010 at 06:03 PM
Oh, Jen! Congratulations to you and your family! Sending you all good thoughts.
A new little Red Sox fan! Hooray!
Posted by: Cynthia Lord | April 14, 2010 at 10:55 PM
Congratulations and so many best wishes to you three!
Posted by: Book Chook | April 15, 2010 at 04:04 AM
Congratulations on your darling daughter. Prayers & positive thoughts for you & your family, so that your little one goes home as soon as possible.
Posted by: Liz B | April 15, 2010 at 04:54 AM
Just adding my own congratulations. Many little ones decide they have had enough of being cooped up and are born early. You and M take care of yourselves right now while she is growing. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Posted by: June Morgan | April 15, 2010 at 06:29 AM
Congratulations! I know several children who were born early; they are doing very well. Best wishes for you and your family.
Posted by: Jennifer Schultz | April 15, 2010 at 06:30 AM
Congratulations dear Jen!!
Posted by: Nan | April 15, 2010 at 06:50 AM
Congratulations! What a lucky girl. I am glad that you are slowing down in order to give her more attention.
My mom bought me books for my oldest daughter a few weeks before she was born and told me to start reading to her:)
Posted by: Mrs. V | April 15, 2010 at 07:11 AM
Thank you all so, so much! I don't have time to respond individually, but each and every one of these comments is helping to sustain me.
And to respond to a couple of specific points: yes, we certainly took note that she was born on a day that Duke won a national championship. And she seems to have decided to be born on Red Sox Opening Day and Easter. We consider these things to be auspicious.
Our little bookworm is doing a little bit better every day. We are very lucky to have her, and to have all of your support and good wishes. Thank you!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | April 15, 2010 at 10:25 AM
Thank you so much for letting us know this news. It's lovely to see all these comments of support,too. We will all be thinking of you and your new daughter. Long may she thrive!
Posted by: Saints and Spinners | April 15, 2010 at 09:48 PM
Congratulations and best wishes for a speedy homecoming!
Posted by: Michelle | April 16, 2010 at 09:45 AM
Congratulations and best wishes to you and your family!
Posted by: Valerie | April 16, 2010 at 11:06 AM
Congratulations! She is one lucky little girl.
Posted by: Readingjunky | April 16, 2010 at 09:33 PM
Blessings to you all! What a lucky little girl to have such book loving parents.
Posted by: Vicki | April 17, 2010 at 07:05 AM
Encore!
Posted by: RM1(SS) (ret) | April 17, 2010 at 11:37 AM
Come home soon little girl! There are lots of books waiting for you!
all good thoughts to your family Jen!
Posted by: Shelf Elf | April 17, 2010 at 05:56 PM
I am grateful that your daughter is doing well, and I will keep your family in my thoughts.
Posted by: Stephanie | April 18, 2010 at 08:10 AM
Jen--I have a preemie story for you, too. One of my boys was born 8 weeks early, spent a month in the hospital, and now--he's in graduate school! Those NICU people know what they're doing. They'll take good care of all three of you. Congratulations.
Posted by: Gail Gauthier | April 18, 2010 at 04:30 PM
Congratulations and I'm sending lots of grow quickly and well wishes to your little daughter. I'm sure she will be awesome!
Posted by: Jenny Schwartzberg | April 18, 2010 at 08:56 PM
Many, many congratulations! Hope your little one is doing well and home with you soon!
Posted by: Kate Messner | April 19, 2010 at 04:07 AM
My warm regards and best wishes, and of to a cracking start with the reading!
Posted by: Ian @ Tidy Books | April 20, 2010 at 03:39 AM
I somehow missed this post and missed your postings and came over to investigate. Congratulations on your new little girl! Despite being early I hope that everything goes well!
Posted by: Natasha @ Maw Books | April 23, 2010 at 02:47 PM
I've been immersed in my own personal stuff so I've been behind catching up with other folks. Belated congratulations on your little girl. It must have been scary having her arrive early but I just saw the Facebook update that she was doing better. I'm so glad to hear it.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Susan Taylor Brown | April 24, 2010 at 08:08 PM
YAY, Jen and Mheir! Congrats on bringing a new little book-lover into the world. I hope she comes home soon!
Posted by: eisha | April 25, 2010 at 07:03 AM
Mazel tov, Jen!
Posted by: Sam @ Parenthetical | April 25, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Jen,
Sorry to be so late in sending along my congratulations to you! Girls are the best!!! May you have many happy hours reading to your little angel.
I've been absorbed with plans and arrangements for my own daughter's bridal shower and wedding and haven't been doing as much blog reading as usual.
Posted by: Elaine Magliaro | April 26, 2010 at 06:27 AM
Hey Jen
That is great news that you had a bub. I was missing your tweets and thought I'd drop by the blog and see what was happening. I hope it's an amazing adventure!
T.
Posted by: Tristan Bancks | April 26, 2010 at 08:40 PM
Congratulations Jen! I hope she just has a very short stay in hospital and is back with both of you as soon as can be. Enjoy being a family of three xxx
Posted by: Tasha | April 29, 2010 at 05:12 AM
I hope your daughter is doing well!
Posted by: Liviania | May 02, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Congratulations! Here's hoping she is able to join you at home quickly. What an amazing mommy you will be!
Posted by: Tasha | May 03, 2010 at 12:21 PM
I add my voice, far too late, to the chorus of well wishers. Congratulations.
Posted by: beth kephart | May 23, 2010 at 03:11 AM