First of all, thank you — thank you — for all of your kind words, congratulations, and well wishes about the birth of our little Clara. Your messages, comments, and encouragement have meant so much to us during this exciting time. We love reading every note and appreciate how many of you have shared in our joy. Now, who wants to help with diaper duty?
We held a baby pool to celebrate Clara’s arrival, and the official prize—a $100 West Elm gift card—was reserved for anyone who correctly predicted her birthday. The winning date was May 14th, and while it would be fun to report exact numbers, combing through more than five thousand entries to count identical guesses isn’t exactly thrilling work for new parents. What I can tell you is that May 14th was not a common pick among the guesses we saw. Many people assumed she’d arrive either on her due date or a bit late. In our family’s casual pool, for example, no one chose May 14th at all.
On a personal note, my own guess ended up being the closest in my family’s little contest: I guessed May 15 at 4:15 a.m., which turned out to be only about ten hours off. That wasn’t the result of any special parental intuition—just a selfish move on my part, picking my own half birthday as a random guess. As it happened, Clara surprised us all by arriving a touch earlier than that.
The $100 West Elm gift card will go to one randomly selected entrant from our baby pool who chose the correct date of May 14th. The winner was chosen by a random drawing, and the lucky person is Sue. Congratulations, Sue! We’re curious whether any of our readers who guessed that date used a particular method: did you check lunar phases, pick a meaningful number, or simply go with a gut feeling? We’d also love to hear if you’ve already decided what you might buy with the gift card. Happy shopping and enjoy treating yourself.
We’re still enjoying the glow and chaos that come with a newborn—those first weeks are a mix of sleepy snuggles, diaper changes, and first tiny milestones. Your support and excitement have made this time even more special for us. If you participated in the baby pool, thank you for joining in the fun and sharing your guesses. We had a blast reading them, and it warmed our hearts to see so many of you taking part.
To anyone who sent tips, thoughtful gifts, or personal stories about parenthood: your kindness is appreciated more than you know. Every recommendation for sleep tricks, baby gear, and gentle encouragement helps us feel supported as we navigate these early days. We’re taking notes and enjoying the learning process, one diaper change and feeding at a time.
If you’re curious about how the giveaway was run, or want details about future contests and freebies, keep an eye on our usual channels for updates. We’ll share more information about how winners are chosen and post answers to frequently asked questions for readers who asked about rules, eligibility, or the selection process. For now, we’re focusing on being present with our new little family member, cherishing the quiet moments and the occasional surprise.
Find more freebie info on our Giveaway FAQs page.