Gemma Taylor Gieser! Her first two days of life!

What a remarkable experience: watching and waiting for nine months as this little being formed in Julianna's body. Then comes the day when she arrives in our world, living and breathing, squirming and dark-haired. What a wonder she is, a gift from God.

Gemma was born on Wednesday, September 1. Weight: 6 pounds, 8 ounces. Length: 19 inches.

At a routine check-up on Tuesday the doctor expressed concern that Gemma had not gained any weight for the past four weeks and noticed that amniotic fluid levels were low. She felt that Naartjie (as we called her in utero) was not getting the nutrition she needed to grow: it was time for her to come out. So, as ordered, we went to the hospital on Wednesday morning to have Julianna's water broken.


Jul had a quick labor and delivery: her water was broken at 8.45 am, which, as hoped, got her body moving into action. Contractions began regularly fifteen minutes later. From noon they became intense. At 2.08 pm Jul felt the urge to push. She did - and Gemma was born 9 minutes later! (We'll omit the first photos, as neither mother nor daughter are looking their best).


Gemma's first bath, given by a nurse shortly after delivery.


Grandma Hawkins, or "Jaja" (which means "grandmother" in a Ugandan language), arrived later that afternoon.





Grandma Gieser, or "Nonna", drove down from Wheaton on Thursday.


I appreciated friends who gave me permission to change their kids' dirty diapers, but long ago I decided that I would wait to learn that important skill until I had a child of my own. Here I am, in action...this was probably the fourth or fifth dirty diaper. How am I doing?



The journey from our recovery room to the car. Afterwards Julianna said that it was one of her proudest moments in life.


Gemma didn't make a peep during her first ride in a car - and I drove especially carefully with such precious cargo inside.


We're home!