The Arrival of Gwendolyn Wren

It all started on June 25, 2008. No, wait, it all started 9 months earlier, in Panama. No, wait, it really started 34 years ago, when Rachel was in her mother's womb. Well, when you think about it, it's really hard to say when it all started. But Gwendolyn Wren was born on June 25, 2008, so we'll start there too.

She was born at Birthwise Birth Center in Austin, TX. In this picture, she is less than 3 hours old.

Rachel liked how the midwife used a spring scale to weight the baby--just like Rachel weighs bats in her research. Gwendolyn's birth weight was 8 lbs. 12 oz. Pretty big for a baby born 2 weeks before the due date! (And yes, they did remember to subtract the weight of the sling.)

We left the birth center a mere 6 hours after she was born. I still can't quite believe they let us just take her home, without making us pass a childcare test or anything.


Once we got her home, we took a closer look at our new daughter. She's a little chubby!


We checked to make sure she has the right number of fingers and toes.


Then we helped her into her first PJ's. Pretty much everything is a first at this point in life.


Before now, I've never really been comfortable holding babies. But this is different. It's kind of like looking into a pond--I see my own reflection, but also see mysterious depths beyond. That is, until the magic is interrupted by Gwendolyn crying out for her mother...


So, now I no longer know who is the most beautiful girl in the world. I get to live with the top two! And they are even more beautiful together.


Gwen Wren's grandmother hasn't lost her touch. She is masterful at singing and rocking the Wren to sleep. Theo has had some recent practice, though. Her other granddaughter, Madeleine (aka Maddie, aka Slappy), was born in March. Click here to see Maddie's blog.


Grandpa Toby also took a turn with the Wrenster.

As did Grandpa John. Doesn't he look proud? Gwendolyn has 25% of his genes, after all!


All in all, I must say I'm rather pleased to be a dad. OK, in the high moments, maybe more like ecstatic.