Sprout Has Arrived

Sprout has arrived. Charlotte Alice Geyskens was born on May 9, 2005 at 7:56 pm Chicago time. She was 4 weeks early, but weighed in at a healthy 5 lbs 2 oz and 43 cm long. It was quite an adventurous day and, as we say in marketing, an unexpected delight to meet our daughter a bit early.

Charlotte is doing as well, if not better, than can be expected at this time. She’s happily settled in at Children’s Memorial Hospital (no visitors, flowers, balloons, etc. please) where the nurses love her and she’s getting oodles of attention. She’s been breathing on her own from the beginning; getting nutrition through the world’s tiniest NG tube, but otherwise only hooked to monitors; no IV or anything.

Needless to say, she is adorable, gorgeous, and has a beautiful disposition. Philippe swears she’s already smiling at him. And for those of you who know Philippe’s theory on diaper-changing (he would never change anyone’s but his own child’s), Philippe is now an expert tiny diaper changer. Looks like I finally have competition for his attention.