Dad's Email

Here is an email that Craig did shortly after Natalie's birth. I am adding it to the blog for anyone who may not have seen it:

Drum roll please .....

And now ... Put your hands together ... An event we've been waiting 9 months
for ... Provide a hearty post-partum welcome to the one, the only Natalie
Paul (last name)!!!

The stats are:
* Born Wednesday, 9/10/08 (or, as they'd write in Europe -- 10/09/08 for the
numerologists amongst you) at 9:06pm. Daddy tried to convince the nurses
that she was born at 9:10 on 9:10 but they were having none of it. She was
9 days early vs. the projected due date -- I'm not sure why this member of
the family is the one who thought being early was appreciated and valued.

* Weight: 7 lbs. 5 oz.

* Length: 19.5 inches

* Eye color: Tough to tell -- much of her time is spent with eyes closed.

* Delivery/Labor: Water broke at 3am on Wednesday meaning total time in
various stages of labor was about 18 hours. An epidural was required at
about 7cm dilation (just made it under the wire). Actual pushing took about
2.5 hours.

* Hospital: Scripps Mercy in San Diego

* Languages spoken: English, American Sign Language, Latin (I know, amazing
eh!!!! Problem is she's shy about showing off so early in life. LOL!!!)

Many have asked where we got the name Natalie Paul -- well, we liked Natalie
as it has a classic appeal with both Christian and Hebrew roots. It's
multi-syllabic which seemed to go well with her last name. And it also
provides ample opportunity to nickname her, be it Nat or Tali or Sweetheart
(I think this last one could have come with any name we chose.) Her middle
name, Paul, is in honor of the grandfather she never got to meet.
Danielle's dad is Paul and we wanted to pay tribute without modification.

Although Natalie battled a case of jaundice requiring an extra night's stay
in the hospital, she is otherwise healthy and seemingly very happy to be
home. She is extremely strong -- her legs and arms are deceptively powerful
when compared to her weak father's ability to manage that strength. Also
doing great is Natalie's mom ... Danielle had a long but very smooth
delivery and she is already high on energy, low on soreness after just a
couple of days. Daddy is tired and in awe, not to mention amazed that he
watched the entire birth without puking or passing out.

I know that in this Web 2.0 world I should be posting all photos to a
website and let you grab them. Well, we'll put more out on Danielle's blog
(canddbabysd.blogspot.com) and likely put some in a photo gallery but here
are some photos of our little bundle of joy before we get to those things
... They've been compressed so that I could send you several ... If you want
larger size files to print the photos, just let me know.

Many thanks and love to all of you for your bountiful support and generosity
during this amazing time. We are so lucky to have such wonderful, loving
friends and family.

All our love!

Craig, Danielle, and Natalie