Then...Amie and Gestating Gerty Goldman Gundersen

After lots of hard work, the belly began to grow...







...and grow...










...and grow...














...and grow.










Our little beastie - dubbed Gertie Goldman Gundersen as a name placeholder - made the pilgrimage to the Land of Blue Hair, Sandpaper Skin, and Mickey Mouse Ears (otherwise known as Florida) to see her Great, Great Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Grandmother in Florida on Mother's Day. Great, Great Grandma Helen blessed the belly and Amie was home to rule the universe from the couch in our family room while on several weeks of doctor-ordered bedrest. She (and yours truly) survived with only a few hours at the bottom of the emotional barrel and Gertie managed to stay in utero until she was cooked into a Luciena Tova.

Watching the growth of Lucie confirmed one belief. Women are aliens. It's the only explanation for the transformation of body, brain, and, well, boobs. And no, boobs are not part of the rest of the body during pregnancy. They become their own beings and must be respected as such. Body parts aside, the growth and birth of Lucie was as miraculous an event as I can imagine. Whether evolution, intelligent design, or alien intervention, from seed to squawker, birthing is a marvel and the product a joy.

Luciena Tova Gundersen - Lightning and Thunder

18 July 2005, 2:27 PM, 20 inches, 7 lbs 15 oz

Every child must find her name. Our first encounter with her was as a flickering pixel on a video screen. Immediately, the heartbeat became a twinkling star, at which point she made us understand the substance behind cliche. She would become the light of our lives. She is "la luz." Lux. Luciena for the light shone that morning. Luciena for the shining memory of her Great Grandma Lilyan. Luciena so she could be our Lucie, but also Princess Luciena. Luciena because she will someday decide her name and identity - Lulu, Luc, Lucie, Luciena, Ciena, MC Lu-C... She will need to define herself and her parents will hopefully provide both root and wings...and maybe a swift emotional/intellectual/spiritual/non-violent kick in the pants if needed.

And every name should have a middle. An anchor for the first and the last. A middle name with foundations. Tova is Hebrew for "good," and a tribute to the coming years of Pesach belly grumbles, atonement during the High Holidays, and her understanding and appreciation of being Jewish. But cultural identity will come with a twist. With a last name Gundersen, this spawn of Gunnar will also be a Viking. The Swedes and Danes should fear her even now. Accordingly, Tova is also Old Norse for "beautiful thunder." She is our lightning and thunder, and she is already living up to her very loaded names.

With this her first blog entry, let us simply lead with a few firsts from Lucie's early days of life and living. The premiere photo is of Lucie's toes packed into her beloved "bucket" for the very first time. The second shot is one of the first eye to (unfocused) eye moments between mother and daughter. The final picture is a small ray of the light she brings - in this case the smile and joy on the face of my "godchic" Caroline upon their first encounter.

Given that we're entering the blogiverse after Lucie's 4th month, the next several entries will highlight our pre-delivery journey and the first few months of Lucie's already busy life. We then look forward to chronicling every step, stumble, and stride as she shines and rumbles along. We hope you can visit once in awhile to catch up...