Jessica E announces her arrival.	Stephanie is a big sister now.
Richard, Amanda, Jessica, Stephanie
Jessica Emma.	Stepanie, Nancy, Jessica.

For 9 months my brother and his wife swore that the baby was going to be a boy. When asked what the baby’s name was going to be if it was a boy they’d reply, “Andrew Richard, the same as if Stephie had been a boy.” When asked what the baby’s name was going to be if it was a girl they’d reply, “It’s not going to be a girl.” The last time I spoke with her, Stephanie, who, of course, counts their cats as full members of the family, reasoned that with a baby girl it would be all even. 3 boys and 3 girls in their family. Well… guess what? IT’S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!! This afternoon at 3:19 p.m., weighing in at 8 lbs. 4 oz., Jessica Emma Bowden made a very loud appearance. From what I’ve heard, and from what I really did hear in the background on the phone, Jess has been crying for hours on end. Poor thing.

Here’s how Steph learned how to hold Jessica so well:

Stephanie in Sibling Class, Milwaukee, WI

About the time that Jessica was born, I was listening to Slim Goodbody mp3s and wishing it was 5:00 so I could leave. After work Jessica (oh boy, this is going to get confusing) and Jeannette and I were going to the Orchard Street Block Party. Local vendors were going to be selling their merchandise and food and I was really looking forward to finally trying the pickles from Guss’ Lower East Side Pickles. We wander walked over to the block party, stopping in stores here and there along the way. When my brother called me to tell me the good news I was in SoHo Baby, a boutique on Elizabeth Street, oogling over cute things I could buy for the baby. He called from the hospital and I didn’t recognize the number so I turned the ringer off, without answering, and proceeded to play with a stuffed penguin and igloo. Ten minutes later my phone was ringing again. This time my brother was calling from his cell phone and my caller ID let me know it was him so I picked up. The rest is history! Later on Jess, um.. my friend Jess not my niece Jess, and I had a celebratory beer and burger at Pianos on Ludlow.

Tim Baker, owner of Guss’ Lower East Side Pickles, LES, Manhattan

Trying on t-shirts at the Orchard Street Block Party. I bought the white one. I was obviously in a happy/excited/sad-I-couldn’t-be-there/weird mood all night.

Congrats, Dick, Amanda & Steph. I really wish I could be there right now. And thanks to Nancy for everything, you jerk.

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