It's an Olive!

We have baby!

Olive Allyne Fischer was born Saturday, December 15, at 11:10 a.m. She was born underwater- a little Fisch from the start. Being there for the home birth was truly an amazing and humbling experience.

In the movies when a woman goes into labor, the joke is always, "Somebody boil some water! Get warm towels!", even though none of the characters knows why. We had a birthing tub to keep warm, and some of the midwife's instruments needed to be sterilized, so I didn't blink an eye at all the water we were boiling. Then after Olive was born, they wanted to warm her up some more. Maureen, the midwife, asked me to put some clean towels in the dryer for a little while. I couldn't believe it- I was running for boiling water *and* warm towels! So now you know. It's not just a standing joke; it's home birth in action.

Mama, papa, baby, and big sister are all doing well. Various grandparents, aunts and uncles are happy and proud.