GUESS WHAT!!

We have ourselves a new little Pumpkin Buns.

She's a girl.

We are in love with her.

Her name is Zoralee Rena Stoffer.

I am finally at the computer to tell about her. Here's the short of it, and I will certainly post the whole birth story in days to come. Thursday morning, December 4, at 8:47 a.m., after 3 loooong days of quasi-labor and a deep, dark night of labor, our baby girl was born at home. She was 7 pounds and 6 ounces in weight, and 20 inches long. Friends, thank you so much for your prayers and well wishes during the spregnancy and delivery! We have so, so much for which to be thankful.

Zoralee has conceivably the world's longest fingers, so long in fact that they fold over on each other and get caught on things. She surprised us with a full head of straight, wispy, blonde-brown hair. It's looking like she'll somehow have to support a barrel chest and thighs like Jason's on top of skinny ankles like mine. Fortunately, her gigantic feet and long toes will lend good ground support. So far, Zoralee spends her time sleeping, crying inconsolibly about sudden changes (made bearable by the most wonderful squeak on each inhale) and, when she settles down, observing her surroundings wide-eyed.

warming at the fire after her first bath

today, two and a half days old

A little about her name. The name Zora means aurora and dawn; Zoralee was conceived in Alaska and born half an hour after dawn. My paternal great-grandmother's name was Zora. She became sick and died as a young mother, but her own mother, a nurse and woman of great faith, prayed that Zora would come to life at least to raise her family. She did, and when the last child was married, she died again. I feel that our own little one arose by grace from what was seeming to be a lifeless womb. Lee is Jason's mother's middle name, and Rena is my mother's name.

More pictures will come later! I mean, duh.