Lila Anne was born at 3:46
a.m. on Friday, May 5 at UC Medical Center in San Francisco. The delivery room
had an expansive view and her parents looked out a lovely sunrise as they spent
their first hours with her. They actually thought of naming her Dawn. But Lila
is named after her great-grandmother Lila Isaacs, who was a beautiful woman and
an artist. Anne is both Barbara and Lana's middle
name.
The fact that Lila's birth occurred in San Francisco was
significant. Lila is the seventh generation of women born
in San Francisco in great-grandma Mary's family. Her
ancestor Mary Sullivan came in the first wagon train to cross the Sierras
(before the Donner party.) Mary Sullivan's daughter, Catherine Scherreback, was
the second white child born in San Francisco. So Lila is descended from this
lineage of pioneering women.
Lila's entry into the world was
quick. Lana's labor began just as Matt and Lana were about to go to bed on
Friday night. The hospital staff allowed Lana, Matt and their midwife,
Amrit, to deliver Lila themselves. The nurse on duty said it was the most
beautiful birth she had ever seen. Amrit said that Lila's birth was truly a home
birth in a hospital. With Amrit's help, Matt caught Lila as she was born and the
doctor allowed Matt to cut
the cord.
Lila met her brother Malachi a little
after noon on Sunday. She gave him two gifts: a Winnie the Pooh Jack in the Box
and a lion puppet. The picture shows their first meeting and the beauty of
their family.
After hearing about Lila's birth,
Grandma Susie opened a book of poetry called I
Heard God Laughing. She was astonished when the poem quoted a baby as
saying, "I am Here! I am Here --dear world!"
We are happy and blessed that you are here dear Lila and
welcome you with open arms and love.
