She's Here!!!

So glad to announce the arrival of Rachel Reide Daniel!  We're going to call her Reide (pronounced "Reed") which goes back several generations in my family and Rachel is in both of our families.  Here are the stats:

Date: May 19th
Time: 3:32pm
Weight: 7lbs 15oz
Length: 19.3cm

God was very gracious through all of it.  I started labor around 11:30 Wed night so we got up to finish getting everything packed.  The contractions weren't picking up tons so we laid back down to wait it out and really prayed that we'd make it to the morning.  Just wasn't really looking forward to farming out kids and jumping in a taxi in the middle of the night.  We were able to get kids out the door to school Thurs morning and just after that the contractions started picking back up.  I'll spare you the gory details but say that it was probably my best delivery.  Lots of people have asked about the hospital here - you really wouldn't know you weren't in the States - super nice, super clean, private rooms, very attentive and kind nurses/auxiliary staff, better food than MCG;).  A few interesting things about being here:

1. We arrived at the hospital in a taxi.
2. They don't bathe the baby the first day.
3. I received pain medicine that is only used for veterinary purposes in the States.
4. They're big on paternal bonding.  So right after delivery they told Mark to take his shirt off and he spent the next 30 minutes holding her against his chest - in the middle of the nursery with other people walking around him:)
5. All mamas get their hair and makeup done the next day - for free!

Of course the best part is that I get to look down at the end of the bed and see this:

Thanks so much to the many of you that have already loved and prayed for our family and Reide.  About to head home now - more pictures to follow!