A Baby Story: Charlotte Lynn English
At 4:02pm yesterday, after 21 hours of labor and with a full moon on the rise, Charlotte Lynn English entered the world.
She seemed a bit skeptical of us. This was her “Seriously, I’ve been here for 30 seconds. Put down the camera” look.
I hadn’t held a baby nearly this young since my cousin Samantha was a month old. She’s now a junior at the University of Delaware.
Ellen’s due date was Monday, July 21. (Though we were never clear whether they’d factored in the Leap Year.) On Thursday morning, we arrived at the OB GYN for a routine appointment. Ellen’s blood pressure, which had been high for weeks, had reached the go-directly-to-the-hospital, do-not-collect- your-belongings level.
Her doctor decided it was time to call it a pregnancy and began the induction that evening. We were starting from “completely closed.” But things progressed overnight, as we were watching classic sitcoms. The episode of The Golden Girls where Dorothy takes a young Mario (“A.C. Slater”) Lopez under her wing. The episode of Saved by the Bell: The College Years where A.C. Slater admits his name was originally A.C. Sanchez, but his father—ashamed of his Chicano heritage—had it changed. And episodes of Wings, Roseanne, Frasier and Seinfeld that did not involve Mr. Lopez at all.
Progress stalled Friday morning, so we played the waiting game. This game is not a fun one. Around 1:30, the doctor decided the baby needed to come out now. We know some couples are crushed by this development, but not us. Not at all. We just wanted to meet our son or daughter—and put Ellen out of her misery. When I heard “C-section,” I thought “scary but painless.” I was mistaken.
Now I know what it feels like to play a doctor on TV. Had I gone to med school, I would have asked patients to call me Dr. Jay. This fantasy was derailed when I used Geology 41 and Biological Anthropology 93 to satisfy my science requirements at Duke.
During a C-section, the mother is awake. My role was mostly ceremonial. I scrubbed in (well, I washed my hands) and sat beside Ellen’s head, waiting for someone to hand me our first born.
There was a quirk with the anesthesia—an “epidural window”—and in one region, Ellen absolutely felt pain. This was rare and obviously unexpected. If I had to rank the most frightening moments of my life, these few minutes would top the chart. But the doctors were incredibly calm and, like everyone else we’ve dealt with during our stay here at St. Barnabas, just wonderful. They eventually pulled out a healthy baby girl—7 pounds, 9 ounces, and 20-inches long. Ellen was stitched up, and I followed Baby Charlotte to the nursery.
Grandma Lynn and Grandpa Chuck were thrilled to meet her:
(Charlotte broke out the anti-paparazzi look again.)
“Is there a history of deafness in your family?” was the first question the nurse asked me. I was stumped and horrified. When I realized this was part of a routine questionnaire, I was able to mumble a “Nope.”
Later that evening, Grandma Helen met Baby Charlie.
…as did Grandpa John.
Also born on July 18: Joe Torre, Nelson Mandela, Hunter S. Thompson, Richard Branson, Steve Forbes, Kristen Bell, Vin Diesel and Anfernee Hardaway.
Charlotte has been with us all day, greeting visitors with minimal tears. Mom is resting comfortably—or at least as comfortably as someone who just had invasive abdominal surgery and hasn’t eaten since Thursday morning can be.
I’d bet this won’t be our last photo update.
Noah Brier Said,
July 19, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
Congratulations to all three of you
Andréa Said,
July 19, 2008 @ 3:50 pm
Congratulations!
evan Said,
July 19, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
congrats!
Alissa Said,
July 19, 2008 @ 6:21 pm
Congrats!! It is so great to see pictures of you guys instead of just imagining it when I talk to you on the phone.
Nana Said,
July 19, 2008 @ 8:52 pm
I just LOVE seeing you all! – Charlotte Lynn is SO beautiful! Congratulations to all three of you! This is my first day as a Greaty Gram and I’m loving it!!- – More pictures!
adrienne Said,
July 19, 2008 @ 10:06 pm
Yay! She’s beautiful–good work, Ellen!
Angela Said,
July 19, 2008 @ 11:02 pm
That kid has sass, you can already tell. Thats fantastic.
Good luck on your adventure…. are you going to put a baby column in Mental Floss?
Jenn Thompson Said,
July 19, 2008 @ 11:09 pm
LOVE the name, love her obvious ‘tude. Love mom and dad in the complementary frames! Congratulations to you both. Dear Charlotte is in for such a treat…. anytime she looks up and says, “Daddy, why is _____.” you will actually have a really detailed and possibly researched answer for her. She might actually stop asking after a while. Man. If only all parents could be mental_floss web editors.
Steve Coulson Said,
July 19, 2008 @ 11:11 pm
Congratulations, mate, to you both. Having been through four births ourselves, I can absolutely guarantee you it’s one of the best moments of your life.
Miss Cellania Said,
July 19, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
Aww, she is SO beautiful! Congratulations! I love the smile she has in the next to the last picture. And the smile in your eyes in the third picture down. And the smile on Ellen in the (counting) fifth picture from the bottom. Priceless!
Mary Said,
July 19, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
She’s gorgeous! Congrats!
Ben Smith Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 12:11 am
Congratulations! She’s beautiful. Love the look in the eighth picture.
Charles Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 2:36 am
wow! Many congrats! Love all the pictures — especially the 2nd to last!
meghan Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 7:17 am
Congratulations! Hope Ellen is feeling better, please tell me that she only felt a bit and then they pumped her full of painkillers!!!!
Erin Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 7:57 am
Congrats Jason and Ellen! Charlotte is beautiful!
sonali Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 9:47 am
Congratulations! Haha great post
jaime and greg Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 9:51 am
Congratulations!!!!! She is gorgeous. Wishing Ellen an easy recovery, and we’ll look forward to meeting little Charlotte in person soon.
Matt Hall Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 11:52 am
Congratulations Ellen, Dr. Jay, and of course, little Charlotte! She’s beautiful. Enjoy every day, because they grow up so fast. Melissa, Wilson, and I look forward to meeting her soon! Take care of yourselves and rest up!
michael surtees Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
that’s great news to read and see the play by play – congrats to the three of you
Stacy Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
YAY!! Hopefully Charlotte will appreciate pirates
She’s beautiful! Congratulations to the English family!
Court Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 2:05 pm
Woohoo, you did it! Congratulations! I’m so excited to meet her, she’s absolutely beautiful. I bet her older sis is anxiously awaiting her homecoming!
stef Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
wow jason! craziness! charlotte is just gorgeous, and looks like she’s settling in just fine already. huge congrats to you and ellen!
Toby, Melanie and Leo Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 5:32 pm
Congrats to everyone – what a lovely babyI We particularly liked Jason’s self-confident pose in photo #3 along with his true confession that holding newborns isn’t something that’s happened too frequently. We’re delighted for you.
karen Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 6:14 pm
Aw. I can’t wait to meet my darling niece. She’s absolutely perfect!! -Auntie Karen
Kristin Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 10:21 pm
Welcome Charlotte!
Congrats Jay and Ellen! She’s beautiful!!!
Suzanne O'Connor Said,
July 21, 2008 @ 8:06 am
Congratulations! What a beautiful baby
Jamie & Nick Said,
July 21, 2008 @ 10:32 am
We are so happy for the both of you…We welcome with open arms Charlotte English and Drew Silva as the newest and youngest members to the Young Livingston Group …
Brian F Said,
July 21, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
Well Jason, you’ve finally created something worthwhile!!! Charlotte is gorgeous — congrats!
chelsea Said,
July 21, 2008 @ 7:40 pm
Bets on how long it takes Charlotte English to don a pair of the family’s signature specs?!?! This is fantastic news, Jason – and please add me to the potential babysitters email list (easy to say from across the country). Best wishes to you and Ellen.
It’s great to track your rise … and hey, I can always say I knew you when you were just getting your start in this whole parenting business with Bailey, and barely making ends meet by shoveling the bull. Bet Charlotte will love that story!
Uncle(in 327 days) Keith Said,
July 21, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
Congratulations! Karen & I toasted baby Charlotte, Ellen, & you this weekend over some Vermont microbrews. No Mental Floss baby gear for the first pictures?
Neatorama Said,
July 21, 2008 @ 11:06 pm
How cute! Congratulations, guys!
Jason English: The Website Said,
July 22, 2008 @ 12:31 am
[...] [Previously: A Baby Story: Charlotte Lynn English.] [...]
Justin, Julia and Luca Said,
July 22, 2008 @ 10:43 am
Congrats! We’re so happy for you guys. She’s beautiful.
P.S.
Feel free to email/IM for any advice/moral support…
emily Said,
July 22, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
Congratulations. What a gorgeous name. LOVE it.
Brandy Said,
July 22, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
Congratulations. She is absolutely beautiful. I’m so impressed with your pictures.
Marion Said,
July 23, 2008 @ 2:20 am
Gosh, she’s so bright and alert! What an amazing newborn!
Congratulations on your lovely daughter:
“A son is a son ’til he takes a wife, a daughter’s a daughter, all of her life!” Girls RULE!
Caroline & Kevin Said,
July 23, 2008 @ 8:51 pm
Congratulations Ellen & Jay. She is beautiful!
Jason English: The Website Said,
September 18, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
[...] was born two months ago today. (You can re-live those first few hours here.) Being truly mean parents, we celebrated by letting a nurse practitioner stick Charlie’s [...]