Aveline Sportelli
On March 3, 2006, at 5:43 Central European Time, Aveline Sportelli was born. She weighed 8 lbs, 6 ounces and measured 20.47 inches.

We had her in the water tub in our living room. I can honestly say, I NEVER want to give birth without painkillers again. But I am happy with our new addition. She is absolutely beautiful.

Her name has a lot of history behind it. Aveline was a woman in Paul's genealogy, born in 1109. The name is a French Medieval version of Evelyn and we are pronouncing it [A-vuh-lin]. Sportello was my maiden name, but when our family came over from Italy, we were actually Sportelli. The ship's manifest and early census records confirm this information. So her first name is from Paul's history and her middle name is from mine.

Paulchen isn't quite sure what to make of her yet. He'll come over and check her out, but then shy away. I keep trying to have him hold his little sister's hand. I also tried to get him to help me snap her outfit shut, but he was busy with something. Over time, I'll keep gently encouraging him to help out with his little sister. Plus the fact that he is only 21 months, Paulchen will grow up with Aveline and never really remember a time without her. We are both so thrilled with our perfect little, All-American family.