It's a Girl!!!

We are proud to introduce to you the newest member of our family: Gianna Marie Duncan. Born on Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 in Naples, Florida. Although there was much anxiety over the impending C-section, it was a beautiful experience for the both of us, and it was quite the surprise when the doctor's asked Brandon to call out the sex of the baby. Immediately a steady stream of tears flowed down Brandon's face as he simultaneously had to announce that it was a girl and take the pictures. Its a wonder how he was able to still get such good pictures of the delivery. Katie quickly followed with an abundant tears of joy, inquiring and exclaiming: "It's a girl?! Oh my gosh, my family is going to freak out!" (since most of us were expecting that it would be a boy). We couldn't be more blessed than we are today, when God, in His infinite wisdom, deemed it so that this sweet, beautiful girl would be given to us as a sign of His generous and boundless love for us.

We would like to thank all who prayed for Katie and the baby during the pregnancy, and we hope that you will be able to meet our little one very soon, so that you may experience the joy that was given to us on that 16th day of June, 2009, in the year of Our Lord.

For those who are unable to be with us now, we've posted a few pictures of Gianna, so that all may see her pretty little face.

Momma getting ready for her surgery


Welcome to the world, Gianna Marie Duncan

Gianna's footprints

Weighing little Gianna. She weighed a whopping 6lbs 8oz

Not really enjoying the nurses wiping her down.

Still in shock of her new environment. I don't blame her, would you?

Mommy and Daddy's first glance at their baby girl. Katie's first words: "She's so tiny!"

Mommy's first kiss

Gianna in the nursery. They obviously couldn't allow her to stay with Mommy in the delivery room because of the circumstances, so Daddy followed her to the nursery, where they weighed her and kept her warm.

Gianna's first full glance at the world.

Gianna's first moments with Daddy. When Brandon would talk to her, she would turn her head and look at him, as though saying, "I recognize that voice, it's the same one that would sing the 'Jesus Loves Me' song."

Gianna with Grandma in the nursery. The nurse allowed everyone into the nursery. It was Gianna's first experience of the paparazzi.

Getting familiar with her surroundings and all the "weird" voices.

Mommy and all her new toys, except for the one to the right. That one's real!

Auntie Annie with Gianna

Brandon's co-workers and friends (left to right) Katherine, Beth, and Bridget stopped by for a visit.

Gianna hanging out with Daddy for a while, giving Mommy a rest.

Gianna's little feet resting in Grandpa's hand.

Mommy and Gianna getting ready to go home, after a long three days in the hospital. It was such a shock for us, as we said to ourselves, "I can't believe they're just going to let us take her home." We needed some time to register all that was unfolding before our eyes.

Gianna's first car ride. She slept really well on the way home. I think the rumbling of the car helped put her to sleep.

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit with us briefly after arriving home from the hospital.

Gianna getting used to her new home.

Look at those big, beautiful eyes! Just like Mommy.

Gianna with Mommy sporting her new spa slippers that her Aunt Patty and cousins, Tina and Mandy, sent her.



Here are some videos from the hospital:

Gianna and Daddy sharing some bonding time, just minutes after being born.

Gianna sleeping, for what little time she did, in her hospital bassinet.

Uncle Gary stopped by to say "Hello!"