This story is for my daughter, so that one day she can know some of the little details that took place on the day that she was born. I wrote it on March 30th 2009, but Quan and I spent some time going over the details and making sure we had everything in the correct order.

It was Monday, March 16th 2009, and I took Mommy for her weekly doctor's appointment to check on the progress of her pregnancy. Mommy had lost weight and also lost some size, so the doctor was concerned. She scheduled us to come back the next day to have an ultrasound exam. It would be the first ultrasound exam she would have since October.

The next day was Tuesday, March 17th 2009. I thought that Mommy should stay home from work and rest. She was quite tired and also upset about the upcoming exam and also because she was recovering from a cold. But the next morning she woke up and decided she would go to the office.

I worked in the same office as Mommy that day and sat at a desk next to her. Our appointment was at 11:40 at the Norwood office. The ultrasound tech was very nice. She told us that everything looked good for the baby. The reason for some of the size loss was because the baby's head had begun to drop into the birth canal. She also tried to show us the baby's face. I was amazed, briefly, at how much detail I could see in the baby's face. I also got the impression from the face that the baby was a boy. It was just a flash, but that is what I saw. The tech also printed one picture from the ultrasound for us to bring home.

We were both so happy that the baby was okay. We went back to the office and had lunch. I got a chicken salad sandwich and Mommy got a steak and cheese bomb sandwich. We worked the rest of the afternoon. Mommy felt better and more comfortable than she had done for a while. Mommy finally finished her work and signed out at 6:37pm. 

Mommy asked me if we could go the the Hibachi Steak House for dinner. We drove to the restaurant and were seated at a hibachi table with two women and and three kids. It was good because we were the next table to get a chef, so the meal happened quickly. We both ordered the 'Fuji Special' which is steak and shrimp. We were served salad and soup, and before we could finish those, the chef came to start the main course. The meal was nice. I finished mine and Mommy ate all of hers except for a couple of pieces of steak that she could not finish. At the end of the meal, one of the women at the table asked Mommy when she was due. She told them 'Thursday' (it was current Tuesday). They could not believe it, and said how great she looked and wished us luck. 

We drove home. I scanned the new ultrasound photo and made cups of tea for Mommy and I. Mommy said she wanted a big cup of tea. I told her I would make the tea in the 'whale' mug, but she was puzzled because she thought I was saying 'wheel' mug. Then we called grandma to let her know about the good news from the ultrasound test. We joked with her that there was only three hours left in this day, and that it looked like the baby would not be born on St Patrick's Day. 

Sometime just before 10pm, Mommy asked me to get her some Vitamin C because she still had a little bit of a cold. I went down to make it and brought it up to her in our bedroom. Just as she started drinking it, she suddenly stopped and said, "Tony, I think my water just broke". It was about 9:45pm.

Our first thought was to get Mommy up from the bed and keep the bed from getting too wet. I got some towels to put down, but actually there was only a small spot of fluid on the bed sheet. I helped Mommy to the bathroom. I told her that we would likely be going to the hospital by the morning. Mommy decided she would take a shower and put on some dry comfortable clothes.

When she got in the shower she had her first real contraction. She had had many 'Braxton-Hicks' contractions before this, but this time the pain was much more intense. I got the stopwatch and stood in the bathroom outside of the shower. I told Mommy to tell me when the next contraction started and I timed it with the stopwatch. When she had the next contraction, I looked down at the stopwatch... two minutes and 45 seconds. I reset the stopwatch. The next contraction was two minutes and 50 seconds. This wasn't happening the way that they told us in the birthing class. I went down stairs and called the doctor's office. When I explained the situation, the nurse told us to get to the hospital as soon as possible.

The next fifteen minutes or so were quite chaotic. Fortunately, we had already packed a suitcase and put that in the car along with all of the important documents that we needed to bring to the hospital with us. I told Mommy she should get out of the shower quickly and start to get dressed. She got out, but it was hard for her to get ready because the contractions were very intense and painful and she still had fluid leaking. She managed to dry off and put on some clothes, but they quickly became wet. I got her some dry ones, but again, the clothes became wet right away. Finally, I told her she would just have to be wet for the ride to the hospital. We had to get going.

I ran downstairs and started the car. I put a dry towel on the seat for Mommy and a couple of extra in the back. I also grabbed my backpack which had our camera and video camera. I quickly filled up the cat's bowls with food and then ran back upstairs to help Mommy. She finished dressing and went down to the car. I ran back in the house for something... I forget what it was now. She honked the horn. I turned some lights off and ran out to the car.

I would guess it was about 10:30pm when we left the house, perhaps a few minutes earlier. I backed the car out to the street and proceeded to take a right on Pine St and a left at Rt 139. I hit a least on red light on 139 on our way to Rt 24. I considered just driving through it, but decided it was not worth taking a chance. We got onto Rt 24. I wanted to drive as fast as I could without getting pulled over. I did about 75mph. We changed onto Rt 128. As we passed by Great Blue Hill in Canton, Mommy told me that she felt like she had to push. I felt really panicked at that point, but I knew I had to keep a cool head and also keep Mommy as calm as I could. As we were going by the TV towers a State Police cruiser passed by me. I thought for sure I would get pulled over, but he kept going. Phewww! We were almost to the hospital. I got off the exit and drove on Rt 16 towards the hospital. Right across the street from the hospital there was a car pulled over by a State Police cruiser. It must be my lucky night that it was him and not me. We pulled into the hospital driveway and I went straight to the emergency entrance.

I stopped the car and ran inside and grabbed a wheelchair, quickly came back to the car and got Mommy out of the car and into the chair. I pushed her inside. I don't remember exactly what I said now, but I told the security guard on duty something like, 'she's in labor'. He asked the name, and when I answered 'Masiello' he said they were expecting us. That was such a huge relief!!! We were at the hospital, they were expecting us...

They took us through the emergency section to elevators which brought us to the fifth floor. I gave my car keys to the security guard and he went back down to move our car. There seemed to be a little confusion as to what room Mommy would go into. We waited in front of the nurses station for a minute or two before the put us into delivery room #1. 

They put Mommy into the bed and setup a monitor for the baby. The nurse asked Mommy if she planed to use an epidural. Mommy was in pain so I answered for her, "She is not planning to use but she still wants to know of her options". After I said that, Mommy was hit by another contraction, and it was really painful, so Mommy told the nurse that she does want to use an epidural. The nurse started to setup the medication on the iv stand to prepare. Mommy was having very painful contractions all of this time. We were in the room for about ten minutes with two nurses before Dianne, the midwife, came in. Dianne took control right away, and calmed Mommy down and assured her that everything was going great and she was doing a great job.

As soon as Diane finished checking Mommy, she asked for the pain medication again, but Diane told Mommy she was already fully dilated, that the baby will be born before the medication can kick in, and that she was only about ten minutes away. Mommy heard this and she knew that she could do it now! Dianne had Mommy lay slightly on her side and showed her how to lift one leg up as the contractions came and to push into them, and then to let her leg down, breathe, and rest in between.

I was standing to the left of Mommy. I was trying to talk to her, and rub her back during the contractions. Dianne started to tell us that she could see the head coming through. I could not see from my angle. After a couple of more contractions I decided to go to the foot of the bed and see. I saw a little patch of head and hair. I went back to help try and comfort Mommy. After another contraction, Mommy asked us if the baby was out. Dianne got a large mirror out and asked Mommy if she wanted to see the progress, but she did not want to see.

I decided it was time to get out the video camera. We bought it just for this purpose. I was torn between wanting to use it, and wanting to just take care of Mommy. As I got the video camera out of my backpack, Mommy had another contraction and pushed the head of the baby out. It was amazing. The baby looked gray and very still. I was a bit worried if everything was okay, but I sensed a calm in the room from Dianne and the two nurses. I turned on the camera just as Dianne began to untangle the cord from around the baby's neck. It was an amazing site. 

With the next contraction that Mommy had she pushed the baby all the way out. Dianne lifted the baby onto Mommy's chest. She told Mommy that Mommy would say the gender of the baby. She opened the baby's legs and I heard Mommy say those beautiful words. "It's a girl!!!"

Kristianna Lin had arrived!

I looked up at the clock of the room, it was 11:43pm. We have a St Patrick's Day baby!

To say that this was the most amazing moment of my life would be an understatement. To look down and see Mommy, my beautiful wife, having just given so much and done such an incredible job, holding this beautiful perfect baby girl on her chest. 

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Quan and I are very pleased to announce the birth of our daughter, Kristianna on March 17 2009 at 11:43pm. She weighed 7lbs 3oz at birth. Mommy and Baby are both doing fine. We stayed three nights in the hospital and came home on March 20th.

Proud parents in the delivery room!

Kristianna just a few hours old.

With her bear that Grandma sent!

With Mommy in the hospital room!

With Daddy at first visit to the doctor

With Mommy and Snickers at home

Some well deserved rest time!

Sleeping Beauty!

and lots and lots more here...

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Pepper, Mommy dreamed about you again, you came to visit us and played with Snickers. I held you on the floor and buried my face into your fur, you were so warm and soft, and smelled sweet. You let me hold you for a very long time. You are so full of live in my dream. Maybe you are alive somewhere somehow, maybe you are around me, around us all the time. I love you,Pepper!

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Christie's Celebrates 50 Years
by Ruth Hagel

The Westport News
Wednesday, October 6, 1976

Click here for article scans with additional photos

"The rural merchant," according to Gerald Carson in The Old Country Store "was our first great civilizer... for a crossroads could become a hamlet or village without a doctor or lawyer... but could never hope to be more than just a wide place in the road without a store." The American-invented country store is one of the two heroines of this story.

But first come back a bit. To Westport of fifty years ago. To the crossroads or four-corners of Cross Highway and Bayberry Lane. Bayberry then was little more than a dirt road with ruts, just wide enough for a 1926 truck to get through; Cross Highway not much bigger or better.

1926 was the year Queen Elizabeth II was born. Sarah Lawrence College was founded. Gertrude Ederle swam the English Channel. The permanent wave was invented. Authoress Grazia Deledda won the Nobel Prize for literature.

Another young woman was starting out in another courageous enterprise... her own country store here in Westport. Like the year, she was in her twenties, What a chance to grow with the century and the country--- and contribute to both!

Today, Christie's Country Store is a lively Westport landmark and Christine (Chris) Masiello is happy to celebrate this Golden Jubilee with all her family, nieces, nephews, and neighbors (most of whom she counts as friends).

"Actually,", Chris remembers very clearly, "there was a store right across the street on Cross Highway then. But it burned to the ground in a terrible fire while I was away on a vacation. When I came back from visiting Rome, Naples and my relatives, my parents asked me if I'd like a store. Just like that! Without a moment's hesitation, I answered, 'Why, I'd love one.'"

(Later, Chris admitted with a fond grin the trip abroad was her only vacation she'd ever taken, and she'd had the grand tour and a wonderful time! She joins the elite few who believe vacations are fine for those who may not enjoy their work quite as much as she does!)

"You know, we really had fun in those days on so little," Chris warmed to he subject. "We worked hard and long and got up early (she still does: 5:30), but we'd ask our friends over and just roll up the rug and turn on the Victrola, and dance and sing."

Chris not only savors her own warm memories of a smaller, more closely knit Westport, but cherishes those of her parents with affection and admirations. "Imagine. It took them twenty-two days to come to America. They were so proud of their farm and the old 'Homestead' (one of the oldest homes in Westport, and lived in and loved by the family for four generations!), proud of their children (Chris was one of eleven) and many grandchildren."

"My father cut wood at 75 cents a cord to help get the land cleared. His rows of vegetables had to be just so. Perfectly straight, you know, he was so fussy and proud of them. We used to keep chickens and some cows, and churn our own butter; but when the chickens got into the vegetables, it was goodbye chickens. We won many Danbury Fair awards for celery, tomatoes and other vegetables. We also had grapes for sale and won three blue ribbons for them. They were beauties."

Chris remembers Westport in World War I, and the flu epidemic (she was very ill), and most especially the Victory Parade. "I had one of the family trucks in that parade," Chris recalls. With pluck and pride, she drove tractors, trucks, everything on wheels. These trucks and early cars are very vivid to her. "At 6 am every weekday morning, I drove a Watson truck all alone down to Saugatuck to pick up women to help work on my father's farm. There were about thirty women, and we all came back singing. I also drove the first bulldog Mack truck in Westport. And I remember Don's pa getting behind the tractor."

In every scene she describes, Chris paints a glowing picture of a warm, close family relationship, of a family involved in Westport and in each other. Her sister Mary, and Mary's son Don help run the Country Store; Don's there full time now. Two other nephews whom she helped bring up when their mother died, Jim and Rich Masiello own and operate our School buses and operate the Minny buses as well. "Ginny" Mercier, who helps make the wheels turn for their bus company, remarks, "Everyone loves Chris. She's a Westport institution and inspiration. When she calls me 'an honorary Masiello' I couldn't be more proud!"

Chris' younger brother Jim, Sr. (better known as "Pop" to many Westporters) now has a thriving produce business. Even during the height of Hurricane Belle, he was out on the almost impassable roads, first to farms up New Haven way to pick up the fresh vegetables, then on in the small hours to sell them to stores in Stamford and elsewhere. Being "Pop," he just wasn't about to see something like $3000 worth of vegetables go down the hurricane drain!

Chris's large family not only enjoyed the good ol' times; they scored a number of triumphant Westport firsts. They had to carry their own water from the well. Chris recalls, but "we had the first telephone in the neighborhood. It was a party line, called a ding-a-ling, and we helped collect the required number of names for the line." The family also used to pitch in to take the chimneys off their kerosene lamps and clean them, but Chris relates:

"We were also the first to get electricity out here, and worked on getting it for our neighbors too." Her sister, Jennie Lanzetta ran Westport's first Five-Ten-and-Twenty-Five Cent Store on Main Street, next to where Towne 'n Tweed is now (the staircase is still there). There was a place in front where you could hitch your wagon while you shopped.

Chris has her father's tax bills that go back to 1906 and with her almost awesome powers of recall, she remembers that Mr. Hyatt was the Assessor then. She remembers all her early Westport teachers, particularly Miss Catherine McCann at the old Staples High on Riverside Avenue to which she walked back and forth every day!

She has a good portion of her own early records too... a remarkable story in themselves.

"Yes," she smiles, "Those were great days. I ran a tea shop at first along with the store. I served a light lunch. You can see it to the right in the old picture. The Ford in front had to be cranked up; quite a job in frosty weather. It was a real surprise, a wonderful Christmas present. My mother also used to help out in the store."

"My shelves were full," Chris describes. "We had old-fashioned penny candy (the real stuff). Coffee, mind you, was about 35 cents a pound then. Of course we had a pot-bellied stove and all the neighbors came 'round and we had coffee together."

Her shelves are still full. And the neighbors still come 'round. Some old. Some very new-- in their mothers' arms. Some very small-- but big enough to hug and kiss Chris. Some in shiny new cars. Even a few limousines. Some on bikes. Some on foot.

Friends of Chris' include the Claire and Harold Bassmann family. "Our daughters wrote to the Vice-President of the United States in honor of a recent birthday for Chris; she has his letter of congratulations framed. When the girls were smaller, they appreciated Chris' giving them credit and always paid her back the next day. All children love her."

Yet another neighbor, famous artist Amos Sewell of Sturges Highway noted the gentle quiet strength in Chris' face and painted her portrait for a memorable "Saturday Evening Post" cover.

"Christie's" has always been and still very much is a working Country Store... comfortable and homey, but not consciously quaint or artsy-craftsy. In the round gazebo-style building, Chris used to sell ice cream (she still has the scoops) and soda in the lazy summer afternoons of long ago. For 5 cents you could get a delicious ice cream cone or twelve ounces of soda. In the pleasant pattern of her days, good food is still important to Chris-- the buying, selling and preparation makes a lifetime hobby. So is reading. "TV's OK. I guess, but I still love to read." Chris says about what she does in her spare time.

Trucks too continue to play an important role in the life of Chris and the store. Daily, dozens of delivery people trundle up from early morning on in a steady stream of assorted shapes and sizes of trucks and vans. Chris handles them all and carries on a running personal conversation with Pepperidge and Pepsi sales people, Borden's and Budweiser too, to name a few of her suppliers. "They're my friends, too," Chris proudly acknowledges. "One thing for sure, you're never lonely here for long. We have plenty of companionship," she mentions modestly.

Now, it's another season coming up. All summer, the twin front-yard sugar maples at Christie's have been spreading their dappled sunlight and shade over the graceful curving driveway Chris designed herself. Now with a new nip in the breeze, they're preparing to don their full spectacular scarlet coats, and turn Christie's into a picture postcard; later into a Currier and Ives print in the snow. "Closed on account of snow" days just don't occur at Christie's: Chris is always there to welcome you and ask how your family is.

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It has been a year since I lost you! Pepper, are you still around us or you are actually inside of me so that you can be my baby again? Do you remember we were lying down on the grass together with Daddy when you were little, and Milky was around us as well? That was nice, right?

Mommy misses you so much!

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仿佛一夜之间我就长大了，昨天的我还坐在爷爷的单车上，今天的我却坐在了办公桌前。明年，我的孩子就要出世了。

我真的长大了吗？可是为什么我的心里还是有一个小孩子正在一个人玩耍？ 过去感动过我的歌曲，现在还是感动着我。听到悲伤的歌曲我还是会流下眼泪，尽管现在的我是如此的幸福和满足。这种多愁善感的情绪是不是很孩子气呢？从来不觉得大人们会有着这样的情绪，比如我的妈妈。而明年我也要成为一位母亲了，这样的情绪会不会消失呢？天哪，我就要成为另一个生命全部的依靠，我能不能成为一个稳定而坚强的依靠呢？

我一直觉得自己是一个非常理性和独立的人，总是知道自己要的是什么。大学的时候我就已经计划好了我的人生 - 25岁结婚，30岁之前有一个稳定的事业和买一个舒适的房子，30岁的时候当妈妈。而我的人生也都照着我的计划走着，不知道这样的我是成熟还是孩子气？人生中的每一次重大转折，我都是自己做的决定。有着这样的人生，是因为我一直做着正确的选择还是我只是比较幸运而已呢？

明年我就要三十而立了。在过去的三十年里，真的是没有什么遗憾和抱怨的，有的都是感激和怀念。而未来的人生，我就不再是我自己一个人了，至少未来的20年里，我将会有一个需要我去保护的生命共同体。

过去的我，每每想到三十岁，会不自觉的感到害怕。可是现在的我却是多么的期待着它的到来呀。为了我的宝宝而老去，原来可以是如此的幸福和甜蜜。听说女孩只有成为了母亲，才可以称之为女人，才真正的长大。那就让我快快地长大吧！！！

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宝宝，爸爸、妈妈、还有奶奶都看到你了。你长大了很多，也很健康。为此，我们都非常高兴。这次你给我们"Hi Five"!!! 你的小手真漂亮，长长的手指应该是来自我们林家的遗传。你的小脚也很可爱哟！妈妈真想要咬一口！医生说你很活泼好动，有一点小淘气 ，花了好长时间我们才做完检查，但是，妈妈知道你是一个好宝宝，你一定是要在奶奶面前秀一下，所以才这么兴奋的，对吗？

我们都好爱你！！！真希望外公、外婆也可以看到你！！！

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10月11日的清晨，我第一次感觉到了胎动。然后接下来的每一天，你都不停地以这样的方式告诉着妈妈你很健康。每一次的胎动都像是一个个的小气泡在我的肚子里爆掉的感觉，又像是蝴蝶的翅膀轻轻的拍动。这真是十分奇妙的感觉呀！

宝宝，你现在在干什么呢？正在睡觉，还是正在玩耍？ 昨天晚上10点多了你还没有睡，这样子可不行哟！！！以后要早早睡，妈妈也要早早睡！！！

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宝宝，你会很幸福哟！因为爸爸和妈妈很相爱！

妈妈对你的期望其实很简单，妈妈希望你成为一个善良的人，有诚信的人，勇敢坚强的人，自强自立以及拥有梦想的人。你不需要多么的了不起，或者多么的大富大贵。只需要和我一样有一个简单而充实的人生；将来找到一个爱你，并且你也爱的伴侣，过一个安安稳稳的充满爱的一生。在我看来，这就是最最圆满的人生了！

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A Chinese Lullaby to YOU:  

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