Very timely. A bit too timely even. Maia appeared at 4.30 pm, on August 31, 2006. Emese had spent less than half an hour on the delivery bed. The baby was measured to be 3800 g heavy - a pretty decent weight for someone who's a week late from her term date.

Every new parent's experience is different. For me everything felt very very natural. I believe for Emese too, although of course she took all the pain. Contractions. Walking to the delivery room together. Waiting outside while she got ready. Then sitting in the chair next to her. The arrival of the surprised doctor. His gentle instructions in Hungarian, most of which I did not follow. The pushing. What was remarkable is that all happened within less than an hour. Too quick for any kind of self-observation or analysis of one's feelings during the birth of her/his first daughter.

And then came a point where everything changed. I was still suppoting Emese's head and back, while she was trying to get the baby out. But then a weird moisture came through my eyes, and some butterflies flied through my stomach. The feeling I remember quite well since the days of my childhood - I was about to cry.

When a minute later the blue hissing crying baby was in the hands of Emese, I was whispering "well done, well done, you are such a hero" into Emese's ear, and even made a joke about the baby being born blue as a Levski-Sofia fan. But that crying feeling was there - and remained there for the following hour. The first hour I spent with my daughter.

She stopped being blue quite soon, and got very pink actually. And the doctor came to tell me that "his colleagues in the other room" spoke she looks like her father - with so big eyes. I personally found something of Emese's smile in her face.

For the time being, while the photos are on their way, I am attaching a true colour illustration of Maia's birth. Note, the thing over my head is not a halo but the hair holder they gave me as part of my birth-assisting uniform.

One last point for today - I was amazed with professionalism of the delivery team at the Uzsoki Hospital. Many sincere thanks to all of them - for the kindness and concern for Emese, Maia, and for myself - despite of my lack of Hungarian language. It felt European