As most of you probably know by now, my wife gave birth to our first child on March 16 — one day before St. Patrick’s Day.

Lucy was a healthy 8 pounds, 2 ounces and 21 inches long when she was delivered via C-section at 4:47 p.m. at South Bend Memorial Hospital.

She has a full head of hair that seems to change color by the hour. It resembled my wife’s dark brown hair when Lucy first came out, but, after a bath, lightened a few shades toward my hair color — blonde.

If you ask my wife’s family, she looks like my wife.

If you ask my family, she looks like me.

If you ask me, I have no idea.

I can’t help but think our two families have entered into some type of competition where the winning side is the one whose son or daughter Lucy ends up most closely resembling.

I try to stay out of it.

As for Lucy’s eye color, I haven’t been able to pin it down yet. Sometimes her eyes look dark grey, but in certain lighting they appear a dark blue or green.

Again, I have no clue.

Everyone keeps telling me her eyes, like her hair, will change color over the next couple of months.

We will see.

All I know is that I’m happy she is healthy because the day didn’t go as we had planned it.

If you read my last column, you know that my wife was scheduled to be induced on the evening of March 16 because at that time she would’ve been one week past her due date.

A lot of people, including many readers, told me that as soon as you make plans, life throws you a curveball.

You were right.

My wife went into labor shortly after midnight on the 16th, so I got to make the mad dash to the hospital after all.

After many hours of waiting and a couple hours of pushing, the doctor told us Lucy wasn’t going to come out the traditional way.

At that point, my wife didn’t care how Lucy was born. I remember her saying something to the effect of, “Just get her out of me.”

I can’t blame her. I have no idea how women do it. It was draining enough just being a bystander to the process.

So while the birth didn’t happen exactly as we thought it would, we got the result we wanted — a beautiful new addition to our family.

Thanks for all of the well wishes we received from so many people over the past two weeks. My wife, Lucy and I truly appreciate it.

Craig Haupert is the community editor for the Niles Daily Star. Call him at 687-7720. Email him at craig.haupert@leaderpub.com