It’s only 1 p.m. as I write this, but I already feel exhausted. It’s been an emotional, unforgettable day. My youngest child, my newest daughter, was born today.

This isn’t my first time becoming a father; I have two wonderful older kids. But even so, the experience hits with the same awe every time. A new life somehow feels both familiar and entirely new.

Xue is recovering well after her cesarean. It wasn’t her first choice, but with a few medical concerns, it was a decision she felt comfortable making, and the right one.

For months, it became a running theme in our house: Is it a girl? I had AI scan every doctor report and ultrasound, translating them from Chinese and summarizing what I needed to know. Early on, after the first detailed ultrasound, I asked the AI if it could determine the gender. It told me confidently, and repeatedly, girl. Every new report reaffirmed it.

I kept telling Xue, “This isn’t my guess! The technician report and the AI both say so!”

But as the big day approached, I began doubting. You prepare your mind for both possibilities, just in case.

When they took Xue in for surgery, I waited in a long hallway with two or three other expectant fathers. All any of us could do was wait. The surprising part was how quickly everything happened. One minute I was scrolling X, trying to distract myself, and then next a nurse appeared, with a new born baby wrapped in blankets.

For a moment, I didn’t know if she was mine, I couldn’t understand the nurse,. But then I saw her face, and I knew instantly. That’s my girl. Beautiful. Adorable. Perfect. And very popular.

Seeing a “mixed blood” baby isn’t common here, and she was a sensation the moment she arrived. Nurses, staff, and people I didn’t know all wanted to see her. There were photos, little poses, smiles, people we’ll never see again, but it was sweet, and honestly, pretty funny.

Now we just wait for Xue to heal from her surgery. It’ll take a few days, and she’s already doing well.

Sharing everything with my family in the U.S. was fast, thank you, WhatsApp.

The only bittersweet moment was my now-oldest daughter struggling with the idea of losing her “youngest” status. She feels like she’s being replaced, and I understand the emotion behind it, even though it couldn’t be further from the truth.

My oldest daughter is visiting in December, and I told her, “She’s going to love you. You’ll be her hero. She’ll idolize her big sister.” And she will.

So the day has come. She’s here.

She’s healthy. She’s safe. And now the real work of raising her begins.

We’re ready. What a blessing.