Lauren Grogan and Michael Plank welcomed their adorable daughter Diana this past fall, and we were so happy to catch up with them to hear all about her (and hang out with their sweet son Harvey!). Read on to find out about their experience with home birth, the significance of Diana’s name, and some great advice for new parents!
Tell us about your family!
We are Lauren Grogan and Michael Plank and we live in Hudson Falls. Michael and I have been married for 10 years, he is the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Hudson Falls and together we founded Underwood Park Crossfit in Fort Edward. Our first daughter, Aliza Dayenu, was still born at 23 weeks in June of 2013. That loss was a profound and transformative event for our family, and it echoes through our life today in some very beautiful ways. A year later, our son, Harvey Michael Plank, was born. He is now a wonderfully sweet and silly 5 year old who always makes us laugh and impresses us with his intelligence and sensitive heart. He also adores his new sister, Diana Caroline Grogan. As a family we love to sing and have kitchen dance parties. We also like to spend our free days outside and our nights at SlickFin Brewing Company.
Sharing the News
How did you share your pregnancy news with your family and friends?
This pregnancy was very planned, and I was pretty sure our plan had worked well before the test confirmed it, so there was no big reveal for my husband. We chose to take our time telling family, until I accidentally mentioned it in a totally unrelated conversation with my mother-in-law! So there was no big reveal there either, just some quick happy phone calls once the cat was out of the bag. Harvey also had a great time announcing our news, he even told a few people before we were ready! It was nice to tell people a few at a time, like breaking off a little piece of our joy and sharing it in a bunch of intimate moments over the course of a few months.
Did you find out the gender prior to giving birth? Any inklings as to whether it was a boy or a girl, and were you right?
Harvey always referred to the baby as ‘she.’ A week before our ultrasound, we talked to Maureen, a woman from our church who’s ability to predict the sex of a pregnancy is legend in our town. She has never been wrong, but she told us it was a boy! At the ultrasound, it was clear that it was a girl and Harvey reminded us that he’d known all along. Maureen said she might retire from predictions.
Photo by Kelli Evans Photography
All about Diana
Diana was born at our house on October 29th, 2019 at 11:55 AM. She weighed 8lbs 15oz and was 21 inches long.
How did you decide on a home birth?
This was our second planned home birth, with the same midwife who helped us welcome Harvey, Kathie Breault with Sage-Femme midwifery. She is now an extension of our family, a true wise woman whose advice I deeply value and seek often. This time we had our friend, Kelli Evans, photograph the birth and the pictures she took are a stunning capsule of the emotional event. My water didn’t break until the moment Diana was born, which is unusual and a fascinating thing to see captured in photographs. Labor was hard, I was physically and emotionally drained. But Michael is the most supportive partner and we make a great team. Just like her sister and brother, Diana was born into her father’s hands. There was a moment right after she was born, before they put her on my chest, when I was so happy to see her and relieved to be finished laboring. I reached for her, and in one of Kelli’s photos, you can see Diana’s hands stretched toward me too.
Photo by Kelli Evans Photography
The first time we chose to plan for a birth at home, it was about redeeming some of the hard parts of my first birth and having a team of people caring for me who treated me like the healthy person I was. This time, I just couldn't imagine doing anything different! I appreciate having the agency to make choices for myself combined with the knowledge and care of birth experts. Receiving care in my home during the days after she was born was so wonderful, I was well looked after and didn't have to leave the house until I wanted to!
Tell us about her beautiful name!
A few years ago we were on a family trip to Manhattan and the weather was awful. To escape the rain, we went to The Met. We stepped into one particular hall, full of light from its glass ceiling, and in the center was this dramatic statue of a woman holding a bow and arrow (bow hunting is a favorite pastime of Michael, and many people in my family) I read the description, and it was a statue of Diana, the Huntress. I thought that would be a beautiful name for a daughter some day, which surprised me because at that point I was definitely not thinking about having more kids! Over the next few years I would see her from time to time in different works of art. Diana is the roman goddess of the moon and the hunt, she is almost always depicted with a bow and often a stag or hound. I love that imagery, and by the time we were thinking of having another child, I knew that this name had worked its way into my heart. We went back to the museum this summer and told Harvey about his sister’s powerful name. Her middle name is Caroline after my mother-in-law, and her last name is Grogan because it’s my last name and I like it!
What are a few things you love about her so far?
I am really loving this newborn stage! The experience of having done it already makes it much easier for me to enjoy. I’m not as anxious and I know I won’t be sleep deprived forever, so I’m able to relax and soak it all in. She is deliciously squishy right now, I love her chubby baby rolls!
How about some of your favorite things to do together?
She goes everywhere with me, so we do it all. She has been to several meetings, and last week for the first time I wore her while I gave a presentation. I also wear her when I walk to school to pick up Harvey, and I just love the connection we have when she is snuggled in to me. We’re also settling in to a weekday morning routine that I really love: I get my coffee before she wakes up and then we hang out in bed. I feed her, we snuggle, she lays on her stomach for some strength training (baby CrossFit). The rest of the day I may need to focus on other things, but that first hour is just for us.
Any similarities to the two of you?
She most strongly resembles her brother, it’s really fun! She is calm and content, which is more like my husband, but she has a wildcat scream that she uses to get her point across and that’s definitely my style.
Photo by Kelli Evans Photography
On Parenthood
What’s your favorite thing about being parents?
I love watching them learn and seeing their personalities emerge. Harvey is learning to read at lightning speed and we get these fascinating glimpses of how his mind works as he learns and applies new skills. Diana finally figured out how to get her thumb into her mouth after many weeks of diligent effort. I’m looking forward to learning about her personality, the ways that she is similar to Harvey and the things that are unique to her.
What are you most looking forward to with the addition of Diana to your family?
Having another girl is pretty fun! I’m excited for floral print everything and it’s been fun to put her in some dresses that I wore when I was a baby. We are also pretty sure we are finished having kids, so I am excited to take in all of her milestones, knowing that it will be our last time experiencing them as parents.
How have you changed since becoming parents?
I think being a parent makes you a better person, because your kids are always watching. They see and imitate everything we do, so there is a pretty strong incentive to be the best versions of ourselves, and to own it when we fall short of that goal (often). You do so much to shape their worldview when they are little, it’s a huge responsibility and also an incredible opportunity to think critically about what you value. It can be exhausting to have to explain literally everything to them, but I have articulated so many things that I previously did not have words for. I think I know myself better because of that.
Photo by Kelli Evans Photography
We’d love to hear the best advice someone has given you?
The most helpful thing for me is when other women affirm how I am feeling: that it’s hard, lonely even boring sometimes when you have a young baby and it’s ok to not love every minute. Also the geniuses at babysleepscience.com taught me how to help my baby sleep and that changed my life.
How about your advice for new parents?
Nothing lasts forever! Most people think of this as a negative, but I think it’s comforting to know when you are in the trenches that it’s a short season of life. And don’t buy anything! Take all the hand-me-downs you can get and save your money for date nights. The best thing you can give your child is happy parents.
Photo by Kelli Evans Photography
Just for Fun
What are the the top 3-5 products that have gotten you through the first few months?
Dry shampoo and a soft sided carrier, I like the baby k’tan, my husband likes the moby. And a Haakaa breast pump! I didn’t have this with Harvey and it’s a game changer, especially to use on the opposite side while Diana is nursing.
If you could have one night out with a trusted babysitter, what would you do?
Sleep! I guess I wouldn't say no a nice meal, but I’d want it in bed.
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