Francesca Rose DeCurtis

Dec. 24, 2005

4:11 a.m.

5 pounds, 13 ounces

Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center

The morning the transit strike ended, Rolling Stone contributing editor Anthony DeCurtis, 54, put on a Creedence Clearwater Revival CD and began “jamming” around his Upper West Side two-bedroom with his 37 1¼2-weeks pregnant wife of four years, Alexandra MacDowell, 36, a director of production management at the A&E television network, and their St. Bernard, Gracie (dance parties are a morning tradition in this household). In the middle of “Born on the Bayou,” Ms. MacDowell’s water broke and she wisely decided to hoof it to the hospital. Since entering the world, the couple’s fair-skinned, dark-haired firstborn (“I’ve never seen a baby with such a head of hair,” crowed Mom) has been the bane of their poor dog’s existence. “Gracie largely ignores Francesca,” Mr. DeCurtis said. “Right now she’s processing the whole thing.” While little Francesca loves the dark undertones of Nick Drake, the family isn’t quite rocking out like before. “Our normal morning routine seems to be permanently disrupted,” Ms. MacDowell said.