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The first time they get pregnant, the pregnancy is ectopic. It's upsetting, but it at least confirms that Ann is fertile.

Knowing she is fertile, Ann wants to try to conceive naturally. But it's difficult. Ann is a little older than most new moms, and she has lost her period in the past. (She believes that was due to excessive dieting and exercise.) So she decides to go the treatment route. And that is when she becomes pregnant with Grace.

Ann's excited, but she's also very worried the pregnancy could be ectopic again. (Her doctor assures her it probably won't be, though.) Soon, she and Leslie are thrust into all the pre-birth chaos--from getting the registry together, to organizing (and having) the baby shower, to taking Lamaze classes, to buying, buying, buying. (Kids require a lot of stuff, we soon learn.)

Their families, though generally accepting of the pregnancy, have some problems with it. Leslie's sister worries Grace's life will be difficult, having two mommies as parents, while Ann's sister doesn't want to tell her children the women are a couple. Ann and Leslie worry Ann's sister's decision will make Grace feel like a lesser child, while Leslie just wishes her sister would focus on loving the child, and let them worry about the rest.

It's frustrating to watch, because it's clear the couple's sisters really do think they are making things easier, when in reality, they are just adding more obstacles to a process that already has its fair share of them.

The birth goes relatively smoothly and from here on in, we see Ann and Leslie getting adjusted to their new lives as moms and showing off Grace to overjoyed parents, friends and relatives.

Even though Ann and Leslie are mostly settled at this point, there are still issues they have to struggle with, from how to explain Grace's red hair, a trait Ann doesn't have, to people who don't know her father is a donor, to making sure Leslie will still be able to raise Grace should something happen to Ann, to dealing with the major fights they find themselves having, as they struggle with the stresses of being new mothers.

Though Making Grace had its slow moments, overall, I think Gund did a good job. Her film is funny, heartwarming and full of insight. Her choice of Krsul and Sullivan as the couple to profile was an excellent one: they're comfortable in front of the camera and quite entertaining to watch, particularly Ann, who worries about everything imaginable. (For example, upon seeing an image of the fetus move, she becomes concerned the baby will have ADD, because it has so much trouble staying still.)

I particularly liked the fact that, although Gund focused on some of the gay-related aspects of the story, that's not all the film's about. A great deal of the time, the documentary felt like it could be an exploration of any couple's pregnancy. Mostly, though, Gund just did what all the best documentarians have done: stayed out of the way and let her subjects tell their own story.

In the case of Making Grace, that story is a very important one indeed.

Making Grace will be running at the Pioneer Theater in NYC until July 30th. It is scheduled to play in Austin, Texas at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema from August 26-September 1st, and will eventually be released on DVD. For more details, go to the movie's official site.

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