We’ve settled in for what looks like a long night. Contractions are three or four minutes apart, locallized to the lower uterus. We can expect the rest of the muscle to get in on the act as the night goes on. Dilation has been slow, but can speed up quickly. The baby is doing wonderfully, as is Chris. She’s napping, three minutes at a time.

Yeah… I’m blogging from the birthing room. Labor contractions are coming fast and furious now. If you’re folowing along in real time, be sure to watch for photos over there on the right.

<a href="/cameraphone/archives/001679.html" title="Birthing Room "><img src="/images/legacy/weblog/cameraphone/images/200408152137/_t.jpg" alt="Birthing Room " width="120" height="146" class="pic" border="0" /></a>
(more inside)

The stork just called; he’s on his way. We’re off to South Carolina to meet the new Wagoner. More news as we have it!

Five years ago today, I posted the very first entry to this weblog. Before I began writing publicly here, I’d never been able to keep a journal for more than a month or so, despite wanting to. It’s had some slow spots (more so recently, of course), but there’s a steady stream of babble archived here now – my screen shows “Total Posts: 1596 | Total Comments: 1788”. Any day now, I’ll have someone brand new to write to. These past five years have just been a warm-up.

<a href="/cameraphone/archives/001676.html" title="The Elvis Wart "><img src="/images/legacy/weblog/cameraphone/images/200408071622/_t.jpg" alt="The Elvis Wart " width="120" height="146" class="pic" border="0" /></a>
(more inside)

<a href="/cameraphone/archives/001675.html" title="A Flock of Elvii "><img src="/images/legacy/weblog/cameraphone/images/200408071608/_t.jpg" alt="A Flock of Elvii " width="120" height="146" class="pic" border="0" /></a>
(more inside)

<a href="/cameraphone/archives/001674.html" title="Elvis! "><img src="/images/legacy/weblog/cameraphone/images/200408071605/_t.jpg" alt="Elvis! " width="120" height="146" class="pic" border="0" /></a>
(more inside)

“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we. " -- President George W. Bush, August 5, 2004

We’re now in overtime! Which is OK… my wife’s birthday is tomorrow, and having the young’un then would give me one less birthday to remember. I’m so bad at those. And many congratulation go out to Jason and Lysa Stiffler on the (early) birth of thier daughter Helena. I could say something about Jason’s need to finally come in ahead of me on something, but . . . I won’t.