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We got to come home from the hospital on Monday afternoon. It's been pretty much a standard new parent experience so far... things are going well, but we're very tired emotionally and physically. We just have to get past this initial adjustment period to find our new normalcy.

Also, happy 30th birthday to my wife, who has taken to motherhood like a fish to water.

-P

Who's your daddy?

Below is a side-by-side comparison of my baby picture and Ben's. So far, we're pretty certain that he favors me. Some of the details are pretty cool to compare... I have a little notch in the cartilage in my left ear, and he has the same thing in the same ear.

-P

Kettering Medical Center Photo

Here is the official hospital photo. An outside photo company took some other pictures this morning - but the hospital photos were 10 times more precious. Last night and today have been surreal. It's hard to look at Baby Ben and believe that he came out of me. I found myself talking to my belly in the shower this morning, and I still hear the fetal heart rate monitor when I close my eyes.

-M

The day in pictures

Presenting...

Ben and mommy.

Mackensie did a fantastic job, and both she and Ben are resting comfortably. More pics to come tomorrow after some rest for all of us. Thanks to everyone who followed along and shared your encouragement and prayers.

11:11 PM

Benjamin Philip Wittmer
8 lbs. 4 oz.

more to come...

10:00 PM

Puuuuuuuusssssshhhhhh!!!!

9:30 PM

Very nearly to 10cm. The sterile cart is in the room, the doctor is called, and they're going to start us pushing very soon.

Edited to add: Average push time for a first-time mother is 2 hours. Just saying.

7:45 PM

7cm... 90% effaced. Still relatively comfortable, but we'll probably have to back off on the epidural a little bit later on, since Mackensie can't move very much on her own right now.

6:00 PM

God bless the epidural man. To quote Ron Burgundy, "Boy, that escalated quickly... I mean, that really got out of hand fast."

4cm, with very regular contractions. According to the nurse, they're "textbook." The epidural has helped a great deal. Updates may be less frequent now as we get into the serious phase.