BermyBaby: It's a boy

...so we left Ward and Kim's after a lovely meal, intent on sorting out our house after the hurricane (opening shutters, drying out the place, getting the plants back outside, etc.) before bringing Schuyler back and then those darn contractions started. Fortunately, a handy ipod contraction counter app allowed us to monitor the situation (sorry, kids, your parents are geeks). At midnight, we decided to try and get some sleep as the contractions weren't strong enough yet. At 1am, we decided we were wrong. So we threw the essentials in the car and abandoned our faithful furry friend to guard the fort (and, as it turns out, to also express his displease at being left behind via various bodily functions).

We arrived at the hospital about 1:30am and the admitting nurse didn't even both to ask what was going on and assigned a security guard to take us to the maternity ward. The contractions quickly built to a textbook pattern of real, full on, lets-get-this-show-on-the-road labour... but we were only at 3cm... (how!?)

This time was different (as it always is, I hear). The first time was like a long, hard battle. This was like hand-to-hand combat with Mike Tyson: brutal, with a small risk that someone might bite someone's ear off.

Liz was in agony and marched around the room with a TENS machine glued to her back, huffing and puffing and making noises that made the person in the room responsible for the pregnancy so very proud of his wife and slightly worried for his safety. Liz trooped through and by 3am we were at 4cm and Liz was really not having any fun whatsoever. Daddy timed the contractions on the ipod app which was obviously just as difficult a task as late stage labour.

By the time 4am rolled around, 9cm and ready to go. By 4:28am, we met Charles Alexander Young for the first time: a cone-headed, pasty pile of boy wailing and confused. Charlie, you already owe your mum big time, buddy! She was a real hero. I cannot express to you how amazing Liz was. Just an awe inspiring display of dedication, resilience and love.

So Charlie arrived at 8lbs 8.5oz and 20.5 inches with all fingers and toes accounted for (you got the Young toes - sorry, Charlie. They're good for typing or perching on branches).

He also breastfed which was a relief after our efforts with his sister. And then he promptly did what his mum and i really wanted to do: he fell fast asleep. Welcome to the world, Charlie - we can't wait to get to know you and we're starting to realise just how lucky we are.

I can't teach you any of the traditional boy stuff (sports, cars, fixing stuff, generally being useful) but i can teach you how to play guitar to a very average level; i can introduce you to some great music that may live inside you for the rest of your life; i can teach you how to cook a half decent meal (chicks dig it); i can show you through our friendships that you can find great friends in family and great family in friends; i can teach you all i know about being happy in this world and i'll spent the rest of my days making sure you know we love you and we support you and whatever happiness you choose. But Grandpa Flip may have to teach you the offside rule.