Watson said...

At the hospital to pick up Melissa and the baby. Watson jumping around. I ask him if he wants to hold the baby, he says 'YES.'
He holds the baby for a few seconds, then says:
"My life has totally changed now that I have a baby."

Leila Nixie Gerhard born!

Today, on a beautiful sunny day in Seattle, at 6:26pm, Leila Nixie Gerhard was born. It was pretty straightforward, not like we don't have experience!

I made an elaborate music playlist, but what a coincidence, she was born to "Uncle John's Band" by the Grateful Dead just like Milo!

Melissa feels great and I am hungry since I didn't have breakfast and have only had vegetable crudite for lunch. I know it's selfish but worth pointing out.

Melissa before birth. Check out the belly, it was pretty big at this point, and ready to pop out the baby.

Leila Nixie at about 5 seconds of age. I cut the chord, of course. Yes the head looks funny. but so would yours if you were squished through a 10cm opening.

Quite the chunker at 8 lbs, 12 ounces, or in real units nearly 4kg.

Melissa with the baby! She looks remarkably like Melissa already!


Much less remarkably me with the baby.

Now we're going to order off the hospital menu and maybe get a glass of wine.

Oh, below a video of her at 30 seconds. I am trying this video thing for the first time, let's see if it works!

First Day of School

First day of school! Milo is in 3rd grade, Watson is in Kindergarten! In the US, Kindergarden is treated like real school - kids have to attend, and it goes all day (from 9:30 - 15:25). They learn reading and writing and stuff so I was really surprised to see that with my German background. Why don't they just call it first grade? Beats me.

Watson sitting at his new desk. The teacher had prepared everything nicely, playdo was ready for crafts, and classical music was playing. Very different from my experience some 30 years ago!

On our way walking to school. Watson was very excited!
Just outside our house. Milo all cool and jaded, Watson excited for the new.
I don't think Watson realizes that this is the first step into the industrialization machine. From this step on, it's studying, learning, competing, working. Childhood is almost over!