The Wednesday before his birth, the obstetrician told Diane that she may have to have another Caesarean delivery since he thought that the baby would be well over 9 pounds and that Diane was probably not big enough to go complete a natural childbirth. An ultrasound examination the next day estimated that he was 8 pounds, 14 ounces with about two weeks left until delivery to grow bigger. Everyone was expecting a big baby.

On the 24th Diane started to have contractions about 11:00 a.m. She finally got around to calling me at work a little after 3 p.m. When I got home, I took Kristin to her sitter's house and bought a few last minute hospital supplies - we were somewhat unprepared because Curtis was 6 days early (Kristin was also six days early).

At about 7 p.m. we went to the hospital - Diane's contractions were about 5 minutes apart. At 8:30 the hospital staff sent us home because they didn't believe Diane was ready.

At 10 p.m. with contractions about 3 minutes apart and Diane in a lot of discomfort, we left for the hospital. By the time we got to the hospital, Diane had progressed beyond discomfort to full-fledged pain.

After receiving Demerol and then an epidural to relieve the pain, Diane could get down to business - and a couple of hours later, Curtis was born by natural delivery.

He looked a lot like Kristin when he came out - he still does actually. But, even though he weighed almost a pound more, he looked a lot smaller. We think that the nurse had a finger on the scale.

So far, there is not a lot more to report on him. He doesn't eat as well as Kristin and is a little fussier. Kristin absolutely adores him. She always wants to hold him and kiss him and be with him. We just have to be sure that she doesn't feed him what she eats - she really wants to share her food and drink with him.

I'm sure that I'll have much more to report next time.