Blake is here

Blake McLeod was born Monday, Oct. 8th at 8.23 pm at Northside.

He was 8 lbs, 6 oz and 21 inches long.

He scored 9 on APGAR; is healthy and fine.

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike-mcleod/1524952974/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike-mcleod/1519989530/

Like most of my projects – it ended up perfect, but a little late and a little over budget:
Jennifer McLeod had a hard, long labor – from 7 am to 8.30 pm.
But she’s fine, as well. She’s resting a lot – it was rough, but she’s well and will recover fine.

Both Jennifer and Blake will be home on Thursday morning.

The other three children (Savannah, 8; Parker 7; Jackson 4) are so excited. They visited their new brother yesterday and fought one another to get to hold him:

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike-mcleod/1526013902/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike-mcleod/1525182795/

Not yet - but will send photos

Not yet - but check http://flickr.com/photos/mike-mcleod/ later for a first look at Blake.

In the hospital

Well, we are here - at Northside hospital - waiting for Blake to be born. Jen is in a comfy labor and delivery bed. I am on a bench type thing.

Of course, Jen will be more uncormfortable later.

One observation - I don't like watching TV without TIVO anymore.

2 Days Untill Blake

It's time.

It's time for Blake to come.

He's all cooked good.

I'm talking about Blake William McLeod :: my wife is due to be induced into labor Monday morning starting at 7 am. We're scheduled to spend Sunday night at the hospital - Northside in Atlanta.

[PHOTO CAPTION: Picture of Blake's brother Jackson and sister Savannah when they were little. How are they going to react to Blake? We'll see]

I'm so excited. I find little ways to bring it into conversations. I wonder how the other kids are going to react. I find myself renewed in many ways by it.

I mean, it's not like I ever took my three wonderful children and wife for granted. I make a point to be thankful and look at them (and other things) with new and enthusiasm every day.

But now that I'm off work and we have a date for Blake - there's a sharper focus on my family and a sense of renewal for me. I find myself thinking of how the siblings will turn out - how they'll get along when they are older. I think about Parker's love of playing football and how it compares to the love I had for it growing up. And I think about how these guys grew up in suburban Atlanta - compared with how I grew up - in smaller Georgia towns :: and then overseas in Turkey for three years in middle school. I wonder how it'll all turn out. Things are changing.

Parker & Football

So, today was fun.

It was the "big game" - Parker's football team :: War Eagles Central (imaginative, huh?) was 4-0; and they were playing against the only other undefeated team.

It was quite a struggle. Score :: 6-0 - and Parker and the War Eagles Central won. Nice.

Football in Forsyth County is a treat. The coaches are good, the parents enthusiastic. The sounds - the small cute cheerleaders cheering; the parents and coaches hollering; the announcer being casual and funny; the homemade shakers in the stands; the cowbell someone has...

It's serious, but at the same time, people aren't serious about it. In the moment, we're all serious. But really, everyone realizes it is just a game. They are serious about it, but don't take it seriously. If that makes sense. It's professional feeling with a sense of fun.

And, it is more fun when you win. Like Parker's team is doing.