Throwing Quarters blog/podcast: birthdays

9-9-09. Words cannot describe this date. It's the ultimate accessory. Everyone can say that they have a cool birthday, but now I have a trump card.

I know there have been many babies born on their father's birthday, but how many have a birthday of 9-9? Let alone in the year 2009?

How many can say their child was born 9-9-09 when it was 9 days late?
How many can say their child was born on 9-9-09 after being 9 days late and weighed 9 pounds?
How many can say their child was born on 9-9-09 after being 9 days late and weighing 9 pounds and being 19 inches long?
How many can say their child was born on 9-9-09 after being 9 days late and weighing 9 pounds 19 inches long and it still be their 29th birthday?

Not many.

I am one of those few. Many call it destiny, fate, or maybe God's will. I call it the natural order of things.

Last night I got to hold my new daughter for the first time. I can't even begin to describe the feeling. I posted about how I felt anxiety over loving two children. You were right. It just grows. I had no idea.

Yesterday I got to watch my wife fight through pain I can't even fathom, to give life to a child she has only known by her kicks, pokes, and jabs for the last 9 months. I am in awe. I watched her turn into a mother right before my eyes, and I don't think I blinked. My wife is my hero. What an amazing thing to experience. It is what I think watching the Cleveland Browns win the Super Bowl would feel like.

Last evening I sat on the couch, while mom and baby slept, with Audrey's head in my lap while she slept, crying like a little school girl. All the emotions caught up with me. Finally. Babies don't sleep as well as I did last night.

This morning I woke up at 5am, wide awake for no apparent reason. Sleep is a precious commodity these days and here I am wasting it on posting a new blog before I start my day.

The words escape me this morning. I have written and written this post over and over. I have over 17 pages in my moleskine with my emotions, thoughts, views, and observations throughout my day yesterday. All I can muster are these few words.

I logged into Facebook yesterday. For those following my updates there, I am sorry. Facebook and Twitter were not friends. Everything came in out of order, or very very late. My phone hasn't seen as much action as it did yesterday. I had distribution lists set up. With every update it instantly went out to about 30 friends and family, including some very very anxious grandparents in the waiting room. Not long after they got the message, twitter got the message, but Facebook was apparently jerking off in the bathroom most of the day.

When I logged into Facebook I was met with hundreds upon hundreds of status updates, wall posts, and messages my phone had not gotten yet. I stayed up pretty late reading every one of them. Thank you so much. You have made my 29th birthday even more special.

Yesterday morning my wife gave me Cleveland Browns PJ pants, because everyone needs something to open on their birthday.

Yesterday, at 6:33pm, the ultimate birthday gift arrived. As my brother Keith said last night, she came just in time for cake and ice cream.

Before I go any further I must announce the winner of the Baby Pool and Side Bet.

[The official scorecard for the Baby Pool and Side Bet]

Kasey Crabtree. A friend. Someone I would have never met had it not been for Twitter and Positively Cleveland putting me up on a follow Friday. A weekend DJ for WNCX. A totally kick ass chick from Cleveland, is the winner of our baby pool.

Her guess was 18:39 or 6:39pm. Addison arrived at 6:33pm.

Congratulations to Kasey. She will be winning a t-shirt from CLE Clothing Co.

Now because this post has gone on long enough. Here are some photos from yesterday, minutes after our little girl came into this world.