OMG! Everyone is having babies nowadays!! Something in the water over that way???

What, no countdown clock on the website?

Please accept my congratulations.

Its great to see intelligent, thinking people reproducing for a change. Of course, I’m assuming the Vodkawife falls into that category.

Well, let me be the first to get into the pool, then:

January 4th, 6:21 am.

First babies often run late, and it seems unlikely that you would choose to induce on Christmas Day.

And congratulations.

Congrats 'n all, but what the heck are you spreadsheeting?

Hair/eye color configurations?

Star Wars v. Star Trek tendencies?

...

Get all the sleep you can now, because once the baby opens his or mouth outside the womb . . . you'll never hear the end of it. (smile)

Buy diapers now. Don't buy the newborn baby diapers. Your wife will get more than you'll need as gifts. Buy the next couple of sizes every time you see a sale or have a coupon. You'll thank me later.

Congrats on the baby. I am a new father to a 3 1/2 month old baby girl and the experience has been unbelievable. She has the power to make the world stop, I kid you not. You are in for the time of your life.

Also, it is true. Most likely sleep will decline, and irritability will go up. Tell your wife that my wife went 5 days early. She'll appreciate that in her final month, trust me. And during that month, never mention that most women go late with their first child.

Tell Melissa to have the VodkaToddler on New Years Eve, five minutes before midnight. That will give you an income tax exemption for the entire year.

Perhaps this is a storkly version of Montezuma's Revenge?

Bravo Zulu to Steve and Melissa!

Heartiest of congratulations, and best of luck to Mellisa. We had ours via lawyers rather than doctors, but I understand it's about as much effort either way, just less evenly divided. Two bits of advice:

1) Keeping your kids safe and sound only works as long as you're there. Making 'em strong and dangerous works long after your out of the picture.

2) When you get to the heart of darkness on dadhood, those nights when sleep-lack and noise-blight are eating away at the fact that you would cheerfully take a bullet for your baby, go to http://www.ironycentral.com. He's been there, done that, and isn't afraid to tell you all about it.

Do you have the "new dad" blog set up yet? If not, you should. Your take will be a hoot.

fingers crossed for happy and healthy

I'll never forget how my wife told me she was pregnent (after several years of trying). She woke me up at 5:30 in the morning and said, "The stick's never done this before." Those nine months were an incredible time enjoy it and enjoy each other.

My son is now a year old, and no matter what kind of day I have, when I see him it's always a good day.

Try to avoid some of the common Excel pregnancy pitfalls. For example, weekly briefings on your wife's girth-to-tantrum ratio? Not a good thing.

Congrats again and welcome to the wild ride! Ours is 2 1/2 months, and I'm sure he'll be asking for a date in about, oh, fourteen years...