Dylan Connor (and Wednesday's Self Portrait)

On Wednesday evening, we sat down to watch Super Size Me, because we're the two people left on Earth who haven't seen it. Around this time, Megan started noticing that she was having more frequent contractions, and there was some pain, unlike the Braxton Hicks contractions of the last few months. After the movie we climbed into bed hoping to get some much-needed rest; but Dylan had other plans.

We were up all night timing contractions and even spent 10 minutes walking on the treadmill at 2:00 am. Contractions were irregular, but getting closer, longer, and more painful. Megan barely got a wink of sleep, if that. She was kind enough to allow me an hour or two. At 8:00 we arrived at the ER because we decided she was probably in early labor. After a couple of hours in bed getting IV fluids and exams, we were sent home because she wasn't far enough along and not progressing. We arrived home around 11:30, and per Doctor's orders she took some Tylenol and a warm bath. Afterwards, contractions began to get much more painful, longer, and closer together.

The Doctor told us to come back when contractions were 3 minutes apart and 60 seconds long (or closer together/longer) for an hour. After about 40 minutes of incredibly painful contractions that started at 1:30 and were 60-120 seconds long and 2-3 minutes apart, we decided it was time to head back to the hospital. By the time we got dressed again, made it back into the car (stopping every 2 minutes to deal with a contraction), and back to the hospital, it would have been an hour. Sure enough, we arrived back at the hospital at 2:30; where she was quickly determined to be 8cm dilated.

She had progressed so far, actually, that she would have to go through the entire process without any pain medication whatsoever. She was unbelievably brave and at 3:47, our beautiful son Dylan Connor was born.

He weighed 8 lbs. 2.8oz (3, officially), and was 19 and 3/4 inches long. Dylan and Mommy are happy and healthy, and expected to return home on Saturday afternoon. More photos will be available here soon. (After I shower and sort through them.)

So get this. Here's my Project365 photo from Wednesday night. I took this before we knew that she was in labor.

Eagle (64/365)

Click and hover over the photo to get notes on the merit badges.

Here's an outfit that doesn't get worn too much these days. My old BSA uniform. I made Eagle Scout just before my 18th birthday, and — just like they say — it's great resume fodder.

I was inspired for this shot because my dad found my old merit badge sash recently and gave it to me at our pre-Thanksgiving dinner. Bonus points if you can name (and point out) a few of the merit badges without peeking at the notes. There are only a few I had to look up, surprisingly. View large for a better look at the individual badges.

What an incredible dork Megan married.

Giver (63/365)

So by now you're probably aware that I managed to not take a single personal or vacation day this year, and only one sick day and a few holidays (but not their floating-holiday counterparts), all for the cause of spending them en-masse at this time of year to be with Megan and our son (due Wednesday!)…

Somehow my math was off though, and I actually have 39 more hours of Paid Time Off accrued than I had calculated I would. I was already planning on taking about 5 and a half weeks off, so now I get to make that 6 and a half. Sort of.

I was planning on working right up until (and on) the due date, and starting my vacation then. The policy is "use it or lose it," and between the various forms of PTO, I would have just enough to get me through the end of the year. I found out today that I had these extra hours, so I get to start my vacation a little early, and with any luck, my boss will let me work something out to un-officially take that lost time off at the beginning of next year.

I know the picture was technically taken and uploaded on the 25th, but I still haven't gone to bed. I'm officially on vacation and I'm making the absolute most of it. The movie marathon starts early tomorrow afternoon and the video game marathon (…hence the World of Warcraft theme…) has been going on for a few hours now. ;)

So now that I'm officially on vacation, all that's left to do is wait for my son to arrive. How cool is that?