Cormac was born today at 3:55 pm, a little over three weeks early and just under six pounds. Both he and mom are healthy.

 

I woke at 4 am today to see Julia standing over me in our bedroom announcing that her water broke. After a quick consultation with a pregnancy guide and call to the nurse, things seemed stable so we pretended to hit the snooze button and slept in a bit more before heading to the UW hospital. Julia did so well, and things moved so easily, I actually dozed in the rocking chair for a good portion of the contractions building up to the labor. The nurse woke me with a kind reminder: "You won't want to miss this." A half hour later, the boy was out. I'm now home to get a full night's rest in my own bed instead of a hospital chair. I guess it's true what they say that by the third child parents are much less uptight :).

 

 

Julia was in San Francisco this weekend with her sisters and mom, so I had the kids to myself. For breakfast we made "mush" (malt-o-meal with brown sugar and bananas), went to church, and then to Center for Wooden Boats for a row on Lake Union. Zack (4) and Amelia (3) sat next to me on the bench of an old wooden rowboat and helped pull the varnished oars. After naps, we watched some of the Olympics and then took a short walk through Lincoln park to Colman pool. We had a nice swim in the heated saltwater pool and watched the slow summer sunset over Puget Sound before we headed home for burritos.

 

It was pretty close to a perfect day.

 

The summer Olympics opened in Beijing on Friday August 8, 2008 at 8:08 pm (eight being an auspicious number in China, as well as my lucky number). The opening ceremony was epic, and a cast of thousands rendered a spectacular show. One favorite: 2008 confucian scribes in long flowing blue robes surrounded a printing press (which China invented) of movable type, the blocks undulating in wave patterns. It seemed programmed by computers and run by hydraulics, but was actually choreographed humans. I could imagine the pride of Chinese citizens at this display, feeling like they were taking their place again as a great power, and welcoming the world so beautifully. It was very moving.

 

Still, I wonder if they are also proud of their form of government. The Communist party long ago ditched ideology in favor of effectiveness (in economics, diplomacy, and now sports), and re-establishing the pride of a long suffering nationalism. The few Chinese citizens I've had the chance to ask about their government seem to have no opinions at all on democracy, civil liberties, freedom of press, and other things we take for granted in the west. I wonder how long this system can last, and look forward to someday going to China to learn more.