Update

Hello everyone!

First of all, sorry for the lack of pictures. Aimee takes her pictues in RAW format and I don't know how to get them off her camera properly. I'll figure this out and get them up here on her blog later today. She wanted me to put up a post on her behalf.

By the way, we have a new baby! Here is the story:

We were out having a nice west coast experience, as we took the kids for a walk in the rain to a playground in Central Park (seriously, the best playground I have ever seen. They have all kinds of unique, interactive playground elements. One of theme are these binoculars that the kids could look through. Elijah was looking through them and exclaimed, 'I see a movie. I see a DVD'. Really, we try not to let them see too many movies). Anyways, Aimee said she was having back pain and slight contractions. We got home at 1:30 and she said they were getting a bit stronger, more intense.

I should offer at this point, some advice that will likely appear completely obvious - when your wife is having contractions, believe her. Don't ask, "Are you sure?" , "Maybe you are just having digestion cramps", "Could be gas right?", "How can you be really sure", as these will only annoy her. Finally Aimee said to me, "You're bugging me!" which is about as mean as she gets. Aimee phoned midwife Tracy and got a few more instructions. Aimee began walking around the house, managing the contractions calmly. I on the other hand got very, very hyper. Actually, it is really embarrassing. I got this way last time. Once I realize that this is for real, that this doesn't just involve a pregnancy but a labour and a birth and a screaming baby - I don't know what to do with myself. I usually mutter helpful things to Aimee as I pace around, "Oh ok. Uh here we go. It's go time. Ok. What do we need. Are you ok. Are you sure. Ok giddy-up." As it turns out, this does not actually help. "You're bugging me."

By 3:45 the contractions are getting pretty strong. Aimee is on all fours leaning on the couch, swaying back and forth. Eva is beside her leaning over, a perfect mimic swaying in time. Elijah is trying to take advantage of the situation and is trying to mount Mama's back and ride 'the horsey'. I am trying to finish packing, and feed the kids and ensure there is no horsey riding.

By 4:20pm Grandma Kathy has arrived and we are out the door and in the van. Now the contractions are much more intense. Aimee says, "I'm trying to see the contractions as a good thing. They are necessary to get the baby out and I am going to work with them." I thought this sounded incredibly smart and heroic. She also said that it was a mercy that there is a break between the contractions. It should be pointed out that this is a terribly 'Aimee' thing to say - rather than complaining about things she was focussing on how great it was that she got to have a break in the pain. This was the first of many times in the day where I was quite in awe of who she is.

We met Tracy at the hospital and once we got situated in the birthing room (apparently the last room in the delivery ward!) Tracy checked Aimee and she was 5 centimeters. I won't get into too many details here, but I wish any of you (females) who are really into labour could watch Aimee. She is incredible - so focussed and tough. And polite. During one particuarily intense contraction, Tracy and I were encouraging her, "Way to go. Good job..." to which AImee squeeked out a "Thank-you." We laughed and told her she didn't need to be polite in labour.

Aimee is really into science and learning about how things work. She really wanted a video of the birth, so I had the camera set up on a shelf facing the bed. We got the whole birth on tape - yikes.

Anyways, at 6:15pm the little baby boy ANDERS MICAH ODEGARD arrived!

For the next hour Aimee kept marvelling at how much she enjoyed the experience (! ?) and she especially liked having a midwife. For almost an hour Anders laid on Aimee's chest. Time was suspended as we looked at him in the dimly light room, pointing out things we noticed: "Hey he has so much hair!" "He has long toes. "He has Odegard ear lobes." This was a much different experience as there was no operating room or panic. Just time to notice and enjoy fresh Anders.

Now, I have to say at this point that even with writing and talking about this kind of thing, the miracle (and I use that in a non-sentimental way) of birth is so beyond language. How can you write about the invisible becoming visible? Or how out of the pain and mess, new life emerges? Or how so clearly humanity and holiness are on display? Or how there seems to be two births happening at the same time - the baby and the parent's new capacity to love that baby?

My father-in-law is currently doing a major expansion to his bookstore. Outside the existing store the new structure is being built and attached to the old building. After many months of building and finishing, they will punch through the inside wall and quite instantly the store will be expanded. This seems similar to what God does. He is busy behind the scenes working and creating in areas that we can't see. And at the proper time, God breaks through the walls of our lives, with a surprising expansion. This is the second miracle of birth: even more space, even more love.

ANDERS ('strong') MICAH ('who is like God?') ODEAGARD ('desolate farm') is a really cool kid. He is 8 pounds 4 ounces, 21 inches long, and hairy. He looks sort of like Eva, sort of like Elijah, and mostly like himself. He is really into eating - true Odegard.

Aimee is very, very happy. I'm sure she will want to fill in the details (ladies I tried my best to give details!)

Thanks for all of your prayer and support and interest.

Lance