TONIGHT IS A GOOD NIGHT . . .

Welcome to the world, MC2 and CC2, 7:51pm and 7:52pm, respectively.

MC2, you just follow in your dad's footsteps and be like him, and you'll be JUST FINE.
CC2, you just follow in your mom's footsteps and be like her, and YOU'LL be JUST FINE.

We have waited a long, long time for you. We have waited with bated breath after every ultrasound, every check-up, every non-contraction contraction. We have seen pictures of you, heard you breathe, felt you move and tumble as you fought for space. We have fed you all sorts of snacks to fatten you up and make you happy, and made your mom drink enough Gatorade to last her a lifetime and the afterlife. We have bought all manner of crazy cute soft snuggly things for you and painted all manner of bizarre animals on your room's walls (don't be afraid of them, not even the beaver-bear -- that animal does not yet exist). We have stood by your parents, every step of the way, and now that you're here, we will stick by them some more, no matter what.

And now you're finally with us . . . I hear y'all are cute -- I can't wait to see yous. Actually, I can't wait till y'all are old enough to talk, so I can teach y'all to say funny things that will drive your parents crazy. But first, I will marvel at you -- is that what you looked like in there? Are you more comfortable out here, with no one to share space with? Do you have your mom's nose, your dad's smile, their collective brilliance? Could your fingers be any smaller and daintier? . . . And then I will love you as a good auntie should, for as long as you can tolerate my cooing and spoiling and protecting. We all will.

Happy Birthday. We'll take good care of you.