STATS:

Name: Diego Issac Romero Oberman

Fighting Weight: 6 lbs. 13oz

Length: 18" (think about it ladies)

Pictures: here

Official Press Release:Wednesday. The day started out mellow. I took Erica to the OBGYN for her regular check-up at 9:45am. She was 2cm dialated and about 70% effaced. Dr. Yee, our doctor, estimated that she would deliver sometime over the weekend. She regretted that she wouldn't be there for the delivery as she was going home to Pittsburg to see her family. She told us to tell our parents to expect the baby in the next couple days - Amber Alert. On the way home, I dropped Erica off at the library so that she could prepare for her endocrinology test the next day. We talked about cleaning up some things around the house and getting the car seat installed on Friday before the baby.

1 hour later I got a call, "Come and get me." I jammed over to the library thinking this was it. When I got there, all hot and bothered, Erica told me, "calm down Bears," that she wasn't in labor just uncomfortable sitting in the library studying. She said she felt like she needed to stretch out. I brought her home and she started studying in bed while I worked in my office. This was around 11:30.

Around 11:45 I could hear her moaning a bit and I checked on her. She told me that she was probably in pre-labor, not to worry, that I should continue working because the baby wouldn't be here for another day. This was, after all, our first kid. At 11:56 the contractions were coming hard and fast. Erica, told me that they needed to come once every 5 minutes for a least and hour before it was serious. That wait-and-see sounded like a fantastic plan for having the kid at home, so I called the doctor. The answer: Do not pass Go. Go to Labor and Delivery NOW.

It took us 30 minutes to get out the door (I brought 3 pairs of shoes and enough film to shoot an National Geographic cover story. I also forgot nearly everything important including underware, toothbrushes, socks, you-name-it..) By the time we got to the hospital Erica was 6cm dialated. By the time we got upstairs 15 minutes later she was 8cm dialated. A BOOM, a little while later Diego was there.

Now, from what I can tell labor appears to be difficult, trying, and most of all painful. But seriously, considering all the stories we heard this was a piece of cake. Even Erica said, "I don't know what all the fuss is about." She pushed about 10 times. Dr. Yee had time to swing by the hospital on the way to the airport to catch the baby before her vacation. And just like that Diego Isaac Romero Oberman was born at 3:33pm December 14th 2005.

He has his mothers eyes and a nose that whistles while he sleeps, just like me.