Meet Milo

Fortunately for him, Milo scored sufficiently high enough on the cuteness scale to avoid being tied into a burlap sack and thrown into a river-for now, at least. We'll see what he's like when he's a teenager.

Robert Milo Emmerson (fourth in a line of Robert Emmersons, first in a line of Milos) is not, repeat NOT, an Australian Ovaltine-style chocolate malt drink. Nor is he a cat who journeys across the country to find a dog named Otis. And I haven't been watching him every waking moment of his 43-hour life, but I'm fairly certain he's never been to Atlantis. He didn't fight in World War II (though he IS most definitely a Minderbender) and he's never driven through a phantom tollbooth to rescue Rhyme and Reason from a castle in the air. And, although I'd love to say otherwise, I'm afraid he's never traded liberal wisecracks with a penguin named Opus.

Of course, it's possible he may do all those things and more some day, but for now Milo is simply our baby son. But I must say, he's still quite the character - and yes, it's true: he's pretty sweet.

For those who haven't yet heard the story, Milo was born at home at 1:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 25th, after causing his mother to moan and howl for an approximate total of seven hours and forty-five minutes. He weighed just under eight pounds (3.62 kg) at birth and was just over 20 inches (51.5 cm) long. His mother is very grateful that he decided to make his appearance 13 days before his scheduled due date - especially after she learned that Milo would have been a full pound heavier had he decided to wait until the due date to be born.

Yes, Milo is a good boy. Now if only he would sleep for longer than 90 minute stretches at night... Oh, wait, I forgot. That's what the overproof rum is for!

Thanks for all your wonderful wishes, everyone -- I'll respond to them personally some time over the next week or so. And I will be posting more photos here as well, so keep an eye out for them. I might even discuss the birth in graphic detail, just so I can imagine the expressions on some of your faces as you read it. Heh heh heh... But for now, mama must sleep. Or drink overproof rum. Or both.

Much love to all... Milo and his very tired but deliriously happy parents.