Well, I'm sure no one has noticed, but I've been missing for the last 2 weeks. Why? Simply the best reason possible: my wife gave birth to our firstborn son, Caden Gilbert. Born July 30, 2004 at 10:15, he weighed 9 lbs 2 oz. (that's like 5,000,000 Kilograms or some other number that's big for you Europians), and was 20 inches long (average size).

Why do I tell you? 'Cause I like telling people, that's why . The last 2 weeks have been all about figuring out how in the hell a hospital lets 2 people who have never taken care of a baby before - let alone a newborn - out of the hospital without supervision. It shouldn't be allowed .

Actually, the last 2 weeks have been about transition and adjustment. For 2 relatively active, free-spirited, and spontaneous people, a baby is a whole lot of transition. Sleep is precious my friends, it's precious.

But, of course, the benefits aren't small. It just takes a few smiles (ok, ok, so I know his smiles at this point are from gas, but hey...don't bother me with the details) or the sight of him sleeping to make it worth it. Besides, we get a tax deduction this year .

Jeff...

By the way, I've noticed that there have been 164,240 posts since I was last here. Anyone want to give me the important headlines?

<Edit> Forgot to say that if you want to see a few pictures go to http://www.gilbertnet.net . I'm having some DNS issues so if you get kicked out try again.

jeffreygg wrote:

Well, I'm sure no one has noticed, but I've been missing for the last 2 weeks.

Of course we noticed

Why? Simply the best reason possible: my wife gave birth to our firstborn son, Caden Gilbert. Born July 30, 2004 at 10:15, he weighed 9 lbs 2 oz. (that's like 5,000,000 Kilograms or some other number that's big for you Europians), and was 20 inches long (average size).

4.09Kg, 50.8cm

Congratulations!! Also to the proud mother!

Why do I tell you? 'Cause I like telling people, that's why . The last 2 weeks have been all about figuring out how in the hell a hospital lets 2 people who have never taken care of a baby before - let alone a newborn - out of the hospital without supervision. It shouldn't be allowed .

hehehe

Actually, the last 2 weeks have been about transition and adjustment. For 2 relatively active, free-spirited, and spontaneous people, a baby is a whole lot of transition. Sleep is precious my friends, it's precious.

I heard that of my brother who has 2 kids, you simply don't get sleep at all, but then again, it seems not to matter

But, of course, the benefits aren't small. It just takes a few smiles (ok, ok, so I know his smiles at this point are from gas, but hey...don't bother me with the details) or the sight of him sleeping to make it worth it. Besides, we get a tax deduction this year .

, I think you'll need that tax deduction, diapers aren't cheap. (left alone college money)

Jeff... By the way, I've noticed that there have been 164,240 posts since I was last here. Anyone want to give me the important headlines?

Not that much, other than that I'm 2 weeks passed the deadline already of the runtime libs but that we're really getting close (a few features left), so you haven't missed much

<Edit> Forgot to say that if you want to see a few pictures go to www.gilbertnet.net. I'm having some DNS issues so if you get kicked out try again.

Heh nice photos! Oh life is so easy and uncomplicated when you're little...

Congratulations!

I have 3 children under 4 years old and I can honestly say that other than my wife (would get punched if I didn't say that), they are the best "thing" that has every happened to me.

It is truly a blessing to have children. Or at least this is what I have heard until they become teenagers. At that point you go from cool to fool! Enjoy 'em while their young

My Hearty Congratulations Jeff.

Navin.

Congrats and welcome aboard!.

Congratulations!!!

Caden is a cool name. Why did you choose it? Do you know its origins? I've never heard it before.

cheers!

j

Of course we missed you - Congrats with the little one.

Thanks all very much.

Frans: speaking of college money - we went to a financial planner to review/revise our, um, financial plan, and he said we'll need a minimum of $140,000 (I think that's equal to 592,230 euros) just to send Caden to a UC school - that's just one step above a State school which is...well let's just say it's on the opposite end of the spectrum as Harvard. Couldn't believe it. It'll cost us $350 PER MONTH for 18 years to pay for his education. That's PER KID! Yikes.

jdee: His name is Irish, it means "Spirit of Battle" (grrrrrowwwwwll). Fitting for my firstborn, methinks.

Wayne: Ha! I've had 2 weeks of Fridays! I should've posted and reminded you of that everyday! heh.

Jeff...

jeffreygg wrote:

Frans: speaking of college money - we went to a financial planner to review/revise our, um, financial plan, and he said we'll need a minimum of $140,000 (I think that's equal to 592,230 euros) just to send Caden to a UC school - that's just one step above a State school which is...well let's just say it's on the opposite end of the spectrum as Harvard. Couldn't believe it. It'll cost us $350 PER MONTH for 18 years to pay for his education. That's PER KID! Yikes.

whoa, that sounds like my pension plan...

Here we have a state-funded scholarship thingy: you get a fixed amount of money per month and if that's not enough you can get a loan above that (for very low interest rates) or work (or get it from your parents of course) and with that you can attend to every university in The Netherlands, which are in some fields as good as Harvard, Cambridge et all or even better.

I hope you manage to get the money together, as it is very important for a kid to get a good education...

Ok, so I exagerated a bit on the conversion rate, but it's still in the 6-figure range - even for euros. I've heard The Netherlands has a good literacy rate (or was it the Swiss? One of you guys has like a 100% literacy rate), it sounds like you guys have a semi-socialized upper education system. We've got to figure out something over here; some of these costs are just unreasonable. The government here has set up some decent savings plans, but I still have to come up with the scratch. Ack! Oh well. May I retire a poor man so that my children can have a second-class education <sigh> .

Jeff...

jeffreygg wrote:

Ok, so I exagerated a bit on the conversion rate, but it's still in the 6-figure range - even for euros. I've heard The Netherlands has a good literacy rate (or was it the Swiss? One of you guys has like a 100% literacy rate), it sounds like you guys have a semi-socialized upper education system. We've got to figure out something over here; some of these costs are just unreasonable. The government here has set up some decent savings plans, but I still have to come up with the scratch. Ack! Oh well. May I retire a poor man so that my children can have a second-class education <sigh> . Jeff...

heh Ah well, after a while you don't even notice the monthly payment I guess. And who knows what will happen in 18+ years, perhaps your government will install a better scholarshipsystem, or Caden wins a scholarship at harvard

Congratulations!

I remember the moment we left the hospital with our first (of three!). We'd been pampered, powered, fed and trained for three straight days. Suddenly we load him in the car and drive away and I realize it's all ours now. No nurse call button, no pre-mixed formula, no nursery to dump him on to get some sleep.

And he survived us! We mixed formula like chemists in lab coats, boiled everything he touched, bought a $300 stroller and drove our car at 10 MPH.

After the birth of our third boy we dropped him into the car seat like any other bundle, we heated bottles with the microwave (considered a no-no), let him get slobbered on by the dog, and as he got older we feed him uncut hot dogs, grapes, and hard candy (all the best choking hazards).

You get casual with them after a while. You relax. You find out they are made of rubber for the first few years and that a little dirt on food builds immunities.

My best advice, speak to them like they understand you. Because they can, they just can't talk back to you yet. We've never spoken baby talk, but always full sentences in a normal voice, just as we would talk to any other person. They're all brilliant now (of course) and that's the first thing I attribute it to. That and reading to them every(!) day.

I raise them thinking of them as I wish them to be when they're 30 years old. I look forward to that day when they are and I suppose I'll be proud of the things I'm doing now, even the punishments, because that's a part of making them a good person when they're 30. What three good friends I'll have!

Enjoy yourself!

swallace wrote:

Congratulations!

I remember the moment we left the hospital with our first (of three!). We'd been pampered, powered, fed and trained for three straight days. Suddenly we load him in the car and drive away and I realize it's all ours now. No nurse call button, no pre-mixed formula, no nursery to dump him on to get some sleep.

And he survived us! We mixed formula like chemists in lab coats, boiled everything he touched, bought a $300 stroller and drove our car at 10 MPH.

After the birth of our third boy we dropped him into the car seat like any other bundle, we heated bottles with the microwave (considered a no-no), let him get slobbered on by the dog, and as he got older we feed him uncut hot dogs, grapes, and hard candy (all the best choking hazards).

You get casual with them after a while. You relax. You find out they are made of rubber for the first few years and that a little dirt on food builds immunities.

My best advice, speak to them like they understand you. Because they can, they just can't talk back to you yet. We've never spoken baby talk, but always full sentences in a normal voice, just as we would talk to any other person. They're all brilliant now (of course) and that's the first thing I attribute it to. That and reading to them every(!) day.

I raise them thinking of them as I wish them to be when they're 30 years old. I look forward to that day when they are and I suppose I'll be proud of the things I'm doing now, even the punishments, because that's a part of making them a good person when they're 30. What three good friends I'll have!

Enjoy yourself!

Heh, what a great post to read. Well written. You made my wife laugh, even. This one might make the fridge!

Jeff...

Thanks! Now go get some sleep!

Congrats Jeff! Less time thinking about DataAdaptors and entities...now its all nappies (diapers?) and sleep deprivation Well worth it though from what I hear