As I was driving home from the hospital late tonight, almost exactly an hour after Aiden was born, I saw a shooting star. It seemed to be coming straight toward me from the northwest, while the full moon was shining out of the southwest. Even if you're not superstitious, it's hard not to think of this as a promising sign.

This wasn't an easy day for Tammy, but it ended well. (No suspense is permitted in a story like this. Not when I'm telling it, anyway.) She had her regular doctor appointment this morning, and she phoned and told me that the baby was ready to fall out at any time. Not two hours later I got the call that they were on their way back to the hospital, and this time it was probably "the real thing."

For several long hours we believed it and then didn't believe it. Around five o'clock they were seriously talking about sending her home, but something must have made them suddenly smarter, because she was admitted and they started pumping go-go juice into her veins. Or something, I'm not clear on all the details.

D.J. knew he was going to be a big brother again, but he was also worried about his mom. He was very good during the time he was at the hospital, but it wasn't really a completely comfortable situation for him. He's sensitive to the anxiety of the adults around him. When he was convinced that Tammy was going to be fine, he allowed Eric to take him to where his grandmother (his other grandmother, that is) could pick him up.

The extended adopted family of friends and relatives gathered. At one point there were no less than seven children under the age of ten in the waiting room, waiting for this one baby to arrive. As it got later and later, most of them had to leave. Their moral support was felt, and their positive thoughts were carried on by those of us who were able to stay. (And when the hospital security guard poked his head into the waiting room and shushed us, there were only adults present.)

Every so often we'd find David and Tammy wandering the halls of the hospital. She was tired, but they didn't want her to stay in bed the whole time. We gathered in her room for brief periods, but mostly we let her take her own pace. Or Aiden's pace. Maybe that's a more accurate description. We were pretty sure this historic even was going to happen tonight, but we began to doubt it would happen on this side of midnight.

But Aiden Michael was born on June 1, 2004, at 10:53 pm. He was 7 pounds, 15 ounces, and 21 inches long at birth, with thick black hair (also huge hands and feet). The delivery had gone so quickly (five pushes, I was told) that his big ol' head was bruised (hence no photos here, but just you wait). Other than that, he's absolutely beautiful. When I saw him he was resting on his mommy's chest, bleating and whimpering a bit but healthy and perfect.

I'm so proud of all three of them. David was a rock during the whole pregnancy, and he was a calming influence on everyone today. He gave Tammy exactly the support and love she needed. Tammy herself was amazing, keeping her good humor through all the waves of pain and ripples of doubt. In the end she brought this incredible gift into the family and into the world. And Aiden did his part. He showed up on his birthday, and you can't beat timing like that.