documentation

The birth of a child unleashes a fit of paperwork, most of which we have completed and some of which is still sitting around in the house somewhere. There are birth certificates to be ordered, social security cards, the medical documentation (including health insurance), and yet-to-be-seen notes from the hospital, just to name a few.

A more interesting form of documentation is also taking shape, and it has a sort of frenzied spirit to it that is partly related to the availability of recording devices around our house. The still images and video we're taking are a part of this. Our average peaked at 30 photos day, which includes contributions of that prolific and well-equipped maker of images, Prince Clementine's grandpa. With grandma just arriving for a visit, we may reach 30 again today! The online StanCam live chats are a big hit with nephews and nieces in the Midwest, and the new and improved iChat video software promises to take the whole instant message /SMS technology to new heights. Seriously fun stuff.

All this documentation is normal--we know that having a child is a community event and sharing is part of it. Moreover, with parts of our families and many friends scattered across these United States, a little Prince Clementine archive makes for an easy and relatively inexpensive way for everyone to keep up. It can also be taken to absurd lengths, though, which is perhaps what C was thinking when, during about the second stage of labor, I mentioned that I had my iPod equipped with an adapter that was ready to record, if she did not object.

For the record, there was an objection, which was sustained.

No recording or replaying of images or sounds can substitute for actual Prince Clementime, of course, but it's fun trying.

New images are posted here.