All-American Baby

I spoke with Amie this morning, and her little bundle came into this world on Friday night, just nearly missing a fourth of July birthday. She said she is doing well, though recovering slowly. Little Theodore Lincoln (nicknamed 'Teo') weighed in  6lbs, 12oz at birth and not surprisingly, has a whole patch of dark hair. She said she think he looks a lot like her husband, Lucas, but has her long fingers and toes.

I'm just so happy for them both. I've had a tremendous amount of respect for Amie ever since our college days. She is probably one of the most passionate, committed, and thoughtful people I've ever met. When everyone was busy applying to graduate school or jobs post-graduation, Amie was dead-set on going into the Peace Corps. She was placed in Guatemala, where she later met husband Lucas. After their two years were finished, she and Lucas traveled back to the US via Mexico, with Vegas being their first stop before flying back home. I think we all breathed a sigh of relief when she was stateside again.

To no one's surprise, she ended up in DC for law school and now works for the government, protecting the environment. She is the only person I've ever known who considers Dick Durbin (D-IL) a 'celebrity sighting' and is the first person I turn to when I have a question about politics.

Though we didn't get a chance to see each other much over the last few years, Amie and I, along with Rebecca, drove down for Jen's 30th birthday in 2008. Poor Rebecca - she had to listen to Amie and I debate everything from moral relativism to the mentality of people who drive SUVs for the entire trip back from Springfield.  Together, Amie and I lamented the Nevada Causus (that Hillary shamelessly stole) and celebrated the South Carolina primary.  She and Lucas were in Grant Park the night Barack Obama won the presidency. 

Amie and Lucas are going to be great parents and will no doubt raise a thoughtful, intelligent, environmentally-conscious son.  And while I'm a little bummed that Teo didn't wait until the 4th to be born, it's pretty clear he wanted to get here early to see the fireworks for himself.