Right about the time we found out we were pregnant, I noticed an unusually higher number of other pregnancies and births happening. I figured it was a combination of the fact that I was now paying attention to these things and that our peers were entering the time of life where everyone starts having kids. However, it turns out it was more than that; in 2006 there were more babies born in any year since 1961, the last year of the original baby boom. The national fertility rate increased 3% and amongst states Oregon topped the list with a 6% increase. So anyway, I guess it wasn’t just me, but it still seems like a lot; in the year from mid-December 2007 to mid-December 2008 we know 26 couples who will have had 27 babies. We know probably a half-dozen more that were born in the year before that, and if we included friends of friends rather than just people we actually know at least as aquaintances or colleagues it would increase the total by at least another half-dozen! Here’s the list, roughly in order of birthday:

1. megan: lily
2. eden:
3. melody and zack: octavia
4. isabelle and jessie: kenneth
5. samara:
6. beth: eben
7. liz: xavier
8. kristine: kyler
9. mike and hidie: penelope
10. jana:
11. andrew and grace: francis henri
12. holly and mark: elias stanley
13. wendy: benjamin
14. itzel and rick: santiago peter
15. emily:
16. steph and denver: kaydyn grace
17. megan and phil:
18. karen and josh:
19. dana and david:
20. nate and wife:
21. erin and peter:
22. dan and katie
23. dennis:
24. jessica:
25. brook: twins
26. jody and jason:
27. carla and django:
28. jocelyn

wow, just added two more babies to the list!