In which I save the real purpose of this post until the end.

Oh those horse and buggy days, how much simpler and slower things were back then. The control of information and news followed a social norm and the lack of our modern contrivances allowed for a more measured release of life's happenings and response to people's interest. Those days are gone.

Once upon a time, when people wished to inform friends and family of life changing events in their lives it would be a matter of writing letters or waiting till their next visit. Over time, telephones became the norm for the transfer of news among friends. The internet and the advent of always connected social groups and brings a whole new level of protocol that I'm not quite sure has been hammered out in a satisfactory manner. It is difficult to handle how and to whom news trickles out, and how to correctly navigate the flood of feedback.

When heralding big news I've decided the hierarchy of information release should go something like this:
(People you have physical contact with)
Immediate family
Extended family
Close friends
Co-workers
(Everyone else in your inter-web community)
All your email buddies
All your AIM buddies
Social network friends
Your blogs

Of course, this is an ad hoc list with no real backing other than my personal feelings about how information of great importance should be handled.

All of this is to say that I've had a difficult time deciding on the course of action to take regarding a very big piece of news family news. As of this writing, most of the extended family is aware, and a few close physical friends are also informed. Our church family knows what is happening. Really, all that is left is to let those my family has connected with over the internet know the big news...
(I certainly hope no one has peeked without reading the whole post, and thereby steeling my fun.)
My wife (@love2cookpie) and I are expecting our third child.
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Your prayers, donations of a larger house and piles of money are greatly appreciated.