Update

I just talked to Shannon, who sounds exhausted and euphoric and just as surprised as the rest of us that it all went so fast. Katie is doing well, and apparently she looks just like her big sister did when she was a newborn! Gaby is at the hospital right now meeting her baby sister. Yay!

I read Shannon all of your comments, and she was so touched by all of them and sends love right back at ya. Katie is nursing (!) and getting all that great colostrum. Since they're all about the boobs right now, and Shannon has been a committed Breast Cancer 3-Day fundraiser, etc., for years, anyone wishing to send something for the baby is gratefully and kindly encouraged to donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Boobs. Hee!

(P.S. Regarding the weird timing on these entries... Katie *was* born after midnight. 11//11 is a great date for birthday, no? I got the text from Ernie at 1:10 a.m. The times on these entries are off by a couple hours.)

Oh. My. God.

I just got an amazing text message:

"8lb 1oz 3hrs of labor and no epidural mom and baby doing fine"

WOW WOW WOW. Shannon was having mild cramps when I was on the phone with her posting the previous message. I can't believe it! I can't believe she's here so fast! You guys!!!

Welcome to Earth, Katie!

It's time!

Shannon's water has broken! Swim down, baby!

Passing the Time...

So Shannon's waiting (and waiting) to go into labor and taking care of last-minute things. Here's some youtube clips of 80s and 90s sitcoms related to pregnancy, childbirth and babies.

First up, Niles on Frasier tries to learn to be a good parent by baby a bag of flour. Hilarity ensues.



Then, Elyse on Family Ties goes into labor on the radio and gives birth to Andy, the cleanest, 3-month-old looking newborn ever.



From the Cosby Show: Theo and Cockroach visit Mrs. Westlake in the hospital, post-partum.



Rachel on Friends can't make her baby laugh unless she sings "Baby Got Back"

Full term today!

No sign of Katie yet, but she's officially full-term and ready any time now. Hooray for lungs!

You know what always strikes me (the as yet not-a-mama) when I first meet a newborn? It always strikes me as funny that this real little person, this hat-wearing, squalling, needs-a-carseat baby was almost exactly the same the day before, just still inside, sans hat and carseat.

I had a friend who delivered right at 36 weeks due to preeclampsia. Everything was fine in the end, but in theory, A. could have stayed inside a little longer. So right now Katie could totally be out here, all fine and wearing a hat. Huh. You know?

The bets are in

Whee...yes, at least 3 cm dialated. We'll see what a different doctor tells me when I go next week. For now, let's just concentrate on making it to next week, shall we? I had some very strong contractions last night and some not so strong contractions, too.
I've recently be struck by how different the end of pregnancy is this time compared to last time. The latest reason? When I do have a big contraction, and I'm panting and trying to make it to the couch to lay down, I realize I've got a peanut gallery watching: Gaby to get the ice pack, which she's convinced will help; Sally trying to climb up into my lap to sniff my face; and Ernie occasionally looking up from WoW.

Anyway, here are your best guesses.

Nov. 4: Cindy (bless you, Cindy, for being the one to think I'll deliver the earliest. Can I at least vote first?)
Nov. 5: Aunt Tina
Nov. 6: Terry
Nov. 8: Gwen
Nov. 10: Alissa
Nov. 12: Kate
Nov. 15 (Gaby's birthday party): Cheryl
Nov. 23: Grace (which may be someone's birthday I know)

I'll be 37 weeks on Monday, and all of Katie's organs will (hopefully) be fully developed. I'll try to keep her inside until then.

Sooner rather than later?

As I understand it, we've got 3 cm dilation.... The time is nigh-ish. Ish! :)

update: Subway, Homestar, no baby yet

Shannon is doing fine -- running errands, going to Subway and watching Web cartoons(as noted on her blog). Strongbad says: No baby yet!

Place your bets

Alright, I was going to wait until after my doctor's appointment on Thursday to post the contest, but after the night I had last night (early labor contractions for a while in the middle of the night) combined with the fact that I lost my mucus plug today, I figure maybe I should post it now.

So...how about a guess the date/time contest for when I'll go into labor?
The prize? A $20 gift card to Chipotle, my favorite pregnancy craving. (Unless you live out of country, in which case I'll think of something else)
The important details: Katie is due officially on Nov. 24. Gaby was due Nov. 22, and was born Nov. 18. I've been contracting off and on for the past few months, but nothing productive to this point. I'm still swollen, although not as swollen as I was earlier in the week. And she's still in my very bruised ribcage.

Leave your best guess in the comments. I'll compile a list, and post it later this week. And then we'll see. Guesses are due by noon on Oct. 30. (Oh, and Becky, Angie, Gwen and Ernie are allowed to play, by virtue of the fact that none of them are actually going to induce me to go into labor.)

update: bagels, salt, car seats, no baby yet

A message from Shannon:

I ate a bagel for breakfast. I'd really like a large bag of potato chips but I can't eat them because they have too much salt in them...

OH, here you go. Ernie installed the base for the infant car seat in the car yesterday, so we can officially be safe when we do bring Katie home. Gaby realized just how much she's going to have to share the back seat, which was funny.

Nope, not today

At least, not yet.
I can tell you that she's starting to drop, although not enough that she's out of my ribcage. Which is very, very bruised.
I promised Ernie I wouldn't go into labor this week, anyway, because we've been *gasp* without health insurance because he's in between jobs.
Next week, though, all bets are off.
And since I've been experiencing some...erm...pressure...down there, I know things are starting to get ready.
Or, I might just waddle even more for the next few weeks.

For the record, yes, I've still got sausage feet. And sausage ankles. And sausage fingers.
Mmm....sausage.

Mucus Plug

I just thought it might be fun to write "mucus plug" on the Internet. It was. Sort of.

welcome!

Greetings from your hosts, Becky, Angie and Gwen! Shannon has bestowed upon us the honor of informing the Internets when wee Katie decides her appearance is imminent, and we've set up this blog for that purpose. All three of us will write in this space, with possible periodic updates and for sure the real deal.

In the meantime, don't text Shannon to ask if she's in labor! No need to call her or email her every three hours or so, even though it's tempting. You'll know as soon as we do.

Watch out for special guest appearances from Shannon herself, as well as a special contest with fun prizes in the works.