So, I'm the guest blogger, filling in for Kim while she temporarily resides at Holy Cross Hospital in Maryland since the birth of Amelia O'Connor Sanderford on October 5th (her due date!)
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Amelia was born at 10:17 PM after almost 17 hours of labor.
( I believe I'm right about this. My son, Dean, told me Kim's first contraction was around 5:30 AM) She weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces at birth. She Is 20 and a half inches long.

I won't go into the details of the labor...that's Kim's story to tell, for sure!

I will say that Amelia is perfect! She has thick, shiny black hair, her mom's beautiful pouty mouth, and the most delicate features. She's already very curious about her surroundings, and looked into her father's eyes with, what seemed to me, almost a recognition. Maybe it was his voice she was responding to. She's certainly heard that voice often for the last many months. I know, as one of Amelia's grandmothers, I could be a bit biased, but I have to say she'a a pretty extraordinary infant! She has certainly captivated me! I find myself thinking of her face and her tiny hands almost constantly.

What I think I know is this: Amelia is no ordinary baby!

Dear Amelia

I've gotten lots of well-wishes over the weekend, including this beautiful letter from Liz. It's a full moon! Please join Liz--not to mention me and Dean--in inviting Amelia to come join the world outside the womb!

~~~~~~~

Dear Amelia,
I know we haven't met yet, but I'm one of your mom's friends, and I thought I should introduce myself early so you'll know me from an early age. Your mom and I have been great pen pals over the years (well not always great at being pen pals, since we had our occasional lulls in letter-writing, but great pen pals nonetheless), so I thought something in the form of a letter would be most appropriate.

I know from reading your mom's blog that you're still on the inside, and she's rather ready for you to come out. In fact, there are lots of us out here ready for you to come out and show yourself to the world. I keep waiting to log on to Question Air and see it say, "The pot is simmering" or boiling or boiling over! But no luck. It sounds like you're making some progress, helping mom's body open up for you, but you're going to have to make a big move to get things going.

My guess is that you're a little nervous about coming out. It's all warm and snuggly there in mommy's belly. You're familiar with the space -- maybe you even have some posters of My Little Pony up on the walls. You can sleep when you want, stay close to mom, don't even have to work hard to get your food. But here's the thing -- things are great on the outside, too. You have not just a mom, but a dad, and he'd super-love to get to hold you, too. And mom would like to be able to put you down sometimes -- not for long, I promise, but just to get a little break. They want to see your face and kiss you and snuggle you close. And there's even more people who love you and want to see you, too -- like grandparents and an aunt and uncle. They've been waiting for you and getting excited about you coming for a long time. You are a dream come true for all of them, and they can't wait to meet you.

I remember when my little boy was snuggled up inside of me. It was a wonderful time for him and me both, but he eventually decided to head out (haha), and it's been loads of fun since then. Now he can crawl and is learning to stand. He gets to eat lots of different things. He can pat the doggie (you have a cat named Suki) and sit in my lap to read a book. When he came out I got to see his cute dimples, especially when he smiles. Do you have dimples? We don't know yet because we can't see you!

So please, please, Amelia, come out and see us! You mom and dad are totally ready. They're getting worried that if you don't come out on your own, someone will come in after you, and no one wants that!

We love you, Amelia!

Miss Liz

The Watched Pot,

despite walking about 4 miles yesterday, is not boiling yet.

Here we are

I found this green sparkly sweater today in the back of my closet. I bought in way back in the spring, on clearance, thinking there might be a few chilly days before the baby came. It looks better on the baby than it does on me, I think.

No baby, just a very pregnant person.

I was just reading Beyond Friendship Gate and saw that Caroline was wondering about the lack of post yesterday. No baby, just a very pregnant person. I taught yesterday and then stayed to check off some homework and do some other work in my office. I am really hoping not to have to go back to school on Tuesday. My students are choosing writing topics and helping them with that is always an involved process. Since I am not going to be grading this first set of papers it would probably be better if Agnes (my "sub") knew something about their topic selections anyway. Even if the baby is not here I could stop working, but I want to have as much time as possible after she is here to be out-- and it could be another week or so after next Tuesday, I guess.

I am getting a little worn out with the waiting, and the due date isn't even here. One thing that didn't help was having my doctor schedule an induction for the 12th. He said, "Don't get mad if the hospital calls you, it's just easier if you have a room in advance." The 12th is a week beyond the due date. He talked about various natural methods of induction, which is fine, but I don't like feeling as though there is a deadline. I guess if it comes to that there will be tests and things and I can fight against the induction on the 12th if I don't want it. Still, it's annoying to have to think about. I should have found a midwife.

Other than that, Wednesday's doctor visit was fine. Happy baby, 80% effaced, 3 cm dilated. The doctor said something must be going on, since I am effaced and dilated and the baby's head is "way, way down." (He actually said, "I don't see how you're walking around, her head is so far down." I can often feel the pressure of her head. She will likely be a little coneheaded baby.)

I am planning a long, long walk today. I am also going to pack up some of my maternity clothes--it's too cool for some of them, and I have outgrown others. That will be very satisfying.

In conclusion, please ask Amelia to join us outside in the lovely fall weather here. Today would be fine, or this weekend. Before Wednesday would be okay too. Of course we will take her whenever she comes, but we are ready--as ready as we can be...

The Watched Pot

is not boiling yet.

Momma-to-be is tired and does not have a lot to say right now. But if you want a great story of a family's new addition, you should go to http://andemmamakes5.blogspot.com/. Don't start at the first entry--go back for at least a few pages and start from there.

Daily Update

I'm off to yoga. My pass ran out last week so I THOUGHT that might be a sign--plus the dictionary.com word of the day is "ameliorate." Come on! But no--no baby yet.