In Full Swing

Monday, September 17, 3:30 p.m.

Maria is doing the difficult work now, regular contractions 4 minutes apart, getting more and more intense. Susan and the midwife Diane are here, Tuck and Patti are on the CD player, and neighbors walking up the street are looking into the front room wondering what those sounds are. Those who ask are amazed when we tell them that labor is upon us.

This morning, after trying to rest until 10 a.m., Maria got up and finished icing what we all suddenly realized is a birthday cake! It is coconut, the baby's great-grandfather's favorite.

Running a few errands this morning, people I ran into were surprised to hear what was happening at home. "What are you doing here at Safeway??!?!" they asked me. I started asking myself the same thing and raced home where I have been ever since.

Thanks to everyone for your offers of support, food, or to bring things we might need. We will take you up on it, every one!

More soon. (Susan has taken some very sweet photos that will be up soon, too.)