After several weeks of threatening to come early, our first granddaughter was born at 3:51 this morning on her due date! When Melaina saw the obstetrician in his office yesterday morning, he told her that she had begun dilating and that he didn’t expect she’d have to wait much longer. He didn’t seem particularly surprised to see her at the hospital just 10 hours later.

By late afternoon yesterday, it was becoming apparent that birth might be imminent. After four episodes of false labour over the past few weeks, Melaina didn’t want to get her hopes up though. She and I went for a walk to the library a few blocks away in hopes that that might help her labour progress. By supper time, she was clearly in a lot of discomfort and by the time we got Drew to bed, it was time for Melaina, Aaron and I to head for the hospital. Just 7 1/2 hours after we got there, Jami-Lee Marie entered the world! She weighed 7 pounds 11.7 ounces and was 21 inches long.

Though I’ve given birth three times, I’ve never been in labour. My children came to me via prescheduled c-sections and adoption. Being with Melaina through labour and delivery, watching the miracle of birth and cutting the umbilical cord were truly wonderful privileges for me and I was so proud of my little girl!

Aaron and I got home in time to catch a little over an hour’s sleep before Drew woke up and the new day began! Later Richard and I took him to the hospital to visit Mommy and meet his baby sister. After devouring most of Melaina’s leftover lunch, he took quite an interest in the baby pointing out her nose, mouth, eyes and ears and gently petting her downy head! Though she wasn’t born with the amazing thatch of black hair that he had and her colouring is fairer than his was, Jami-Lee looks an awful lot like her big brother.

Melaina had hoped to come home later today but because she bled a little more than is usual, she’s being kept in hospital until tomorrow. She’s anxious to get home and finish preparing for Drew’s second birthday party on Saturday though!