5-yard penalty. Repeat 1st down

We packed the hospital bag on Saturday. Snacks, extra clothes, baby outfit, warm socks, extra toothbrush, etc, so perhaps it was that bag sitting at the foot of the bed that did it. Saturday night Corrie woke up around 2:15 with what felt and seemed like contractions. She woke me up and we lay in bed for another 15 minutes waiting for the next one to hit. I peeled Walter off the couch and lay his limp, somewhat indignant body next to my wife to spoon, but the next contraction never came. Took some time to get back to sleep, but for a moment there, we were sure it was “Go time”.

So what did we learn from this drill. First off, the body wakes up long before the mind. I was out of bed with 56 pounds of basset hound in my arm before I was awake in any real sense of the word. Secondly, we’re ready if it’s the real deal. Everything is put together in the nursery. We have all the relevant phone numbers at hand, and a system in place. Thirdly, it’s ok to have selfish reactions as long as they aren’t voiced.

“Really? 2:00? Couldn’t this wait a bit longer?”

Or even worse,

“…but we have dinner reservations next Monday night.”

We’re back to the holding pattern now, and the weather has been cooperating enough to take long walks around the pond. The general consensus seems to be that she’ll come early. We’ve got estimates on all dates from the 15th through the 20th, but not many people think she’ll last until the 23rd. Further updates as events warrant.