I can’t believe it - she’s here. Alyssa Suzanne, born August 4th, 2006 at 12:54pm. She was 6Lb 9oz, 20.5 inches, and 3.5 weeks early!

We were so unprepared. The most we were prepared for was my birthday. I’d taken the day off, so my schedule was clear. We were planning on working on the nursery, perhaps buying a minivan we’d been looking at, and then having dinner and dessert at our house with the family.

The trouble is, Monday the 31st I didn’t feel good. I’d been having strange little (Braxton-Hicks) contractions and just felt out of it. On Tuesday I swore to anyone who listened that the baby wasn’t going to wait even until the 18th - which was when we planned to induce her. Everyone nodded and patted my head. The next day, Wednesday, I had an OB appointment, which Stephen accompanied me to. I told the doctor that I was going to go early, and she also nodded and patted me on the head (figuratively, of course). She said I was 3cm dilated but not fully effaced, and I could go on that way for weeks.

Thursday evening I suggested to S. that we get a bag packed. My little weird contractions were getting a little less weird and a little more regular, but I didn’t want to scare him needlessly. I just thought they’d changed, but who knows - even after two other babies! So, being the lazy-asses we are, we made a list of what we should pack and managed to bring the bag up from the basement.

I’d told the baby in a very firm voice that she could not make her appearance on my birthday. I told her any time after Monday was fine. She didn’t listen.

My water broke on Friday morning, about 4:15am. I’d always wondered if I would know what it was if my water broke on its own, and now I know for sure that yes, I’d know. I hoofed it to the bathroom and called for S., who sleeps like a rock through any matter of natural disaster. Part of me wishes I could have gently woken him and said, “Honey, it’s time,” in a sweet whisper. Instead I’m throwing on the bathroom light yelling, “Stephen! Come here! Stephen!”

Woke the doctor at 4:30a, woke the parents at 4:45a, woke Ryan at 5a, and we were off to the hospital.

Everything progressed pretty rapidly after that. Even though I had an epidural, the contractions were so hard that they hurt. This baby wanted out, fast.

She is so teeny tiny. I’m used to the big boys, 9Lb 9oz and 8Lb 3oz respectively. I’m guessing she would have been a solid 8Lb something if she’d gone full term, but we’ll never know. Now I just have to keep reassuring myself she won’t break, even though she has tiny little legs and tiny little arms.

We celebrated my birthday in the hospital room that night. Carol made the comment that I’ll have Barbie birthday cakes for the rest of my life. That’s okay. I got the best birthday present of all for my 35th birthday.

Talk about unprepared, though. We packed a bag at 4:30a, had to beg family members to let our dogs out twice a day, and still don’t have the nursery finished yet. We didn’t even have a crib until today. The worst thing about being unprepared, though, is that we hadn’t picked a name for the baby. We were down to a list of five. Did you know that everyone on the planet wants to know the baby’s name first and foremost? We had to put off the birth certificate people until late Saturday night. We just couldn’t decide.

But then I saw a picture of alyssum, the flower that the name Alyssa is derived from. It was so small and dainty, yet I knew from experience growing it that it was hardy even in a St. Louis summer. That seemed perfect. Suzanne is my middle name, and my mother’s first name is Susan. I thought I’d throw some family history in there for once. And there you have it - finally.

The past 24 hours at home have been chaotic, which I knew they would. I’m sure everything will find some semblance of normal after a while. I’m just not having great expectations for a while!

A mother of three,
michelle