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Xanthe - at last!

It's been an interesting few days... We have been waiting patiently (or not so patiently) for Xanthe Noelle (my brother and sister-in-law's) baby to be born. We had been thinking "anytime now" for the last 3 weeks. Well, Monday night I had a feeling I should make sure and keep my cell phone close, and sure enough, at 12:30am-ish it started going off. It was Tim saying Annie's water had broken and he would call back soon and let me know if I should head over to take care of CJ (their 4 year old daughter). He soon called back and said "yeah, get over here!" so I threw on a hoodie and some flip flops (I already had shorts on, no worries!) and got over there! Annie was walking around and packing some last minute things. They said "it could be 20 minutes or 2 hours before we have to leave" I said, "ok, cool." So, we talked for a while. We watched a little tv. Around 2:30 or so I said I was going to try and get some sleep but I would take CJ to preschool in the morning and pick her back up - no worries. Well, I went to bed. I heard talking. I heard the doula come in. I dozed off a few times. At around 7am, I still heard talking and went downstairs to see Annie making coffee. "What the heck?!" I said. "Yeah, I know!" replied Annie. So, I headed home for a quick shower and went to work. Ok, so here's what was going on at work: my boss is leaving the next day and we have 5 grants that needed to get out, deposits that needed to be made, reports to finish, payroll to get out, bills to pay, and then all the regular daily stuff. So, I tell her what had happened the night before and that she should be having the baby anytime and that if it's ok.... "no, no, no!!" says Cyndy (my boss - who is the best boss ever and is always more than willing to work anything out) "we have SO MUCH to do!!" I reply "I know.... but I need to head out around 1 to get to Cedar Bluff to pick up my niece...." So, a decision is made. We will get to work - and we will work FAST! Despite the (many) interruptions, we kicked booty! We got a ton of stuff done and when it was time for me to head out, it wasn't too big of a deal. So, at a little after 1 I jumped in the station wagon (yeah, my brother's (beige)family car!) and headed to get CJ from school. I was in the pick-up line on time (even if I was last) and got her loaded up! We headed over to the DeColores Cafe for gelato and to look at the fish for a while (still no big contractions, but they were at the hospital), then we went to build-a-bear (yeah, I know, SO fun!!) then we headed home. At this point I am thinking to myself "surely the baby has been born or is at least close!" We get to the house. My brother is there picking up some stuff they forgot. "no big contractions yet" he informs me. So, CJ and I sit down and watch some tv. Then we play with Sissy (her build-a-bear). Then we play hide-and-seek. Then I get her some dinner. Then we watch a little more tv while playing a game. Then we get on buildabearville.com (yeah, it's actually really cool) then we play hide and seek some more. Then we play with Sissy some more. Then I think to myself "crap! isn't it bedtime yet?!" (please remember the giant lack of sleep from the night before) I look at the clock and it's not even 7pm. No joke. We play some more. Then I say "maybe we should get ready for bed..." low and behold, it WORKED! She said "ok, Nay Nay" (I'm telling you, this is the cutest and sweetest child. Any other child would have been long tranquilized and thrown in a corner, but she is SO much fun and SO sweet!!) So, we brush teeth, get pj's on and read some stories. Then, and this is the best, she says "will you read my devotion now?" and pulls out a devotion book. I choked back the tears and read it to her. "Wow" I'm thinking "no wonder Jesus loves being with children." So, then we say prayers, sing some songs and have a hug goodnight. I went downstairs and waited for my husband to come - who arrived with Chinese food! Yes, best husband ever. At 9:40pm we call and the baby has been born!! We went upstairs and watched tv for most of the night but for a few hours rest. Ryan left to get ready for work and I waited for my brother to come home. At 7:30 this morning, he came home and we all got ready and headed to the hospital where I got to hold the beautiful and precious baby that is Xanthe Noelle Lucas - born at last!!

After leaving the hospital, (where I saw Taylor Brown!!! who was waiting on Bill and Betsy's baby to be born - congrats Bill and Betsy!) already late for work, I stopped at Starbucks for a white chocolate mocha! Just what I needed. Now, I guess I should tackle this enourmous stack of work.....

Comments

Anne said…
Congrats Aunt Nay-Nay!!
How do you pronounce her name?
August 27, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Naomi said…
it's pronounced "zanthie" yeah... good thing she's so cute! ;)
September 2, 2008 at 6:28 AM
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