Benefits of Being Southern....

Jeff Gordon uponhearing about my driving.

First of all- this is a Dan blog, not a Becky blog. (That's my disclaimer)

Though there are many wonderful things about being southern, there have also been some things that I never really understood. One of these is NASCAR. I never really got it. A bunch of cars going around and around in circles really fast. It seemed pointless- until yesterday.


When I woke up at around 6:30am Becky told me that she had just started having contractions about 2 minutes apart. Now- we went to the hospital last week with contractions 5 minutes apart (just like we were supposed to) and they turned us away. They explained that we would know when it was really time and to come back then. This confused me a bit because, in the books it says to go to the hospital when your contractions are 5 minutes apart. However, when Becky woke me up it was apparent that it WAS TIME.


So, we were out the door within a few minutes and on the road to the hospital. We live in between two hospitals. One is in the direction of DC and one in the opposite direction. Both are off of the same interstate. We had decided that the time of day that she went into labor would determine which hospital we would go to- we would go in the opposite direction of rush hour traffic. But yesterday morning Becky said that she really wanted the doctor at the hospital closer to the city. It usually takes me 1 hour to go the 14 miles or so toward the city to work if I go during rush hour. I did think of honoring her request- until we got to the first traffic light before the interstate where we waited in a long line of traffic for the light to turn. That (and a few gasps from Becky) were all it took for me to point the car north and get moving. That is when I wished I had paid more attention to NASCAR.


I did try to be as "unaggressive" as possible but I really wanted to not deliver the baby myself (didn't get that merit badge in Boy Scouts) and for Becky to get there in time for an epidural. I only broke triple digits speeds once or twice and most people did move when the saw my emergency flashers (thankfully). No cops either (which is good because I wouldn't have pulled over). Bec had her eyes closed the entire time.


We got to the hospital in about 20 minutes- a little after 8am. They took Becky right back and, after a pretty intense delay Becky got her epidural (whew) just in time to be moderately comfortable for the birth f our daughter at 10:15am. You might be thinking that I overreacted and you might be right. But, let me just say that it wasn't fun to see Bec in pain and we BOTH REALLY wanted her to get her epidural. Fortunately she did.

So- hat's off to NASCAR drivers and women who deliver without epidurals. I have a profound appreciation for you both today.


Here's the details- 7lbs, 9oz and 20" long. She's got sandy blonde hair and long slender fingers. She's beautiful. Thankfully, both she and Becky are doing great. It's an understatement- but I feel very blessed that my wife and daughter came through such an amazing experience just fine. We are looking forward to getting to know our new one. She's already holding her head up pretty well is a great eater and has a good set of lungs. We think her name will be Abigail.


Jake and Tess have been really cute so far. They haven't been able to see her in person because they are both sick but they looked through the nursery window yesterday and were pretty excited. I explained to Jake that our role as "guys" is to take care of the girls and he seems to have taken that to heart. He has spent alot of time recently telling Becky how he will get up at night and bring her the baby, feed the baby, change her diapers, etc...I guess that means I am off the hook. We have gotten so use to seeing and treating Tess like the baby that I am sure there will be a bit of a transition for her as we adjust to the baby but she's a trooper and will be fine.


I'll let Becky fill in the blanks in my story when she gets the chance- I am sure there are plenty. I just wanted to get the word out.

Check out the size of that binkie!

Grandma Barnhurst and our cute girl!!!

Jake looking through the nursery window!