Nine years ago today...

I was on maternity leave, anxiously awaiting Mr. Ethan's arrival.  I was relaxed and ready.  I got to talk to my sister, Kim, on the phone and go over all of the "has this/that happened yet?" questions.  I went to get my nails done by the fabulous Robin (miss those nails!) and my toes touched up for the occasion, cuz you know- pretty toes is the first thing the OB sees!  LOL.  I was having contractions, but nothing consistent or worrisome.  I remembered that I didn't have a nursing bra yet, so off to the mall it was.  Afraid to eat since I just knew I was going into labor, I had a cappuccino blast from Baskin Robbins.  I had my friend, Jessie, come over to help me with some things when the contractions started getting closer and closer.  When Jess was timing them and said that they were three minutes apart, we knew that we would be going to the hospital that night!  But, it was a Thursday, which meant FRIENDS and Whose Line Is It Anyway.  I was determined to not be one of those women who show up at the hospital 2 cm dilated when they feel like they are farther along!  So, we waited, watched, and laughed...

About 10pm, we went in to the hospital.  Guess what?  I was only 2 cm dilated!!!  I feared that I was in for a rough ride.  Luckily, there were not any other mothers laboring that night or else I would have been sent home.  The nurses had me walk around for an hour.  So, I walked and rocked, walked and rocked, walked and rocked...an hour later I was 4 cm!!!  We were not going home without a baby!!!  :)

Over the next hour, I did the same thing:  walk/rock/walk/rock/walk/rock...midnight check = 6cm!!!

And, then my water broke....