Meredith Violet Axtell

Meredith Violet Axtell was born at 2:51PM today at Mt Nittany Medical Center. She weighed 8lbs., 10oz. and is very vigorous. Gwen and Meredith are doing great. Gwen felt really good when I left, and Meredith was very active -- such a strong crier! I'm a little tired right now after a long day, but there is a really good story ...

Gwen was feeling a little funny in the early morning hours today, and when we got out of bed she told me this might be the day. She had a doctor's appt. for 9AM anyway, so I went with her to that just in case I was needed. The doctor told Gwen that she wasn't in labor, but could start anytime. So, we went home, and went for a walk before we had to pick Jeffrey up at pre-school at noon. We decided to go out to lunch together to the waffle shop -- Jeffrey just loves the waffle shop and it was the last time for a while that we could all go together. Grandma Laurie was there too. Well, we got to the restaurant, sat down, and were looking at our menus when Gwen said that 'it was time to go'. Man, I was hungry for a reuben! But we had to go. Jeffrey was not very pleased either. Grammy Laurie promised to make him pancakes at home instead.

When we got home, Gwen called her doctor, and they wanted her to come in to their office, and not go to the hospital yet. By this time it was really clear to us that she DEFINITELY was in labor, but we went to the office anyway. She barely was able to hobble in. They hooked her up to the machine which tracks fetal heartrate and contractions. The doctor then used his superpowers, after seeing only two contractions which were less than one minute apart, to say, "OK, go to the hospital now". By about 1 or 1:15 we were at the hospital, and Meredith was born at 2:51. So, things moved amazingly fast.

You can see the first batch of pictures at this picassa gallery. Thanks to everyone for your support. -- mike