She is happening!

Veronica was born today, her stats are in the About Me section... but nothing can describe how perfect and tiny and rad she is, so I won't even try!

Last night, mama Amanda, her sister Amber, grandma Kathleen and Rodney went to dinner then I met them afterwards for chocolate cake (a must-have for any mother about to pop). Amanda was glowy and excited:



And soon to-be-Auntie Amber was happy to demonstrate how Baby Extraction '07 was going to work:



Today they all headed to St. Joseph's hospital with Chet, Amanda's BFF and birthing coach (who did ultimately get to cut the cord, huzzah!). We all hung in the waiting area, anxious and excited (Sugarturkey, Amber, Myra, Rodney):



Amber would like everyone to know that everytime we see something beautiful or amazing about Veronica, it's something she got from her auntie:



The C-section itself got started a little late, but soon enough it was underway and then we all crowded around the viewing window, hoping to get a peek the minute they wheeled her out (stepdad Ernie aka Pops, Amber, Kathleen):



And then they brought her out and the crowd goes wild!!! We could barely see her and we all started crying as soon as we saw Chet's head turn the corner, because we knew she was with him. So wee and pink and lively.



I tried to figure out how to smash through the glass to get to her but it was strong and mighty and kept me out:



The photos and phone calls were going like crazy, as there was a foot long list of people that wanted to know about the baby. Kathleen was lucky enough to catch Phil and the Desperate crew when they were at lunch, to pass along the good news.



This is one of my favorite behind-the-scenes picture, it's Amanda's sister and mom and a picture of her dad, Stan. We know he was here for this in crazy, incomprehensible ways, and he's for sure with Veronica every day - in her name, and in her blood.



So she's real and it's happening! More (and better) pictures soon, Rodney took some fantastic ones on his ninja camera (this was after he got excited because we thought maybe her ears were pointy so he said, "ooh, if she's an elf we can get into Ren Fair free!").

Congratulations to our girl Amanda, she can barely cook but she managed to grow this amazing little being. Going to be so fantastic seeing them grow! More and more here in the days (and years!) to come, so keep checking... I'm sure I speak for the rest of our little team when I say how proud I am of Amanda, and how much I'm looking forward to what's still ahead of us.

Drea