Seven Years Ago

On September 13, 2002, to the surprise of none of our friends, we drunkenly and nervously decided that we were more than just friends and that we should risk that friendship and start dating. Perhaps if we'd know that exactly seven years later we'd be heading to the hospital for the birth of our first child, we wouldn't have been so hesitant!

Yes, today is the beginning of the end of Erin's pregnancy. She's checking into New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell at 5pm this evening to begin a round of cervidil and will be induced tomorrow morning. This is not even close to what we had planned for the birth, but we know that's just the way it goes. Babies are their own people and don't care that we hired a doula we now don't need or that we spent hours in a natural birth class. At this point, 11 days later than expected, we're just so excited to finally meet our little guy that we don't much care how he gets here - as long as he gets here safely and soon.

Grandpa Meek leaves today at 3:30pm and will miss the arrival of Baby Gill. However, because everyone knows that a grandma cannot be denied the opportunity to be one of the first people to see her grandchild, Grandma Meek will be staying with us until Wednesday. She'll also be a comfort to dear little Birkin who has been spending even more time with Erin than usual (currently lying between Erin and the computer, resting her head on Erin's right arm) and clearly can sense that something is amiss.

And now The Gills are signing off. The next time you hear from us, we'll be parents. Look for an email from Anthony officially announcing the birth. He's also in charge of updating the blog (unless Erin can do so from her hospital bed - and you know she'll try) with photos and video of Baby Gill's first days of life. We can't wait to share his birth with our friends and family.

Love,

Erin and Anthony