Mother and daughter. 

Nana & Pa and Dahlia

Dahlia

Day 3

Day two. 

Daddy's girl. 

Dahlia Jude Tomei
May 19, 2011
7 lbs, 7 oz
20.5 in long

Fetal Heart Monitor at the peak of a contraction. 

Hard day today. Lots of pain. Better now with an epidural. Calm and peaceful now waiting for delivery.

Started pitocin at 6:45 this morning. Contractions need to be stronger and closer together. Doing well, though. 2 cm dilated and baby making progress.

Trying to get some sleep at the hospital. Contractions stronger now, every 2-4 minutes.

In Labor & Delivery.  There's a pink IV in her hand!

Heather had an appointment today and her fluids were low. They are admitting her now and could induce within 12 hours. Will try to keep updating.

40 weeks 4 days... still no baby. 

Due date has come and gone. No baby yet. Will update when she comes.

Ways Planned to Announce the Birth

There are several ways we plan on making the birth announcment.

First is a phone call.  Obviously we can't call everybody, so for the majority of you, don't be expecting a phone call from us within... oh say... the first month.

The second way, and probably most effective way, is email.  If you are reading this right now, most likely you have been included on the EMAIL birth announcement list, (unless of course you just happened to stumble upon this blog and could not stop reading the scholarly writing.  You, my friend, have great taste in literature. However, you will not be included in the email notification.)  

The third and final way is Twitter.  If you have a Twitter account you can follow me @themindoftheman.

I will be using this blog and Twitter to send updates until the birth.  Check back frequently if you are interested to see how your prediction is matching up to Heather's progression.  I will only email when Dahlia is born. 

I plan on using this blog throughout the first several years of Dahlia's life to write about different issues that come up as a parent, especially as they pertain to being a first time dad.  I hope you will continue to read my blog. (as I reread that last sentence I noticed how optimistically presumptuous that makes me.  In order for one to "continue" something, one must be doing it on a regular basis to begin with.)  I hope you will continue OR begin to read my blog as the years go on and we watch Dahlia grow.

Heather at 38 weeks pregnant. 

Little Tomei Due Date Pool (LTDDP)

I know it’s been a while since I last updated and we are getting closer and closer.  With each day we're getting more and more excited about the arrival of our first child. 

But that is not what is important right now!  The most important thing at this time is to start the Little Tomei Due Date Pool!

I know it's a little late, but I originally thought Karen was going to start a pool... because she said she was, well, going to start a pool. 

Then I talked to Lynn.  I got the impression she was going to start up a pool... because she said something like, (and I'm quoting here, not paraphrasing) "I'll start a pool."

But alas, no pool has been started...

UNTIL NOW!

This is the official Little Tomei Due Date Pool post.

Please reply to the LTDDP post below to post your prediction of when you think Heather will give birth to the newest Tomei. 
Click on where it says "Comments" below to post your prediction.  ***Do not respond to the email that directed you here.***

Please write the date and time you predict to avoid ties.

There is no money involved, because I don't think we can organize that in time,  (see above references to Karen and Lynn), but the winner will be allowed to babysit her whenever we ask.  What an honor!

Keep in mind that her official due date is May 7, so get your predictions in soon to be part of the LTDDP before it’s too late. 

Matt

p.s. Please forward the LTDDP post to whomever else you feel would be interested in joining in our pool. 

p.p.s.  Just joking Karen and Lynn.  I know I am not that important in your life.