Mandajuice

GRAVY

My first novel started with a mole. Yes, a MOLE - a freckle, a birthmark, whatever you want to call it.
I was at the pool with my daughter getting ignored by our swim instructor when a lifeguard with a particularly ripped abdomen walked by. He stopped to flirt with one of the female lifeguards and my eyes flew directly to an adorable mole on the top can of his six-pack.
"How cute!" I thought (among other things). "He looks like a character in a romance novel!"
So I went home and started writing fiction for the first time. That was over a year ago and I still haven't been able to stop. GRAVY is the story of a suburban housewife who wants another baby, but gets a man with a mole instead.
GRAVY is now available on Kindle and Nook!

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May 23, 2006

The contest is nigh

This must look really weird. I'm in active labor and typing on a laptop from the hospital bed.

Yeeehaw for the epidural!!

We got to the hospital around 3AM and L&D was eerily quiet, even though they were almost full. I was already 5 cm dilated. Which? Totally means I'm on speaking terms with my uterus again. Epidural was in and working by around 4AM and I saw my doctor (who was here delivering another baby) at around 4:30. Last check I was 6-7 cm dilated. I haven't felt a real contraction since around 4:00 and even up to that point my contractions had been long and brutal, but few and far between.

Dave is running to the store for the birthday cake while I try to sleep, but it's hard since I can't feel my own butt. I don't know why that's making it hard to sleep, but it is. For now, we're just waiting till morning. My poor doctor has been up half the night and has a full day of patients tomorrow. I hope he's able to get some sleep before he's back again to deliver Baby Sister.

It won't be long now. I can't wait to meet our daughter. A daughter! This miracle of life stuff is mind. blowing.

Posted by Amanda P. Westmont on May 23, 2006 | Permalink

Comments

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Whee! Way to go, Amanda!

Posted by: Monica | May 23, 2006 at 06:16 AM

You are so awesome!!!
And your uterus is too!

Posted by: Heatherg | May 23, 2006 at 06:26 AM

eeee! congratulations!

Posted by: AmyChop | May 23, 2006 at 06:30 AM

I'm so excited! It's my birthday today, too! It's a great day to be born! Best wishes to you all!

Posted by: edithmae | May 23, 2006 at 06:42 AM

Holy crap, you've probably already had her by now! I can't wait for the next post!

Congratulations!!

Posted by: Emily | May 23, 2006 at 06:46 AM

congrats! can't wait!!!

Posted by: bellabelly | May 23, 2006 at 06:56 AM

Good luck!

Posted by: Tuesday | May 23, 2006 at 07:16 AM

Hooray!! And how cool is it to be blogging when in Active Labour???

Posted by: jamie | May 23, 2006 at 07:20 AM

YAY! I'm so glad we got the labor blogged! Introduce us to Baby Sister asap, now! I hope everything went PERFECT!

Posted by: hydrogeek | May 23, 2006 at 07:24 AM

Take care of yourself! And the baby. And take pictures!

Posted by: Shannon | May 23, 2006 at 07:39 AM

Ok, I'm refreshing like mad over here. Can't wait to find out more!!

Posted by: Emily | May 23, 2006 at 08:20 AM

Oh Wow!!! What an awesome thing to wake up to!

Is she here yet? I can't wait to hear her name. Hope things are going smoothly....

Posted by: Grechen | May 23, 2006 at 08:25 AM

I'm so excited for you guys! I can't wait to see her! Hope that epidural did its job!

Posted by: estella | May 23, 2006 at 08:36 AM

Wahoo -- I may have lost the contest, but you're soon to be holding (if not already holding) a beautiful baby girl in your arms. I can't want to see pictures and find out what name you chose. Happy labor thoughts coming your way...

Posted by: Audrey | May 23, 2006 at 08:42 AM

Oh, I can't wait to see a picture of the sweet baby sister!! Good luck, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Hope Alex is ok, too.

Posted by: Mitzi | May 23, 2006 at 08:58 AM

Why did I think you were kidding about blogging in labor? Can't wait to see her and find out her "perfectly gorgeous" name. I'm sure she is just as gorgeous and you know that by now. Congratulations. Happy Birthday, little one.

Posted by: Amber | May 23, 2006 at 09:03 AM

I'm grinning so hard, my cheeks hurt. I guess we both we right about the day, it just happens that it was the day you went into labor, not the day you deliver your DAUGHTER. Oh! You're DAUGHTER, Amanda. I'm so thrilled for you both, I could burst. Just picturing Dave holding her makes me want to dissolve into a weepy puddle.

Best of luck, my dear. We can't wait to come visit!!! :D

Posted by: Jamie | May 23, 2006 at 10:09 AM

--and, er, that would be "your daughter", not "you're daughter". D'oh! Darn non-edit function...

Posted by: Jamie | May 23, 2006 at 10:10 AM

awww your butt is numb ;)

do you know how cute that is? is a very non creepy way I swear! well wheneven your unterus decides to cooperate, congrats!

I remember my Big Sister shirt, and showing the new baby my belly button... i love my belly button.

I'm so happy for all three of you :)

Posted by: Lisa | May 23, 2006 at 10:37 AM

I'm so excited for you! I hope everything has been going really smoothly. Welcome to the world baby girl!

Posted by: Sally | May 23, 2006 at 10:39 AM