GUESS WHAT!!

Nope, not yet.

I predicted a few weeks ago that Gretchen would wait until December to be had, and so far I'm right. However, this morning I told Maggie that she should be prepared for the eventuality that Gretchen won't be born until January 2007. I was the least popular male in the house for a few minutes.

Maggie noted back in early November that if Gretchen was born before November 15, then she would be home by Franklin's birthday. You may recall that in Taiwan it is traditional for new mothers to have one month of maternity rest at the mother-in-law's place if convenient, or at the home of the woman's mother. Women apparently prefer to go back to their own home so that they can freely communicate which foods are not to their taste. Mothers-in-law are notoriously difficult to deal with in this country (Mine is a saint, however--just in case the family is reading.) Parents who don't have the above options usually go to a Maternity Center where a special diet is prepared for the mother to assist in milk production and replace calcium and red blood cells lost in childbirth. Some of the food makes your hair blacker, and the fish soup is purported to make your skin return to it's original shape without wrinkles.

We will spend the first three days upstairs at the OB/GYN clinic where mom will rest and recover and Gretchen will be watched 24 hrs a day. Then, with great pomp and a tremendous amount of planning, mother and child will be transported from point A to point B. Point B being the Maternity Center. Some folks go ahead and have their babies at Point B so this move is not necessary. Other's spend a month at Point A. We, of course, have decided to do things the difficult way. When Maggie leaves the clinic, she must be wrapped up in coats, shawls, and a snowmobile suit if we can get our hands on one, she must wear a great big hat, sunglasses, and have at least an umbrella over her head no matter what the weather is like or what time of day it is. This is to keep her from catching a cold. The baby will be wrapped up in swaddling clothes, and tucked inside the father's overcoat for the 2 meter walk from door to car. There will be no ventilation of any sort in the car for the entire trip. The heat in Point B cannot be turned off. It is toasty.

But, Maggie's going to be comfortable, and I'll know that Gretchen's in good hands. New mothers can take diaper changing classes, and learn about nutrition and safety if they feel up to going to the classroom.