Breaking News

5:05 p.m.

Elyssa Anne, 5 lbs., 14 oz., 19.5"

Ethan Carter, 7 lbs., 3 oz.  and 20"

4:49 p.m.
Elyssa Anne Harp and Ethan Carter Harp are here, born about four minutes apart.  Both babies are healthy, Eva is somewhere between a saint and my hero!

4:43 p.m.
The doctor has pulled out a breeched boy!  And everyone is good!

4:41 p.m.
Baby Girl is here safely!!!

4:39 p.m.
Eva just lamented that she has Hobbit feet, but that will all pass.  AND WE HAVE A BABY GIRL HEAD!

4:30 p.m.
Baby Girl will be born first.  She is turned and ready to go.  Baby Boy is breeched, but we're hoping that everything will go well.  We're about to start the pushing...

4:20 p.m.
Eva is 6 cm.  She's having serious contractions, and we are getting ready to roll!

4:15 p.m.
Eva's epidural is going in now. She's had two bags of fluid. Ultrasound is next. And while all this is going on, we're sitting in the waiting room Watching Pawn Stars.

3:45 p.m.
We're here!!! The babies are still hanging out in Eva's belly.

3:20 p.m.
So truth be told, I'd been a lazy sot today and hadn't even showered yet when Justin called. If my makeup looks off in the pictures, it's because it was a highway job. Eva is safely in labor and delivery. Unfortunately, it won't be Eva's regular doctor doing the delivery, but they did meet the doc who will have the honors, and Justin liked him. At this point, Eva would let a trained monkey do the job so she's fine with this seemingly capable physician. They are doing an ultrasound to make sure the babies ate ready for delivery and then will start the epidural. Getting on 85 and Earnharp estimates our arrival at 20 minutes.

3:00 p.m.
We thought we'd have a nice, orderly induced delivery of the twins. But Eva's water broke about thirty minutes ago. And so I'm coming to you live from 316 from the passenger seat of the Harp family party van driven by Brad "Earnhardt" Harp. Eva and Justin have made it to the hospital, and contractions are three minutes apart. So these kids and yours truly are coming at a high rate of speed. Stay tuned...

Dear Mom, on Mother's Day:

It would have been nice if I had gotten it together and bought you a Hallmark card for the occasion, but I didn't. And even if I had, I might not know where I put it. I might've forgotten to sign it and give it to you. I might find it next month. After all, I'm a chip off the old block.

And I can't imagine any block I'd rather be chipped from than yours. You of primary school car-rider line fame. You the library lady. Famous in Publix checkout lanes - both from your celebrity with the under-7 set and your popularity with all the checkers and baggers. You of bread-making and seamstressing legend. You of Sunday afternoon paper and ice cream from a coffee mug. You of never planning and always flying by the seat of your pants and almost always landing on your feet. You of never being too old to want to ask me how you look in the morning before you leave for work. You who taught me the bliss of the first cup of morning coffee and that anything eaten in tiny, tiny "slivers" does not contribute to your daily caloric intake.

And who taught me other things. Essential things. Like the importance of kindness and never being too busy (or think yourself too important) to offer a smile or a pleasantry. Like the willingness to be behind the scenes, to work for the greater good, to be the one who does the thankless and the unnoticed. Like the perspective needed to make it through this old world, to be grateful for blessings, acknowledge trials and be hopeful for tomorrow. Like to believe, to have faith, to find peace, to pray.

You have never liked recognition - whether because your modesty keeps you from it or your humility keeps you from feeling that you deserve it or your contentment with being behind the scenes keeps you from really needing it. But it's Mother's Day, which is cause for celebrating the one who brought me into this world, shepherded me through it and continues to stand beside me on good days and bad. So, Happy Mother's Day, Mom. You are the best.

Love,
Ashley