History in the making! I've been a fan and follower of Kate Middleton, now officially HRH The Duchess of Cambridge since before she and Prince William became engaged. I remember watching their wedding, though not live. On the West Coast at that time I wasn't dedicated to my anglophile tendencies quite enough to stay up all night. I recorded it and watched it after spending a day in Napa with J and my Dad who was visiting. I think our friend Matt was over for dinner that night.
Since the royal wedding I've loved watching her via the world media, most particularly her clothes. She is one of the few in the public eye who always looks classic and modest and gets praise for it. Not that I could afford most of her clothes, but it is fun to look at the pictures.
Since she became pregnant with her first child I've been on "bump" watch and for the past few weeks going through the media termed "the great Kate wait" with the rest of the world. What better, more harmless and lovely way to pass an otherwise droll and hot summer.
Here is today's official press release from Buckingham Palace:
"Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm.
The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz.
The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news.
Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight.
Notes to editors
1. The medical staff present were Mr Marcus Setchell, Surgeon-Gynaecologist, Mr Guy Thorpe-Beeston, Obstetrician and Dr Sunit Godambe, Consultant Neonatologist at St. Mary’s Hospital.
2. The names of the baby will be announced in due course
3. The baby is third in the line of succession after His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge. He is styled His Royal Highness Prince [name] of Cambridge.
4. A formal notice of the birth will be posted on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.See More"
The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz.
The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news.
Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight.
Notes to editors
1. The medical staff present were Mr Marcus Setchell, Surgeon-Gynaecologist, Mr Guy Thorpe-Beeston, Obstetrician and Dr Sunit Godambe, Consultant Neonatologist at St. Mary’s Hospital.
2. The names of the baby will be announced in due course
3. The baby is third in the line of succession after His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge. He is styled His Royal Highness Prince [name] of Cambridge.
4. A formal notice of the birth will be posted on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.See More"
I woke up to a text message from my sister this morning: "Kate is in labor!!"
So I spent the rest of the considerably cooler, cloudy day bouncing around between Sky News in the UK online, a blog dedicated to all things Kate, Facebook, and Fox News. (I don't tweet.)
Finally the world got the news about 4 hours after the birth that the baby had arrived and all was well. The original plan to release the news with a signed paper statement in front of the palace happened, but after the RRoyal Family had already released the first official statement via social media. I got to watch the notice going up on the golden easel, and then saw the town crier in full regalia shouting the news in front of the hospital and ringing his bell.
As you can see (photo above) I made up a cuppa in my best china and had some chocolate digestive biscuits to celebrate. J thinks I'm insane and really doesn't care. However, we both were convinced it was a girl and were really surprised to learn it was a boy! I was almost right on the birthday; I predicted July 23rd.
So what did I do whilst the Duchess was laboring away in the private, posh Lindo Wing of St. Mary's hospital in London? I woke up, went to the chiropractor, stopped for a few groceries at Target on my way home, updated my master moving to do list, did some yoga, had lunch with J who got home from work early thanks to a broken plane, and then spent the afternoon washing all the decorative pieces from my cabinet tops while watching the Audrey Hepburn classic Paris When it Sizzles.
Dinner tonight, which I must go start, is hamburgers, corn on the cob and macaroni and cheese.
I expect to continue watching live coverage as long as J will let me. The world is now waiting and wondering if Prince William will make a public appearance tonight...?!
Last Presidential election we were in Oklahoma. I had printed out a map of the United States and was coloring the states blue and red as poles closed and numbers came in. I never finished that map ... and I cried. But I did exercise my right to vote! And not just any vote, an important Ohio swing state vote. This year we will doubtless be watching the numbers come in ... watching another map go blue or red. I just pray that above all God is in this election and it's outcome! Wonder what tomorrow will bring..... ?! (And I wonder where we will be and what life will be like for the next one, Presidential Election 2016.)
