ideal timing.

The BEST option would be to go into labor in the early morning (like 6:00 or 7:00am), have Matt take Noah to daycare as usual and then give birth in the afternoon (like 1:00pm). Then, Matt could spend the afternoon bonding with us for a few hours, go get Noah from daycare and bring him to the hospital to visit and then Matt could take Noah home and just stay there with him for the night and we wouldn't have to worry about finding overnight arrangements for Noah. Then, Matt and Noah could come back the next morning (or just Matt if it's a weekday) and then check out of the hospital. This must occur on a Tuesday, Thursday or Friday since that's when my midwife would be able to oversee the birth AND daycare would be open for Noah.

So let's look at our options: March 15, 17 or 18 (which are pretty unlikely considering my EDD is not even until the 19th)... OR... March 22, 24 or 25. Actually, the latter week would be optimal since I will already be on maternity leave.

OTHERWISE... if I can't start labor in the early morning like I would prefer, then it must hold off until the 29th when my mom gets here so she can watch Noah on the off-hours. If not the 29th, then the 30th is out because my midwife has to be in the office so we would have to hope for the 31st, which is just stepping on the toes of induction.... because that would happen on April 1st if I didn't go into labor on my own.

SO. With all that being said... giving birth at about 1:00pm on March 24 would be my favorite circumstance. My midwife will be there... daycare will have Noah... Matt can take the afternoon to bond as a family at the hospital, then go pick up Noah and bring him back to meet the new baby, then they could go home for the night. Then Noah could still go to daycare the following day for at least a couple of hours while we get checked out of the hospital and settled in at home. Then Matt can also be with me the following Monday to help out (and that would only end up being three days he has to take off from work) and my mom will be arriving on the 29th so then she will be there to help while Matt goes back to work! So if anyone wants to send me "March 24 at 1:00pm" vibes, that would be spectacular! :D