Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last set of emails. I appreciate it. Yes, Nhi is in labor, and Jim is several lightyears away. This is going to be fun.
Day 382: This is not a break water instant baby type of labor.
Starfleet priority message for Admiral Nhi Pike from Captain James Kirk-Grayson
cc: Commander Winona Kirk, retired.
Yes, I am aware that not every labor is my mom's. How many people can have early labor triggered by time-traveling Romulans attacking the ship they're in? No one wants anything that dramatic. Spock told me it's pretty standard to stay home with a baby monitor and not go to the birthing center until you've dilated at least 5 cm once your water has broken. Thanks to the home monitoring system, you won't have to spend anywhere near as much time at the hospital. Just hurry up and wait. That's good for you since you hate hospitals.
Your hatred of hospitals is obviously why you decided to go with the birthing center instead of a hospital. You didn't mention that before, but I should've guessed that was the plan. It makes sense. It will be less stressful for you anyway.
How are you holding up? I am CCing my mom on this message in case the answer is screaming in pain, trying to push out the twins. Do you have names yet? I realize that all the suggestions I sent you a couple of days ago will not arrive on time. Sorry.
Xxx
Starfleet priority message for Captain James Kirk-Grayson from Admiral Nhi Pike
cc: Commander Winona Kirk, retired; Captain Spock Kirk-Grayson
Yes, this is a hurry-up and wait situation. At least I can do most of the waiting at home now. I heard it was worse in the old days. Per the baby monitor, I'm dilated two centimeters. And my contractions are about eight minutes apart. My water also hasn't broken yet. I could be one of those women needing the midwife to take care of that.
Yes, I am doing a birthing center with a midwife. However, the birthing center does have doctors on standby, just in case. My OB/GYN recommended it for me because she feels it will be a less stressful experience. Anything would be less stressful than what your mom went through, or Sue, for that matter.
Attach your previous email to your next response. I would love to know what your baby name advice was. I still don't have names. Your mom is reading names to me in between contractions.
Rebecca just came by to drop off food. She wants to make sure your mom doesn't starve. She says hi, and she misses you guys.
Xxx
Starfleet priority message for Admiral Nhi Pike from Captain James Kirk-Grayson
cc: Commander Winona Kirk, retired; Captain Spock Kirk-Grayson
Okay, the email is attached to this message. I also included a bunch of pictures of the kids to help distract you. My leading name suggestions were Jamie and Kenji. I am also including Spock's Vulcan name list. I feel like you might want to try something a little different.
That was so nice of Rebecca. We miss her too. Engineering would not have blown up over Christmas if she had been on board. I am still talking Scotty down from the ledge over that. He's never leaving his baby again. He point-blank told Spock Bear never to make him acting captain. He's done.
Xxx
Starfleet priority message for Captain James Kirk-Grayson from Admiral Nhi Pike
cc: Commander Winona Kirk, retired; Captain Spock Kirk-Grayson
Thanks so much for the pictures. I love them. Also, thank you for all the baby names. I like Kenji. Especially the meaning behind the name, although I am not shocked that you are suggesting music-associated names for my kids.
Jamie is far enough from Jim and James that I will allow it. It was already on my shortlist of girl names.
So, what do you think about using one Earth name and one Vulcan name? What were Spock's favorites? Each godparent should get one name.
Please, no middle names with a T. I don't want my kids to have TP in their initials.
Anyway, I'm a little more dilated, and the contractions are still in the don't run to the birthing center yet range. I have a video call with my midwife soon, though. She might tell me to come on in any way now, so we were not running there in the middle of the night. You know how hard it is to get public transport at 2 AM anywhere.
Xxx
Starfleet priority message for Admiral Nhi Pike from Captain James Kirk-Grayson
cc: Commander Winona Kirk, retired.
Yes, listen to your midwife. I'm sure everything will go well.
Spock has suggested Jamie Lilaik Pike and Kenji Niath Pike. However, he will send you a list of 90 gender-neutral or female-coated baby names. There are few non-T names on the original 100 list because Vulcans love their T names. At least for girls. Yes, I am rolling my eyes. He better keep that list for our future babies many years from now.
You should know we do not have to move to New Vulcan yet. The program is staying and expanding. We're going to get ten more kids in June. This is what happens when you do a good job. We will also be bringing on a second teacher so we can divide the grades up more. Gina is thrilled.
Xxxx
Starfleet priority message for Captain James Kirk-Grayson from Admiral Nhi Pike
cc: Commander Winona Kirk, retired; Captain Spock Kirk-Grayson
Hey, greetings from the birthing center of greater London. We got here about an hour ago. I am now in labor enough to be here. I am attaching pictures of my room and your mom. Notice the best coach ever T-shirt. It was a gift from Rebecca.
I should have got your help with names earlier. I like both choices. Better than the rest of the stuff on my shortlist. As somebody who legally changed their name, I just needed something perfect.
My water just broke, so this is probably my last message until I reach the other side. I keep telling myself it's worth it. However, I regret not telling anybody I was planning to get inseminated. I feel like you all would have talked me out of it.
Xxx
Starfleet priority message for Admiral Nhi Pike from Captain James Kirk-Grayson
cc: Commander Winona Kirk, retired.
We would not have talked you out of it but maybe convinced you to wait until the end of the five-year missions so Spock and I could serve as the birthing coaches. Now, we will have to be the best godparents remotely, but we will be because we already love baby Jamie and Kenji.
To be continued.
Hey, labor takes a long time. Especially when you're not doing presto water breaks instant baby. Also, I feel like the 23rd century would have tech to monitor the mommy, and you could spend as much time at home as possible before going to the hospital or birthing center. I chose a birthing center because I wanted something more holistic. I was thinking about what civilian-ish delivery would be like versus it happening on the ship.