Secret's out: Palin pregnant
SEVEN MONTHS ALONG: Even her staff was unaware that the first family was expecting a fifth child.
By WESLEY LOYwloy@adn.com wloy@adn.com
Published: March 6th, 2008 12:02 AMLast Modified: March 6th, 2008 01:37 AM
JUNEAU -- Gov. Sarah Palin shocked and awed just about everybody around the Capitol on Wednesday when she announced she's expecting her fifth child.
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"I thought it was becoming obvious," Gov. Sarah Palin said. "You know, clothes getting snugger and snugger."
SEVEN MONTHS ALONG: Even her staff was unaware that the first family was expecting a fifth child.
By WESLEY LOYwloy@adn.com wloy@adn.com
Published: March 6th, 2008 12:02 AMLast Modified: March 6th, 2008 01:37 AM
JUNEAU -- Gov. Sarah Palin shocked and awed just about everybody around the Capitol on Wednesday when she announced she's expecting her fifth child.
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"I thought it was becoming obvious," Gov. Sarah Palin said. "You know, clothes getting snugger and snugger."
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The governor, who recently turned 44, told a handful of reporters as she was leaving work to expect a new member of the first family, then headed to a reception at the Baranof Hotel to feast on king crab.
Palin said she's already about seven months along, with the baby due to arrive in mid-May.
Palin said she's already about seven months along, with the baby due to arrive in mid-May.
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That the pregnancy is so advanced astonished all who heard the news. The governor, a runner who's always been trim, simply doesn't look pregnant.
Even close members of her staff said they only learned this week their boss was expecting.
That the pregnancy is so advanced astonished all who heard the news. The governor, a runner who's always been trim, simply doesn't look pregnant.
Even close members of her staff said they only learned this week their boss was expecting.
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"I thought it was becoming obvious," Palin said. "You know, clothes getting snugger and snugger."
"I thought it was becoming obvious," Palin said. "You know, clothes getting snugger and snugger."
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But people just couldn't believe the news.
"Really? No!" said Bethel state Rep. Mary Nelson, who is close to giving birth herself.
But people just couldn't believe the news.
"Really? No!" said Bethel state Rep. Mary Nelson, who is close to giving birth herself.
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"It's wonderful. She's very well-disguised," said Senate President Lyda Green, a mother of three who has sometimes sparred with Palin politically. "When I was five months pregnant, there was absolutely no question that I was with child."
"It's wonderful. She's very well-disguised," said Senate President Lyda Green, a mother of three who has sometimes sparred with Palin politically. "When I was five months pregnant, there was absolutely no question that I was with child."
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Having a baby as governor has happened elsewhere, but it's rare. The former acting governor of Massachusetts, Jane Swift, in 2001 was the first governor in office to give birth when she delivered twin girls.
Palin beamed as lawmakers, Cabinet members and others came by to congratulate her at the Baranof reception, a legislative event Kodiak officials sponsor annually.
Having a baby as governor has happened elsewhere, but it's rare. The former acting governor of Massachusetts, Jane Swift, in 2001 was the first governor in office to give birth when she delivered twin girls.
Palin beamed as lawmakers, Cabinet members and others came by to congratulate her at the Baranof reception, a legislative event Kodiak officials sponsor annually.
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Her husband, Todd, was there holding the couple's sleepy 6-year-old daughter Piper in his arms.
Palin said she's not aiming to take any time off from her job as governor, assuming all goes well with the pregnancy. She said when she had Piper -- Palin was mayor of Wasilla at the time -- the baby was born on a Monday and she returned to the office on Tuesday.
"I've always been a believer that God's not going to give us anything that we cannot handle," Palin said.
Her husband, Todd, was there holding the couple's sleepy 6-year-old daughter Piper in his arms.
Palin said she's not aiming to take any time off from her job as governor, assuming all goes well with the pregnancy. She said when she had Piper -- Palin was mayor of Wasilla at the time -- the baby was born on a Monday and she returned to the office on Tuesday.
"I've always been a believer that God's not going to give us anything that we cannot handle," Palin said.
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Todd Palin, a BP oil field worker currently on leave from his job, said he's thrilled to be headed toward five-time fatherhood.
"I'm really excited," he said. "Every child you get from God. The more the merrier."
Todd Palin, a BP oil field worker currently on leave from his job, said he's thrilled to be headed toward five-time fatherhood.
"I'm really excited," he said. "Every child you get from God. The more the merrier."
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Aside from Piper, the Palins have three other children: Track, 18, serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks; Bristol, 17, a high school junior; and Willow, 13.
Aside from Piper, the Palins have three other children: Track, 18, serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks; Bristol, 17, a high school junior; and Willow, 13.
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Palin, a Republican, was elected as Alaska's first female governor in 2006 and took office in December of that year.
She's kept a hectic schedule in recent days, traveling last week to the National Governors Association conference in Washington, D.C., followed by a trip to Los Angeles on Monday for a Newsweek magazine conference also featuring Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano. The magazine profiled the two in its Oct. 15 "Women & Power" issue.
Palin, a Republican, was elected as Alaska's first female governor in 2006 and took office in December of that year.
She's kept a hectic schedule in recent days, traveling last week to the National Governors Association conference in Washington, D.C., followed by a trip to Los Angeles on Monday for a Newsweek magazine conference also featuring Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano. The magazine profiled the two in its Oct. 15 "Women & Power" issue.
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With Palin riding extraordinarily high popularity ratings, pundits have mentioned her as a potential vice presidential candidate. But she said Wednesday night she's "not pursuing or perpetuating it," adding, "I have no desire to leave my job at all as governor."
With Palin riding extraordinarily high popularity ratings, pundits have mentioned her as a potential vice presidential candidate. But she said Wednesday night she's "not pursuing or perpetuating it," adding, "I have no desire to leave my job at all as governor."
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Palin said she decided to reveal the pregnancy after she felt the signs were giving her away, like doing less running this winter and being "ravenously hungry."
She's known as a fashion plate, but said she hasn't been dressing differently to cover her barely perceptible bulge.
Palin noted another Alaska governor welcomed a new baby to his family while in office -- Mike Stepovich, who served as territorial governor in the late 1950s.
Having kids and serving as governor are entirely compatible, she said.
Palin said she decided to reveal the pregnancy after she felt the signs were giving her away, like doing less running this winter and being "ravenously hungry."
She's known as a fashion plate, but said she hasn't been dressing differently to cover her barely perceptible bulge.
Palin noted another Alaska governor welcomed a new baby to his family while in office -- Mike Stepovich, who served as territorial governor in the late 1950s.
Having kids and serving as governor are entirely compatible, she said.
:o)
"To any critics who say a woman can't think and work and carry a baby at the same time, I'd just like to escort that Neanderthal back to the cave," Palin said.
"To any critics who say a woman can't think and work and carry a baby at the same time, I'd just like to escort that Neanderthal back to the cave," Palin said.
:o)
Then the expectant governor turned to greet more well-wishers
Then the expectant governor turned to greet more well-wishers
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Go, Mama! You're my heroine!
13 comments:
I agree with everything you say about our terrific governor. I liked exploring your blog, too; very entertaining.
Cheers from Kodiak, Alaska!
Ish
Cheers, Ish! Big bears in Kodiak, very big bears, the biggest in the world I think. Or are Polar Bears the largest? Can't remember
It’s unfortunate that she doesn’t make her children a priority. Why have them if you aren’t going to raise them?
Some have questioned whether this pregnancy (5th child at age 44) is nothing more than a publicity stunt. I’ll admit; I wondered.
The VP thing is just plain nuts. Her “experience” consists of serving on city council and as mayor of Wasilla (population 5,469 in 2000), an Alaska Oil and Gas Commissioner for 9 months, and now Governor of Alaska for a little over a year. National experience? None. International experience? Nada.
Come on people, it takes more than a pretty face.
I’m still holding my breath over the $1.5 BILLION dollar tax hike on the state’s #1 industry. Not to mention the fact that she grew the budget $350 million her first year as governor.
And to think she refers to herself as a “fiscal conservative.” Funny.
Sometimes not responding to a comment speaks volumes.
Denial isn't a good way to defend your position.
Tax-n-spend Palin with her Journalism degree is a disaster for our state.
You know who funds roughly 90% of the state budget, right?
And do you realize that Alaska now has the highest oil tax rate in world, thanks to Palin?
After all that hoopla about empty celebrity, McCain chooses Miss Alaska as his #2?
OK then.
Yes, it's wonderful to have a vice presidential nominee who is beautiful as well as intelligent and powerful.
Great choice, McCain!
Barely preceptible at 7 months? Was she even pregnant?
Oh, yes, very pregnant! I think it was closer to 8 months. I was going to mention this in my post today. Yesterday, people were astonished how McCain and Palin could keep this a secret from even her extended family. Well, Governor Palin is extremely good at keeping a secret! She was pregnant during an Alaskan winter when everyone wears bulky clothes anyway. But, that doesn't stagger my mind as much as how she kept labor and delivery secret. Not on purpose. She's just like that. She went into labor during a Texas energy conference, delivered a 20 minute speech, got on a plane and flew all the way to Anchorage, Alaska. How many thousands of miles is that? Arrived. Instead of rushing to the nearest hospital, she gets into a truck and drives 50 mile to her home town hospital so she could deliver her baby in her home state, home town, home doctor... I'd like to say it's a tough Alaskan Woman Thing, but I never would have made it through the speech.
http://www.reddit.com/comments/6f3nq/coverup_alaska_gov_palin_r_announced_she_was
Beautiful? No question about it.
Powerful? 5 children, and running a marriage and an entire state? No doubt.
Intelligent?
Seriously?
She favors teaching creationism.
Creationism, for pity's sake.
You, of all people, writing about starship captains, should know better.
Or do starships run on magic?
Actually, Alaska law protects the rights of parents to decide what their children are taught. It's a state issue which Sarah Palin doesn't have the power to negate while governor. Neither would she have the power to negate it as Vice President.
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