Anyone Starting a Baby Pool?

I feel like I have been saying all month "this could be the day" or "this could be the week" and I was starting to get very frustrated with how off I was. Until I realized this morning, I haven't entirely been off. See, I have essentially been in early labor for the entire month of March! It sounds crazy, but since I have been having contractions and dilating, I am technically in early labor. Talk about one drawn out labor!! Not that I mind at all! I will take these painless "practice" contractions and progression over screaming in the hospital for an extended period of time any day!

That being said, here is the latest... according to the fabulous doc, we are now "as far dilated as possible without being in active labor." And these "practice" contractions are coming every couple of minutes. I would say about 5 minutes apart most of the time... but not all of the time. It really and truly could be anytime now. This is not just me being crazy anymore!

In fact... the doctor is convinced that if it doesn't happen in the next couple days, it is uncomfortably likely that it will happen this weekend (anytime after noon on Friday) and we will be stuck at West Houston with a different doctor. Therefore, given that and the progression we have already, he does not want me to go past Wednesday. More details on that soon, but hopefully that doesn't matter.

Daddy is convinced that we will have you in our arms before Wednesday and that you should be born on St. Patrick's Day. Which would be great because we have a cute little St. Patrick's onesie for you. That is also the docs birthday and he thinks that would be pretty special ;) No rush, just something to consider.

I found that this weekend was especially difficult mentally because I had it in my head that you would be here by now. I know, silly expectations. Of course, it didn't help that I was contracting constantly and convinced you were coming any second :) Now that we are past that hump, I find myself oddly at ease. And not just because of the news from the appointment, although that absolutely helped lock in the calmer emotions. Hopefully my crazy mental state is all better, for Daddy's and Austin's sake!!

We did more to prepare for your arrival. We did a little shopping with our gift cards, did more cleaning (I even cleaned out the pantry and wiped down the shelves) and re-cleaning, washed and packed your St. Patty's Day onesie (just in case), washed the new stuff we bought, and recharged the cameras that were in the hospital bag since the charge has been slowly dwindling! I can't really think of anything else that is left to do at the moment.

Another update from your appointment, the doc mentioned that you are starting to feel large. Even more reason for you to go ahead and come today/tomorrow... I do well laboring small babies and don't think you should get carried away plumping up in there!!

That about does it for now. See you really soon!!
And I will do a picture tonight... I keep putting it off and haven't done a timely 37 week photo!!

Weekly Updates (36 Weeks)

Clearly I have fallen behind on my weekly updates. Not only that, but I didn't even post about my doctor's appointment this week. I have been such a slacker!

First things first... 36 and 37 week updates! (I will post the picture at a later date and time. My camera is now in the hospital bag, in the car, waiting for delivery day)

36 Weeks
I posted some during that week after my doctor's appointment, so there is not a whole lot that I can think of that needs to be re-mentioned. Really, I am reflecting back and I think I mentioned pretty much everything worth mentioning. This was a pretty uneventful week as far as I could tell with us. Lots of braxton hicks which are completely painless I am horrible at timing... not that it really matters because clearly I have not spontaneously gone into labor while not counting them! Absolutely no ability to concentrate while at work! That about sums it up... you are just getting bigger and stronger and hopefully about ready to make your appearance. Oh, and you are still able to move around plenty, especially your feet on my right side.

Updated March 26: Here is the 36 week picture!

Weekly Update (35 Weeks)

I knew I should have waited to get that massage. Because now I am having days where my back is just killing me. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, it is completely worth it and I would take back pain every single day of my pregnancy if it was necessary (though I absolutely do not want that... please don't let that happen)!! I am actually starting to notice a trend. The last workday of the week this week and last week has been plagued with back pain. Is it my body begging for the weekend to be here?

Or is it because you are tightening up like a rock in there non-stop these days? It is actually everything around you tightening up and it is called Braxton Hicks. Which are nothing like I expected them to be. I had it in my head that these would be just like real contractions, but not consistent. Nope, they are completely painless and have been occurring pretty much all day every day lately.

I have been extremely bad about taking my weekly picture this week (and last week). Mostly because I don't feel like digging through the laundry and washing those green shorts. However, I did take a picture last week in a different outfit. And as I have been mentioning in recent posts I took maternity pictures last night! I am extremely excited about them and cannot wait to see and post them.

Ever since we finished those, I have felt this peace. Oh, and the items I was waiting on to arrive in the mail came yesterday too. It is weird though, because today my stomach has been doing the rock thing even more than normal and I got this weird feeling that I should call your Daddy and have him put the bag in the truck this morning, "just in case." And I have felt a few weird pangs down there (I am not sure how to describe to where it makes sense). I am sure I am just getting antsy and will probably be looking back on this post in 4 or 5 weeks thinking, "man was I off!!"

The only thing that isn't done yet is the playlist. I know, I know. But there is kind of a reason for that. I decided that it would be very sweet and special if Daddy created the playlist. We have very different tastes in music, but I think that he will do an awesome job and I imagine that there will be a good mix of songs that have sentimental value that will bring a tear to my eye, a smile to my face, or even get a good laugh out of me when I need it most and pull us even closer while going through the delivery process. He is kind of procrastinating though... hopefully I haven't put too much pressure on him!

Let's see... you are still strengthening those lungs to get ready to make your presence known. And you are supposedly over five pounds now. Hopefully we will have a better idea on Monday morning, although those ultrasounds can be so off. Like I mentioned early this week, I have gained a few extra pounds this week, so you might be more than five pounds now!!

Speaking of, the sudden weight gain, combined with a trace of protein in my pee last appointment had me a little worried about pre-eclampsia. The nurse said my blood pressure has been fine, so I shouldn't worry. I checked my blood pressure that night and it wasn't in the questionable range, so I haven't put anymore thought to it. Just thought I would mention that since it was on my mind and we can both look back later and reflect on how crazy and paranoid Mommy was.

That should about cover it for now... until Monday!!! And I promise I will post a new picture on this post later tonight or this weekend :)