Are we there yet?

38 Weeks and so ready for this baby boy to be here!

This week the doctor said "Probably another week till you deliver"...another week? I'm now dilated 4 cm and feel so uncomfortable. I guess I should be excited that I'm almost half way through labor and haven't really felt true labor. But at the same time walking around in early labor is extremely uncomfortable and I'm ready for the real thing to begin. According to the pregnancy books I've read early labor is 0-3 cm and active labor is 4+cm so I feel justified in my frustration.

I did spend a relaxing first week on maternity leave. My grandmother came and spent the week with me to keep me company and be close by if I went into labor. She rode around with me as I finished things up at school and ran other errands. It was nice to have her here and it really helped pass what would have been an otherwise long and anxious week. I hope you enjoy the pictures. One is from the baby shower my 3rd grade team threw me at school and the top photo my be my last pregnancy photo (here's to wishful thinking!). I hope my next post will be one announcing the arrival our new family member. Think happy labor thoughts!!!

Getting Closer...

37 weeks-

Daniel and I had our weekly appointment on Friday and we found out I have made more progress. The doctor said I was now 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced. I was hoping for more progress than that because I have been so uncomfortable this week.

My family and co-workers think it's time for me to start my maternity leave. I'm having trouble walking at work or rather waddling and I'm still having contractions and they are really hard to handle while teaching. Even though all that is going on I'm still nervous about leaving. I feel like there is still so much to wrap up and finish but the fact is this baby is coming and I'll have to go on maternity leave at some point.

My doctor is fine with me starting my leave so I guess the only person not convinced is me. I know it would be best to spend a few days resting before this little man comes into our lives. So I will most likely take the advice of my husband, mom, co-workers, and mother-in-law and start my leave this week to avoid going into labor in front of 18 children, that sure would be some science lesson! For now I need to just pray for peace with starting my leave earlier than I thought I would and know that everything will work out the way God has planned it!

Getting close

36 weeks and 2 days-

Daniel and I went in for my weekly check up this past Friday and got some exciting news. The doctor let us know that I'm 2 cm dilated and the baby will most likely deliver early. His best guess is sometime in the next 1-3 weeks but he definitely thinks I won't go to the expected due date of Feb. 15th. I spent the weekend having very irregular but strong and painful contractions. I still get a little excited about them because I know they can only mean more progress is taking place towards actual delivery.

On another equally exciting note, I had a baby shower at school this week and one this weekend with all my friends from Austin. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law drove in for the shower also. Both showers were very nice and it was great to be showered with such nice gifts from great friends! I'll post pictures soon!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone... We are now 34 weeks and 2 days along. Only 40 more days until D-day. I'm really beginning to think this little guy is going to come earlier though. My practice contractions are only getting stronger and more painful and I think he might be running out of room in there. And as one wise woman at work told me "You know what happens when they run out of room? They've gotta come out!". I hope she's right. I'm ready to hold this little guy and be able sit down comfortably again. I took an updated picture of the growing belly yesterday. As you can see it's getting bigger every week, well everyday is what it feels like. I'm a little apprehensive about going back to work after being gone for the holidays. People like to make comments like "You've gotten soooo big!" and "Look at you!". I know they are well intending but I still let them know that it's not me whose getting bigger it's the baby and it suppose to happen! Do they want me to be pregorexic! Anyway, I should just learn to block out all the comments but I'm hormonal and sensitive and get my feelings hurt easily these days. So here is a little piece of advice from me to you and then I'll stop me rant. If you come across a pregnant lady in the near future please be kind and don't comment on her size, the size of her belly or anything else that could in some way indicate weight gain, just say "You look great!" or "You're glowing!". It really could make her smile and make her day! Happy New Years to all out there!