Waiting Hopefully...part two

In an effort to induce labor I have tried the following:

• walking
• jumping
• massage with pressure points
• evening primrose oil
• raspberry leaf tea
• spicy food
• lovin'
• praying (pleading is probably more accurate)
• begging...the baby, God, my body and Aaron to just do something already!

But, it has been in vain, because here I am one day past my due date and no baby in sight. I think one of the reasons this waiting game is so challenging is because my body is certainly "preparing" for labor, it's just not actually going into labor. I was reading the pre-labor symptoms in one of my baby books last night and basically I have every sign except consistent contractions that continue to ramp up. Oh well.

This is such an exercise in patience...

I had a small epiphany this afternoon, that this is just one more thing in my life that I can't control. I can't control when this baby is going to arrive, all I can do is wait patiently and have a good attitude while I wait. So much harder to do than say; I won't lie.
Here is one last frightening picture of myself, 40 full weeks. I can't believe that belly, there had better be a giant baby in there.

One More Day...or Maybe Seven

I'm not going to lie...I'm having a hard time being patient. I want my baby.

I visited with my girlfriend today who had her baby two weeks early! My induction day was her due date. This little thing is so cute and tiny (6 pounds 2 ounces) and I kept thinking...oh my gosh...my baby is bigger than this baby and still on the inside of my body.

Today I made chicken and rice casserole, a pot roast with all the fixings, berry sweet bread (in my new bread pan!) and pumpkin muffins with a cream cheese center.

I also swept all my floors, vacuumed anything with carpet, dusted the house, washed our bed sheets, bought my husband new shoes, worked on a bit of freelance work and went for a walk. If this isn't nesting...I don't what is.

And yet...I don't have baby. So, I'll keep waiting, and praying and trying really hard to be patient. I'm not very good at this waiting game.

How I'm Spending Maternity Leave

I had a pretty rough day of sleeping in, catching up on emails, having lunch with a girlfriend and making muffins. I made apple bran muffins and they are tasty but a bit crumbly. The top is slightly overcooked while the insides are a bit too soft. I'll have to remake them again and tweak a few things. I'm in a baking mood, but I keep reminding myself that my days of free for all pastry eating are numbered...

Aaron and I indulged in some chai tea tonight. This has got to be one of the most unflattering photos of me, but for the good of the blog I decided it should be documented. Also...check out the girth. This is probably the last photo you will see of me until I am un-pregnant and had a few weeks to lose the gallon of water weight I'm carrying around along with baby Jackson.
This is the one legitimate activity I participated in today. Lots and lots of laundry. I am caught up and all I need to do is put away one last load.

Our family is taking bets on when this baby will arrive and most of their predictions are for this weekend. Let's hope they are right! Friday is getting closer and closer!

Hunting 2008

This is a short ode to my husband and his love for hunting. He went out for opening weekend on Saturday and Rem was a complete embarrassment. Apparently he either chased the other dog around or walked behind Aaron, not exactly what you want or hope for when you're looking for pheasants.

But...today Aaron went out again and Rem, knowing his days were probably numbered if he didn't pull it together, hunted well and they even got a bird. (You've got to love bankers hours, did anyone else get the day off for Columbus Day?)

Here is the proud puppy with his bird:

39 and a half weeks and no baby in sight

We went to the doctor today and this baby apparently has no interest in having a birthday. I had high hopes of having the baby over the weekend so that my doctor would be available to deliver the baby, but nothing happened. I think that was what was so dissapointing...I know my due date is still a few days away and I could still go into labor at any time, but I had really hoped to have him on Saturday or Sunday.

I had a good cry about it on the way home from the appointment, and now I'm committed to the long haul. Worst case scenario, they will induce me a week from Thursday on Oct. 23. So, maybe he'll come sometime between now and then, but at least I have an end date in sight.

My husband keeps reminding me that no one is pregnant forever and even if we have to wait all the way until next week, I'm on the home stretch, and as much as I know that, it doesn't really make me feel any better. I do have to give him credit though, he was very very sweet to me. We went for a walk tonight and then splurged on some Ben and Jerry's frozen yogurt. Yum.

On a positive note, I have very pretty cherry red toenails. I figure its the least I could do for those that have to hold my legs! I guess I should also mention that day one of maternity leave was pretty awesome. I slept in a bit, had coffee with a girlfriend and just relaxed. I basically have the same agenda tomorrow. If I'm not going to be having a baby, hanging out and relaxing...not at work is not a bad way to spend your days.

There Are Many Great Things About October

One great thing is that October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. My dear friend Libby, who blogs at Blessings and Glory, has committed to posting every day in the month of October to raise awareness about Down Syndrome.

Libby and Alex welcomed their second son, Charlie, into the world just over a year ago and have been walking a God filled journey as they have faced and celebrated Charlie's diagnosis. Libby has an incredible story to tell, and I am honored to point you to her blog.
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In other great things related to October, it is officially fall in the great Yakima Valley. The trees are brilliant shades of yellow, red, oranges and amber. The sky is brilliant blue and Mt. Adams looks majestic rising above our barren hills.

Central Washington gets a bad rap for being ugly and dry and hot...which all those things can be true. It doesn't have the lush beauty of coastal Washington nor does it have the forested hills and mountains of Eastern Washington, but when you step back just a little bit, the acres of vineyard and apple orchards butted up against brown hills and pink sunsets make for a pretty stunning backdrop.

It would be appropriate for me to publish a picture right here...but unfortunately I'm blogging illegally from work and I don't have one to post.

I'm headed home to go for yet another walk. Last night Aaron and I walked the steep grassy terraces at the nearby park and I have every intention of doing it again tonight. Between dancing at the beer festival over the weekend and climbing hills at the park, I have been getting some pretty odd looks in the last few days.

But, can you blame me?

Progress Made

We've got 1 centimeter friends!

I'm happy to report that all my efforts to make some progress actually paid off. I don't know if I really believe the walking and spicy food truly have an impact on the body starting labor, but let tell you, I've been on cloud nine all day. Not to say labor is imminent...but progress feels so good!

The unfortunate thing is I've started retaining water and my feet, hands and face are looking a little puffy. I'm pounding water and trying to keep my feet up, but I'm really hoping this baby decides to make an appearance sooner than later.

I keep asking Aaron if he wants to have a baby tonight, and even though I'm mostly joking and he just laughs at me every time I ask, he went out and installed the car seat. So, tomorrow when I'm driving to work, there will be a little seat to look at in my rear view mirror. That makes me really happy.

For those of you mamas out there, what is the one thing you couldn't live without at the hospital? I think I've got my bag and baby's bag pretty well packed, but I'm wondering if there's something I'm missing.