Adventure

Tonight Ben and I decided to check out the MetroParks that are just down the street from our new apartment. We've been meaning to go for a hike for awhile now, but just haven't been able to find the time to explore, so we decided tonight was the night. We found a leisurely .7 mile trail on the map and set out. Er...that was the intention anyhow! 2.5 miles later, after jumping over several ditches, taking stone paths through a few creeks and coming so close to tripping on tree roots at least three times, and after the last quarter mile which was pretty much straight up a hill, we emerged back at our car! It was actually a lot of fun, but not quite what we had bargained for. And if Sofie doesn't feel like making an appearance after that adventure, then I'm pretty sure she's just not ready!

Progress...

As of my appointment Thursday afternoon I was 2 cm. dilated and 60% effaced. Sofie-bean was at a -2 station. I've been having mild crampiness a little more each day since Monday. Perhaps I should change my guesstimated arrival date?!

Rise and Shine Pregnant Style

Waking up pregnant is swell...and swollen!

I wake up every morning at 5:00 AM for my ritual bathroom run. Why my bladder can't wait until 5:30 AM, which is when my alarm goes off most days, I haven't a clue. Then I go back to sleep for that precious half an hour, wake up to my delightful alarm and spend some time stretching. By stretching, of course, I mean I spend at least five minutes combating the dreaded leg cramps, which I've become an expert at alleviating. I can't wait to have my body back. My "roomie" has certainly overstayed her welcome!

This weekend we spent time writing up a little birth plan and packing our hospital bag. So...we are all set and just waiting now. I expect we've got quite a bit of time to wait, but it's nice to feel prepared. Just for fun, we've begun to guess at Sofie's arrival time and her stats. Ben thinks August 15th, 8 pounds on the dot and "a little longer than average" whatever that means. I think August 18th, 8 pounds 5 ounces and 20 inches. Our friend Dave insists that Sofie will be born on the 22nd and weigh 8 pounds 2 ounces. No guesses about her length. He seems to think that because he correctly predicted that she was a girl, he has some sort of guru guessing skills. We'll see...

Feel free to make your predictions...

Our next appointment is on the 26th, and I'll finally get an idea of how my cervix is cooperating at that appointment. I'll be sure to keep you posted!

Sofie's Spot 36 Weeks

Well, here we are at 36 weeks already. I've gained somewhere around 43 pounds (obviously the scale is broken...I can't have really gained that much weight, right?!) The belly seems to morph noticeably on a daily basis, and Sofie seems to be getting more and more crammed in as each day passes. I wonder what it feels like to be so smooshed all day long. I know my lungs and ribs don't seem to appreciate it much, and I can't imagine that having such limited space to attempt to move your whole body in is much fun at all. Sofie seems to be taking out the frustration by making me miserable! I was feeling so great for so long, and it seems like overnight I've turned into a mess. My feet have taken a complete nosedive. They seem to be swollen to twice their normal size. Each morning I get up and try to shove them into my shoes for one more day. At first the shoes were just a bit tight, and then they were really tight but still comfortable once I managed to wiggle them on. Now they are ridiculously tight, almost impossible to shove my feet into, and at the end of the day my toes feel like they've been bruised. My feet, which I've never had an odor problem with in my entire life, have decided to protest their confinement by stinking to high heaven. Oh the joys of pregnancy!

I've been incredibly busy lately, hence the lack of updated posts. We've been working hard to unpack the house and get Sofie's room ready, and I'm pleased to report that everything is now out of its box and has a place except for the pictures/decorations, which still need to be hung up. I've also been putting in long days at my clinic site five days a week. My darling alarm now goes off at 5:30 AM, and I'm typically rolling back in here around 6:00 or later in the evenings, exhausted and hungry! I am really enjoying the experience and I'm grateful to have something to keep my mind occupied and off of the inevitable countdown, but part of me wishes I had a little more time to relax in these last few weeks of freedom. Oh well, I suppose it's good preparation for sleepless nights and the never ceasing demands of a helpless little person.

I had a wonderful baby shower two and a half weeks ago, and I have some pictures I'd like to post if I can ever figure out how to get them turned right side up so that they'll be easier to view. I'm way way way overdue on sending out Thank You cards (I'm so sorry! I swear they're coming!) It was really fun to chat with some folks I haven't seen in awhile and we were overwhelmed with great baby gifts. We are pretty much all set with everything we need to bring this little bundle home except for a few more cloth diapers and the dreaded breast pump!!! Gee, I'm really looking forward to that purchase!

Doc appointments are scheduled for every week now...the next one is Friday morning. I'll try to be better about updating. Short and sweet is better than no news at all, right?