Feet!

As cute as nine month pregnant bloated whale feet can look!


Way too cute to resist, tiny lavender Crocs!

Sofie's Spot 40 Weeks

Oh Sofie...you are stubborn already! Today after my prenatal appointment I popped in at Don Drumm to use the last of a gift certificate while I was in town. The sales associate asked when I was due. I told her, "Today! but she's not coming out...she's already stubborn!" She laughed and said, "It's good for a girl to have a bit of a stubborn streak!" I hadn't really thought of it that way, but I guess she was right. It'll be nice to have a spunky little girl and little miss, you come from a long line of spunky girls...so I suppose it was unavoidable!

According to my bathroom scale this morning I'm hanging in there around plus 44 pounds. The scale at the OB says it's a couple more than that...but we'll stick with mine, since mine will be the one measuring the pounds coming back off. I haven't had any progress since my last appointment 5 days ago, and they've started to talk to me about inducing you...ack! Since I'm violently opposed to pitocin, we instead scheduled another appointment in a week. If we make it to that appointment they will monitor you (ultrasound and non-stress test) and make sure you're still ok to hang out a little while longer. Let's hope we don't make it to that appointment!

I'm trying to stay occupied and not think too much about how much it stinks to be waiting waiting waiting for you. The house is clean, there are casseroles in the freezer, all my loose ends have been tied up tight. I went to the library and checked out a few books yesterday, and today...I've been thinking it would be awfully nice to treat myself to a pedicure. My feet have been ridiculously neglected since I stopped being able to reach them awhile back. The toenails have terribly chipped polish, and my poor feet are rough and peely and although they are 200% less swollen than they were just a week ago, they are still yuck! We can't really afford splurges like pedicures right now, but sometimes you just have to find a way to pamper yourself...am I right girls?

I've been daydreaming a lot lately about all the things I'm going to eat once the kid is no longer connected to the bloodstream. Here's the list so far...

A good glass of red wine
Dark chocolates
Stinky cheese
Warm scones with cool clotted cream

Now...I'm not suggesting that any Sofie visitors are obligated to bring us anything, but if you show up at our house with one of those things in your hands, you will certainly be greeted with a very warm smile!

Stats

2.5 centimeters, 70% effaced, baby is at a -2 station, and the midwife said, "I can feel a big bag of water. I'm not going to poke too hard or I'll pop it!" I'm also officially done working until October 15th. My midwife gave me a note stating that my "maternity leave" should begin immediately due to my swollen whale feet. Let's hope I don't have too long to sit at home with nothing to do but anxiously wait...wait...wait!

Emotional

Less than a week from our due date and my emotions have been all over the place. I'm excited, nervous, anxious... Mostly I've been thinking about how different it will be to have another little critter around all the time as a part of our family (Holy cow, we're really going to be a "family!") Sometimes at night, when Ben and I routinely enjoy a little snuggle before bed, I look at him and realize that it's not going to be so easy to have time alone together. We've been talking for months about how sweet it will be to have a little baby addition to our snuggle sessions, but it's still bittersweet to think about losing those special moments between just the two of us.

I've been very uncomfortable the past three or four days. I'm not sure if it's the humid weather, being so close to delivery or maybe a little of both. I've been achey and crampy and grumpy...doing my best to coax Sofie out a little early! Today at work they were kind enough to offer to let me leave early, and I gratefully took them up on the offer. I've been lounging, enjoying an uninterrupted nap (maybe the last one I'll get for awhile), and making the most of the unexpected free time to just relax. I really love what I'm doing right now, but it's getting harder and harder to roll out of bed in the morning and get my achey body moving. I keep reminding myself that it won't be much longer now!

We have another OB appointment tomorrow morning, and if there's any interesting news I'll post a short update. Last week they didn't check me, so I don't know if there have been any changes. Sofie was measuring at 38 weeks (she's been pretty much right on target the whole pregnancy) and her heart was still plugging away. Her head is down, and I've had a lot of pressure (even to the point of some sharp pain) where her heavy back is resting on the right side of my belly. I still can't believe that there's a whole perfect little baby hanging out in there. We can't wait to meet you Sofia Claire!

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!