Visitors

Piper is so lucky to have people who love her enough to visit in her first few hours of life!

She's here

Born 12:24 pm CST 2/16/2010.

6 lbs. 11 oz.

20 in.

Everyone is doing well. More to come!

no baby--not yet

On Saturday night, I started having regular but not very painful contractions. They came every 30 minutes, then 15, and 10 by the time I decided to go to bed. As you can imagine, I didn't sleep very well at all, so I finally gave up trying at about 4:00 and started timing again. This time the contractions were stronger, still not very stong, but occuring every 4-5 minutes. This being my first time, all I knew was that I was supposed to go to the doctor when my contractions were that close together. So off to the hospital we went.

I was 1cm dilated upon arrival, and two hours later I was still 1cm dilated. The nurses monitored Piper and me during that time, and all was well. They sent me home and told me to walk and come back when the contractions were stronger. Everyone, including me, thought I'd be back at the hospital that night. Piper, it seems, had other plans.

While walking at Target (the weather is bad again here), my contractions slowed way down. By the time we got home, they had stopped. This was after being regular for over 12 hours. Frustrating. At least I was able to sleep some last night.

Today my contractions are strong but about 10 minutes apart. I went to the doctor for a regularly scheduled visit this afternoon, and I'm still only 1cm. I'm now scheduled for an induction on Monday the 22nd if Piper doesn't make her appearance by then. The doctor thinks I won't make it until then, but we just have to wait and see!

Still waiting...

Although I'm so stinkin' excited about meeting Piper and a little frustrated that she's not here yet, I must remind myself that she would still be early if she comes before Sunday. But those of you who know me know that I am extremely impatient. Piper is obviously on her daddy's schedule as opposed to her mommy's. While I wait, here are some thoughts from this mommy-to-be's pregnancy brain:

Things I will miss about being pregnant:

• People are so nice to pregnant women!
• Having an excuse to be moody
• The utter excitement I've felt for the last nine months
• Feeling Piper move
• Having Piper all to myself
• My strong mommy group
• The way my husband looks at me
• The excuse to eat whatever I want, although I don't think I've abused that too badly
• Pants without zippers and buttons
• The optical illusion that my belly creates in reference to my booty
• Being all-consumed with this tiny little being I haven't even laid eyes on yet

Things I will NOT miss about being pregnant:

• The moodiness
• The anxiety I've felt for the last nine months
• Having no control over what is happening to my body
• The clothes
• Braxton-Hicks contractions that are currently teasing me as I wait for the real thing
• Swollen hands and feet
• The clumsiness
• Making sure I have snacks and a drink wherever I go
• Food aversions
• Grunting every time I roll over in bed, get off the couch, and pull on my pants
• Peeing all the time
• Doctors visits

Waiting

Five days until Piper's due date! To help pass the time while I'm snowed in (could it snow anymore this winter?!), I thought I'd post this little pregnancy survey.

How far along? 39 weeks and two days!
Total weight gain: 28 lbs
Maternity clothes: I've graduated out of most of them and am relying on what few XL shirts Josh owns. Many of my pants are especially uncomfortable.
Sleep: Thank goodness for our Tempurpedic mattress! I don't know what I'd do without it. It wasn't until this week that I started waking up 3-4 times a night to go to the bathroom. Oh, and there's the heartburn...
Best moment this week: Not going to work! And of course, getting so close to meeting Piper.
Movement: still very strong. I swear I have a bruise on the inside of my side where she likes to stretch out her feet.
Food cravings: I actually have more aversions than cravings, still.
Gender: girl!
Labor signs: quite a few Braxton-Hicks contractions, but nothing real
Belly button: Much to Josh's dismay, it's been an outie for months now!
What I miss: Shopping for clothes for me
What I'm looking forward to: Meeting my little girl in a matter of days!
Weekly wisdom: Pregnancy heartburn does not go away once the baby drops.
Milestones: Making it to this point in my pregnancy with very few issues. I hope labor and delivery are just as easy!

Nothing new

I just got back from the doctor who said I haven't made any real progress since last week. However, I am in MAJOR nesting mode. Already today I've washed and put away all the dishes (seriously, this is huge), reorganized the pantry, and laundered every scrap of dirty linens I can find. I plan on using the rest of the afternoon and evening to put away the piles of laundry I created and clean the house. My head is spinning with all I need to do before Piper gets here! Hopefully all this activity will bring about some positive change in her status. Let's hope!
(I forgot to mention that I've been gritting my teeth through contractions during this entire post!)

Progress

I went to the doctor yesterday, and I am now 50% effaced and 1cm dialated! I'm starting to be quite uncomfortable. At one point, I thought I had the flu because my joints are aching so badly. The dr said that's because everything is loosening up in preparation for delivery. I've also begun having irregular contractions, some more painful than othes. The painful ones began on Saturday night, when Josh and I were stuck in the house because of all the snow and ice we've had in Nashville. That was a little scary. The doctors estimate that Piper is somewhere between 6 and 7 lbs at this point.

I think I'll finally have to go back to school tomorrow after being out since Thursday. That's ok, though, because this Friday is my last day! Now all we have to do is wait!!!