Slight Delay?

My Dr. was planning on inducing Monday, June 30th, but when I went in yesterday for my last appointment and she tried to schedule it with the hospital, we found that there were no beds available to be booked on Monday! So, now the plan is to include Joel in the 5% of babies actually born on their due date, and induce on July 2nd (if he doesn't decide to come on his own before then). I am now just over 3 cm dialated, but not quite 4 cm, and still 50% effaced.
I'm trying to look at the bright side of a later induction (Joel's birthstone will be a more masculine ruby, rather than the slightly confusing pearl), while keeping up hope that he may come on his own earlier (walking on a slow treadmill for 10 minutes or so, every few hours). So this is only a possible slight delay. He may still decide to suprise us and be a June baby!
Either way, I am kind of glad he's waited this long. It makes me more confident that he is fully developed, will have less or no troubles once he is born, and will be able to come home with me after the normal 48 hour hospital stay. As far as I know, Baby Joel and I are still both perfectly healthy, with only a slight increase in weight gain from my staying at home on the couch all day for a week ;), and we're definitely both ready at any time for him to come greet the world! Make sure to check back next week for your first glimpse at my precious new addition!!! (I hope he has hair!)

Progression of the Belly

April 10th May 15th
June 15th
June 21st

Everyone wants to see the belly! So here's the belly! :)

Not Much Longer!

Just dropping a quick note to update the situation: I saw the Dr. on Friday, she said I was now 3 cm dialated, but still just 50% effaced. If Baby Joel doesn't come on his own by Monday the 30th, she plans on inducing that day! (Just a couple of days before the due date, but at least I won't have to go over.) And now that I'm on maternity leave from work, the discomfort of Joel's size isn't bothering me as much. (And no, the Dr. still hasn't guessed Joel's size, so I don't know anything other than he has long bones, he can shove/hit/kick all major nerve points around my abdominal cavity at once, and his favorite pastime is trying to shove a hole through the right side of my belly!) :) The joys of pre-motherhood! ;)

38 Weeks, and Still Here!

Just dropping a quick note to let everyone know it hasn't happened yet. I'm 38 weeks today, and I can't wait to have this baby! As was expected, and on some level appreciated, Baby Joel is only getting bigger, and making me that much more uncomfortable. I know I'll miss my clients during my maternity leave, but I'm SO GLAD Thursday is my last day. I don't think I could handle working another day after that, and honestly, not completely sure how I'll get through Thursday! :)
Keep me in your prayers, please. I know I'm not the first woman to go through all this, it's just the first time I'VE been here, you know? I'll keep you updated!

Just Two More Weeks?

Hello to all! I went to the Dr. again today, and when she checked me, I was 2 centimeters dialated and almost 50% effaced. She doesn't think I'll make it until my due date! :) She said sometime in the next two weeks, but it could be any time now! (Forgive the over-use of exclamation points in this post, I'm pretty excited!!!)
Another reason for me to be excited... my last day at work is the 19th, Thursday of next week. On Friday, I'll begin my paid-vacation time, which will end when my maternity leave begins, when Baby Joel gets here! I can't wait. Well, I can wait for labor and all that, but I am looking at it from the point of view that, when labor starts, it can only last so long, ending with my getting to have my first baby!
Have I mentioned that I'm excited?
And yes, Josh and I are ready. Well, as ready as two "kids" can be. I think we've gotten the bedroom rearranged to use what space we have the most efficiently. We probably need more diapers, but then, won't we always? ;) We've been given enough wipes to supply an army (thanks to all who contributed, I know we'll use them too!). I've got the changing table set up and organized, the crib made, the bassinet ready, the clothes (and everything else I could fit in the washing machine) laundered and folded...now all I need is my mommy to come cook all my favorite foods for me and spoil me for the last time before I become a mommy! Oh, and I could also use an army to clean my house for me...buuut that's probably not going to happen either. Oh well, a girl can wish! ;)
We still covet your prayers. Keep checking the blog for updates, it's the easiest place to announce the birth, so we'll announce it here, and post pictures asap afterwards. Love you all! Have a great day!

Baby Shower in Kentucky

Better late than never, here are some pictures of my baby shower in Kentucky. Thank you to everyone who came and helped us celebrate. I had so much fun!Everyone was so generous!

Isn't it a cute cake? It tasted even better than it looked!

My sister, Laura, hosted the party for me. Thanks again, I had a great time!

My nephews, Vince (pictured) and Seth, were the only boys there...Vince wasn't quite sure what to think of the camera.

36 Weeks

I am 36 weeks today, and I can't believe I'm stil working! I can't believe I'm still able to work, really. I am doing better with the shorter hours and more breaks. (My Dr. told me to go sit down every two hours for about 10 minutes.) At this point, though, it's really hard to motivate myself to get up out of bed! :) Then again, it was always hard to do that!
I asked the Dr. about the size of the baby, and she said with me measuring right on target every week like I have, there's really no need to measure the baby more specifically. She did check me, I was one centimeter dialated and about 20% effaced (which, of course, means almost nothing. ;) She said it probably means I just won't go over my due date, but she doesn't think he'll come early either. I guess we'll see!
I covet your prayers, though. As with any pregnancy, my stamina and energy levels are not what they used to be. The weather outside is beautiful, but is keeping me warmer than what is comfortable; I'm just counting my blessings I don't have to be pregnant through August!
I'll keep you updated the best I can. Thanks for the prayers!