Before He Arrives

After a discouraging afternoon at the birth center my friend, Tenisha, suggested I blog it out. Yep, she is wise. Just going through photos was therapeutic.

So today I am 41 weeks pregnant.

Forty one.

Guys, this is challenging  Due dates are a total guess and estimate. But at the end of pregnancy you just get done. Then you go past your due date and you start to feel like a crazy person. No, just me?! :) I am a petite girl and my body is hurting. Sleeping is an olympic sport. Hips are creaking and tail bone gives me random zingers. I randomly remember that the longer he stays in the bigger he gets. Remember my med free/intervention free birth desire? That means NO pain meds. No epi. Kid needs to come out asap (I should probably not be eating ice cream right now lol). Today we learned that baby is very low and engaged which is great! That is progress from last week, his head is in the right spot (and I can testify to that physically). Bummer news is that I am just barely a finger tip dilated. I wanted to cry and my midwife knew it. She was trying to assure me and build my confidence back up. But gosh, it was a hard pill to swallow. How can I be 41 weeks pregnant and hardly dilated?!?!?!!?

My womb is cozy.

I keep bribing him telling him if he comes out he will get lots of snuggles and kisses from mommy and daddy, a puppy that is eager to lick him, yummy breast milk and tons of visitors that want to see him (and know his name).

The good news is that I know he can't stay in there forever, the not so awesome news is that I have til next Thursday to get him out. Then I will be transferred to the hospital for an induction : / But let's not dwell on that right now. We have come a long way and it's a huge desire of ours to have a natural birth experience. We believe the Lord will remain faithful to us and grant that desire.

Let's rewind a little and show off some maternity photos! Our very good friends at Visio Photo spoiled us with tons of photos when I was 36 weeks. I have been shooting with Visio for 4 or 5 years now. We love their friendship and always look forward to hanging out with them. Josh and I haven't had our photo taken (professionally) together since 2007. It was so much fun and the weather was BEAUTIFUL. Which is a lot more than I can say right now. How is there a chance of snow in the middle of April?!

This man, I adore him.

And here we are on Sunday the 14th at 40 weeks 3 days pregnant! I wanted to get one last photo together with a baby inside me :)

And almost 2 weeks go (oh my) when I was having my first labor pains and thought this would be my last photo. Ha! Kid is sarcastic like his father.

So now what?

Well, we pray. We relax. We stay hopeful.

I'm committed to spending the next week being positive (I had plenty of venting and whining today) and not give up on our birth plan. A lot can happen in a week. Heck, a lot can happen in one day! Everyone labors differently and just because I haven't really dilated yet doesn't mean I won't or can't (without intervention). We will go back on Monday (if he isn't born by then) for another exam and NST (non stress test on baby...which he rocked today). But I'm believing he will be born or I will be in labor by this Sunday.

I love looking back through our blog and old photos, it's such a humbling experience. We've been waiting for over two and a half years for this little miracle. Remember when we thought we had lost him around 7 weeks? So much bleeding because of the SCH. I will never, ever, ever forget that night and the next day. I still cannot believe how hopeful and encouraging Josh was. The man did not give up and refused to let me give up. Now here we are...41 weeks pregnant begging him to come out to see us lol. Oh baby boy, we love you. You are healthy and we cannot ask for more.

A friend of mine posted this song on Facebook yesterday and it really hit home. Hope you enjoy it and I'll plan on seeing you next time with a baby :D