Smelling Roses

Just a brief progress report from my appointment yesterday with the doctor. I'm still 50% effaced, 2 cm dilated and -2 station. Not a lot of difference from last week really and that is fine by me since we're still tying up some loose ends on the home, work and life front. As for little North, the doctor didn't measure any growth since last week, so we've scheduled another ultrasound for next week to check on him again. If they are not happy with his growth at that point, they will deliver. Or they may be fine with his progress and let me go further past due. Either way, at the appointment next week, we will talk about the possibility of induction. But I'd prefer to avoid that if possible because I feel like an induction increases the odds of me wanting an epidural. But as I've said before, I have no real birth plan and all I ultimately want is for North to be healthy no matter how he comes out or what drugs I do or do not take to make that happen. Of course, I could always go into labor RIGHT NOW too.

Just as this whole pregnancy is drawing to a close am I finally enjoying it. These last 10 months have been filled with preparation, some of which was enjoyable like creating the nursery, baby shopping and creative ways to save money. But other aspects have proved to be very stressful. For example, preparing to leave my job for three months and finding the time to take care of all those last minute house projects that couldn't be put off any longer have been my greatest challenges. Both Dave and I have been so busy and distracted with our eye on the prize, that we haven't had much time to slow down and enjoy these last moments of just the two of us that we have left. So per the advice of some good friends, we've been trying to slow down a bit more in the past few weeks. Plus, it helps that most of our obligations have been fulfilled and we are finally able to stop stressing about it all. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change a thing about this pregnancy. But as I look back on the last year or so, I see all of this plain as day now.

But there's nothing like impending labor to motivate you to do something you would otherwise happily put off until tomorrow. Especially, in the last week, I have been annoyingly productive even when it's the last thing I want to be because by God, I could go into labor RIGHT NOW. I better take out the recycling RIGHT NOW while I still can. If I don't scrub my shower down RIGHT NOW, I will be mad at myself when I come home to a dirty shower with a new baby. I had better write those thank you cards RIGHT NOW so I don't forget and then everyone thinks I am ungrateful. I had better write a blog post RIGHT NOW to document as much about this pregnancy as I can before the baby is born. In this sense, I am growing impatient for North to make his way toward the light because labor is starting to sound very relaxing.

I've noticed a marked change in people over the course of the last 2 months, as my pregnancy has become much more obvious. The kindness of friends, family and even strangers has made this experience so much more enjoyable for both Dave and me. I will miss people seeing the weeble wobble pregnant me coming their way and stopping their car so I can cross or holding the elevator door that extra second for me to jump on. I will miss the phone calls from loved ones checking in to see how I'm feeling or to wish me good luck or just because they were thinking about us. And I'd like to thank everyone for making us feel how much you all care. It really does mean a lot. And it really makes us happy to be bringing a new life into such a loving community of souls that are waiting with outstretched arms to welcome him.