A PRESSING engagement on Monday

Just a quick update. My computer chair is uncomfortable. That is all.

Oh wait, ... and I am being induced on Monday unless I go naturally before then.
Baby Leahy should be here by Tuesday of next week! There will be labor on Labor Day it seems! I'll try to post pictures on here as soon as we have any and have the time to do so, but please be patient. We'll keep everyone posted on his arrival, we promise!

Until next time, I'm signing out... seriously, this chair is awful to sit in for the pregnant body!

No baby yet-- but very cute toes.

No baby yet. Still waiting... trying to wait patiently! Sunday I treated myself to a pedicure and my toes, although pudgy and attached to block shaped feet, are adorable. My next post, I'll try to actually have some news! Have a great week! Only 6 days until due-day!

Babies Everywhere... Just not ours yet!

Today we had a doctor appointment at 7:40AM. When we got there I did the whole BP (96/60), weight (172), pee in the cup deal and then we went to the room to wait on the doctor. A few minutes later, the nurse came in and said that my doctor was upstairs in the labor/delivery ward and had two patients who were about to deliver at any moment. They asked us if we could come back in the afternoon. Since Sam had the day off and I'm not working, we said sure and went home. Sometime later, we got a call from my friend Courtney who is the labor partner for one of her friends. She said that her friend had gone into labor and that ALL OF THE LDRP ROOMS at Clarian were FULL! She wondered if I was in one of them! Nope!

We returned to the doctor in the afternoon and were told once again that my doctor was with a third patient about to deliver anytime. So, we ended up seeing the nurse practitioner instead. According to the nurse, anytime there is a big storm coming, the Maternity Ward fills up and they start delivering babies like crazy! Maybe something about the barometric pressure? Anyways, for those interested in the gory details, I am "completely thinned out" and "1 cm dilated." This means to the average person.... drum roll please.... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! It means I could start having contractions at any moment OR that I could sit around like this for another 3 weeks. I really hope it's not another 3 weeks! The NP was slightly concerned that my tummy measurement and weight were the same as last week and so she ordered an ultrasound to check and make sure that my amniotic fluid wasn't low. The ultrasound showed everything was OK with the fluid, so no problems there. We got to see our little chubby cheeked Robbie in there again, which is always very cool. He is pretty crowded so it was hard to get a good view of him. We also found out that he has some hair on his little head, which is exciting! There were a couple of other things that we talked about at this visit I won't go into detail about. Let's just leave it that everything is still looking OK for being just shy of 39 weeks and that it appears the baby has no plans to make an early appearance.

No other big news. I spent most of the day napping. I have a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions and trips to the bathroom at night, so can't seem to get a good night of rest anymore. Sam spent some time today working in the yard and relaxing. He has Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off this week! Yeah! We're both going to miss the Olympic women's gymnastics competition and most of all gymnastics commentator/coach Bela Karolyi who is so much fun to watch! Bela should do commentary for all sporting events!

Nothing to Say

I felt like I should post, but really have nothing to say. We're just waiting on the baby at this point! My day usually consists of eating, watching TV, playing on the computer, doing housework, resting, and reading. If anything exciting happens, I'll be sure to post again! Less than 2 weeks until our due date!

Only 18 days to go?

If anyone besides me is watching the baby countdown calendar at the top of the page, you'll notice we've only got 18 days to go until due day. This is so unreal to me. Back in January it was hard to believe I was even pregnant. Now we have a house full of baby stuff, I have a massively huge pregnant body, and can actually count the number of days if I use my fingers and my toes!

My doctor appointment went well yesterday. Everything is good. BP is 110/70, weight is 172, and my tummy measurement is actually over a cm less than last week meaning the baby has "dropped." Robbie's heartbeat is strong, but he is a stubborn little guy. Every time the doctor gets his heartbeat strong on the Doppler, he moves out of the way and she has to hunt him down again! The doctor said that it was just a wait-and-see game at this point. I could go into labor today, or next week, or three weeks from now. We have our bags for the hospital packed and I am trying desperately to get my house as clean as possible. Yesterday we met with a potential pediatrician. He seems really great and we are going to try him out for our new little guy.

I've been getting a lot of advice about how to get labor started. Everyone seems to have their own tried and true method. Today alone I was told the following:
1. Go out and walk 5 miles; 2. Have lots of sex;
3. Eat Bourbon Chicken; 4. Drink Castor Oil
I think I may just go sit on the couch and wait for the baby to decide the time. Check back with me in 3 weeks if there still isn't a baby and I may be walking around the block eating chicken and texting Sam at work telling him he needs to come home early. I hope it doesn't come to that. I think I will pass completely on the Castor Oil. That sounds horrible and unsafe! Well, the dryer just buzzed, so I need to go fold a load of baby clothes from the most recent shower. To quote Sam: "How could someone who isn't even here yet have so many clothes?" Keep us in your prayers!

Those Three Little Words

Last night, Sam and I survived an experience guided by those three little words that mark the true transition from childhood to adulthood: SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED. Sam spent the evening putting together all of our new baby gadgets. He is so wonderful! We now have an assembled and functional baby swing, bouncer, car seat, stroller, and high chair. Now the real question is... where do we put all this stuff?

A Very Busy Week!

I know I should write a large quantity of descriptive text about the busy week and weekend, but it is late and I am tired. So instead, I'll post a few pictures and sum up. My weekly doctor visit went well. On Thursday, Sam and I went to the State Fair for our annual "Fair Food Fest." We walk around the circle and eat all the tasty-but-terrible-for-you foods and look at the exhibits. This year, they were bathing an elephant right next to the entrance we used. It was neat to see such a big animal up close. Mom and Dad flew in from Florida Thursday night. Sam and Dad played golf on Friday morning. Later in the day, all of us drove down to Bedford for my brother Jim's wedding. The wedding was very beautiful and very short (the best kind!). On Saturday, the men folk played golf while us ladies attended a baby shower hosted by my sister Nancy and my aunt Pat. I'll try to write more later... Maybe!

Photo: Dad, Nancy, Jim, Mom, Mandy at Jim's wedding

Photo: Jim and his new family: Dillon, Amy, and Austin

Photo: Mandy and former Vocal Teacher Barbara Elliot Scull at Baby Shower

The Cutest Laundry In the World

According to my baby books, it's time to start getting ready for baby. I'm supposed to pack a few things in my hospital bag for myself, Sam, and baby. I'm supposed to wash all the baby clothes and sterilize all the bottles/pacifiers. I need to make a list of "people to call" and when to call them. I need to make sure the camera batteries are charged up and start thinking about making meals to freeze so we won't have to cook the few days after the baby's arrival. Since my doctor doesn't foresee this baby arriving early, I figure I have some time to waddle about my house doing these chores at my leisure.

Yesterday and today, I've been doing the cutest laundry in the world: teeny-tiny t-shirts and itty bitty socks... baby blankets and little washcloths... adorable onesies and microscopic baby hats... SO CUTE! From what I've heard, everyone starts out like me. I carefully sorted lights and darks before washing and cooed over each little piece as I folded it. Apparently a few days after the baby comes, I will spend time treating stains and trying to keep things organized. Skip ahead and I've heard I will be tossing everything together into one big load and stuffing the quickly-folded dry items into whichever drawer has room. For now, I will enjoy the time I have to appreciate this diminutive domestic chore and appreciate all the adorable little things. Just think how cute they will be with a baby dressed in them! Wait-- maybe I should have said that the other way around! Happy Tuesday!

Baby Shower at Ann's

Photo: (Top) Mandy, Ann, and Davis with quilt from Grandmamma Mason, (Bottom) Gwen, Amanda, and Mandy

I figure I must have a pretty good self-image. When I look at myself in the mirror, I think I look pretty good. It's just little ol' me with a baby bump. Besides my belly, I'm not that big! However, when I look at photos of myself in this last month of pregnancy I can't help thinking, "Goodness, am I ACTUALLY that HUGE???" (no need to comment on this, everyone...) So, I figure, I'll just ignore the pictures and go with my mental image. I encourage you to do the same!

Yesterday, Sam's mom's side of the family--the Masons-- held a shower for me at Sam's Aunt Ann's house in Bloomington. It was wonderful! We even got some exciting news as soon as we arrived-- Sam's cousin Amy's adopted son was born the day before and her family is on the way to Nevada to pick him up! What a special time it is for our family with all the little ones being born in the last few years. Jessi's daughter Jo was a delight for everyone to pass around and cuddle. She is 4 months old. I couldn't help but think, "This is how big Robbie will be at Christmas! How exciting!" It was also fun to see her son Davis, who is growing like a weed!

I am always so stunned to see how generous people are when you are starting something new in your life be it graduation, a new marriage, or a new baby. Family and friends flood you with not only gifts to help you along, but encouragement, prayers, and love. How wonderful it is to have people in your life that care about you. What a blessing!

After I got home from the shower, Sam and I had a little show-and-tell with all the presents. We cooed and awed over all the little baby clothes, toys, and other goodies from the shower! Just think of how cute those little things will be when there is a baby in them! Happy day!