39 weeks and counting

Well, here's the news. The Senator, according to Dr. Ross, has dropped a bit, but she isn't fully engaged, which means she hasn't dropped completely. So I am feeling the effects of her dropping, ie lots of bathroom trips and pelvic pressure, but she hasn't settled in for good. It seems she likes to drop down and then come back up, so we go back for a doctor's visit, Monday, she's hoping at that point, I will be somewhat dilated (of which I am not right now) and the baby have dropped. So our homework this weekend is to walk, eat spicy food (eating Mexican Food, well at least New Orleans' version of it) tonight at Taqueria Corona, and other natural remedies to push the little one on. So we'll see. Dr. Ross said we will re-evaulate Monday, but she told us not to think of July 20 as the hard and fast end date. She doesn't want to induce on a non-responding cervix, which she said could lead to a long labor and an eventual C-Section, so basically more waiting.

Last night, I did wake up a couple of times, and my stomach was crampy, but it turns out that I was probably, A) hungry and B) had a case of the nerves. It could have also been a contraction. but it did seem to go away once I had a couple Fig Newtons (the subject of a question on Kids Jeopardy this week) and got my breathing regulated and rhythmic. So who knows. I know we both fluctuate between feeling antsy and just in the moment - last night when I woke up, I know I was feeling like I couldn't handle it, and was scared of the upcoming process. At times I try to visualize what it will be like, but I can't or it turns out to be some Hollywood version. So its best for me to focus on what I can, which is holding the ice ( I held it for an hour, 90 seconds with it, 60 seconds off) for an hour the other night. Trying to work up to 90 minutes. Will keep working until the Senator comes! But need to keep reminding myself what fear stands for - Fully Excited and Ready.

Her room is pretty much done - we've got a monkey clock and some pictures to hang this weekend, and once that's done, we'll take some pictures and send them out Monday. Mark says I've exploded the past few days, and I tend to agree with him. The stomach just seems to be getting bigger and bigger. I went walking down to Magazine Street yesterday (three blocks away), and literally kept tripping over myself. Well, I first must throw out that the New Orleans sidewalks are completely uneven, and my center of gravity, is completely off, and perhaps the Crocs are not the best shoes, and that I was texting, (ok not a smart move) but I almost fell, just from walking at least 2 times. This poor man behind me must have thought me either drunk or spastic or both. I finally pulled off the sidewalk, let him pass so I could walk without anyone behind me.

On some post-Senator's arrival notes, we did interview a nanny Tuesday night. She currently works for a friend of mine, and they are giving her up at the end of August, so we met with her, but it was quite hard to do, as we were making theoretical plans and a schedule. But at least we met with her, we liked her, but Mark has the name of a couple of other people, and then try to figure out what we will do.

Hope you have a good weekend. We're having dinner with friends tonight, and then will probably run some errands with my mom(who has been great taking care of us, cooking yummy meals and hanging out) tomorrow, and then we are having brunch with some family Sunday morning. So perhaps the Senator will move around or perhaps she will stay cozy. But either way, we are trying to enjoy where we are and be mindful of the time before she comes! Sometimes its easier said than done!