It doesnt' look that big when I look down...

When I catch a glance in a mirror or window from the side, my girth actually impresses me. I swear, it doesn't look that big from up top. I am looking forward to getting my body back, but I do sort of like having the baby shelf - my cell phone rests perfectly on there and I can use speaker phone with ease. I won't miss misjudging sliding between objects and either a)getting stuck or b) getting scratches on my stomach.

This is one of three things I can still wear - if this baby thing goes on much longer, I'm going to be in a bed sheet vs real clothes.

Playing hard to get....

Note my 8/19 due date....note today's day 8/21....someone is playing hard to get. I'm officially two days over due and frankly, pretty bitter. I'm not working, taking precious paid vacation time and with no signs that bob is coming anytime soon. ARGGGG. My poor mother who is scheduled to come tonight, has been on the yo-yo calendar - we finally decided that she should just come out anyway to keep me company. Hopefully Baby Bob will feel reallllllly guilty that Ammie flew all the way out here to meet him/her and join us this evening. My mom has an amazing way with guilt....

Last night we had 6 hours of false labor - contractions 20 min apart that hurt. I went to bed and they went away. So far, I've tried a few things to induce labor - spicy chili, italian food with oregano, nightly glass of wine...all that's left is the super gross Castor Oil and I'm not sure I can do it. Ask me in a day or two and I may be chugging the whole bottle....

Baby Bob - please come and join us, we can't wait to meet you!

Happy 4th Birthday Roxie!!

It's our other baby's 4th birthday today. She's been enjoying treats all day and I'm about to make her a delicious peanut butter puppy cake.

Progress....whatever

I had my Dr's appt on Friday and no progress from last week. All that awesome back pain and painful BH for nothing. I'm 39 weeks today and have decided that I will probably go to 42 weeks. I had an u/s last Monday and baby bob was measuring 7.5 lbs so at least we won't have a baby huey.

Here is my last belly shot from 38 weeks 3 days (I hope). Stretch marks are starting to take over and that does not need to be documented for anyone! :0)

Progress and a Smoothie

Pangs, pains, back contractions....we definitely had some activity yesterday! It of course has stopped, but that means there is some sort of progresses! I got the hospital bag put together last night just in case and sent Tyler his final packing list. Huzzah!

On a completely unrelated, but delicious note, I have perfected my morning smoothie. I've been obsessed with all the beautiful berries available in the store, particularly as they are coming in huge containers are are very inexpensive. My solution has been to freeze them and use them in smoothies. My newest attempt this AM was by far the best and is due to a recipe I found on Newman's Lemonade. :) 1.5 c of Vanilla Yogurt; 1.5c of frozen blueberries; 1 c of frozen strawberries; 1.5 c of lemonade. What a lovely way to start the day!

Love Notes - the last one

I posted about this several months ago, but there is a cool site/service called "Love Notes." It's difficult to explain, so I suggest visiting love notes at http://lovefrombaby.com/. I just got my last love note and I'm little sad - they have been such a lovely, whimsical way to "communicate" with baby bob. Here is the last email:

Hi Mama,

Today is a bittersweet day, as this is the last note
we'll share together. But don't be sad! You don't need
them anymore. In fact, today is sort of a graduation
day!

We're communicating all the time in various wonderful
ways. Look for me in dreams, meditations, intuitions,
feelings, and sensations. I'm always with you and I'm
always talking with you.

As the day comes closer when we'll physically be together
I'm getting more excited and joyful to be joining you!
Oh, to look in your beautiful eyes for the first time, Mama!!

I'll be seeing you soon at our Beautiful Birth.
Keep the Faith and Know Your Power, Mama!!

I'm so eternally proud of you.....
Love,
Your Baby

Ready

I'm ready....really ready, to meet baby bob. I spent all weekend cleaning the house (again) including steam cleaning all the carpets and finishing the nursery. All the laundry is done (although not put away) and I've bought all the baby kit. You'd think all this planning and preparation that the baby would just fall in line and start labor already! Well - as with many things related to this child, I am realizing that I'm not in control. I have daily pep talks with baby bob, letting him/her know that today would be a great day to be born. So far...nothing. So we wait.

I can't wait to meet the squirming bubby in my belly. In so many ways, I can't put 2+2 together that this will be a little person I get to know. I also can't imagine not being pregnant - since about the 5th month, I feel like I have been and always will be pregnant. So much is in store for us - I can't wait!