Home

We're home.

I've got less than 2 seconds before Kate needs to eat, but I wanted to update that we are home. It feels really good. We're doing well - still trying to figure each other out a little - but we'll get it. We couldn't be happier with our precious little one.

I promise to put pictures up TODAY! :)

Hospital Bound!

It's finally here! It's time!

We are headed to the hospital. At my doctor's appointment, she monitored my contractions for quite some time & they are coming every 2-4 minutes. Some of them are very strong & she says I am in labor! Kate's heart rate is great - but not changing with contractions - which she said is normal when you're overdue, and been having contractions for so long. Nothing to worry about, but she said it's time for us to get this baby out.

So, we're headed up to the hospital to get started!

We'll update as we can - by we should have a baby by tomorrow!!

Another day down...

Well, December 9th came and went. I am officially "overdue". Things are still about the same - contractions every 5 or so minutes - but nothing too difficult. I have had a few really hard contractions, but not consistent hard contractions. I guess those are still to come! (Yay!)

Today, December 10th is a special day for David & I, because 5 years ago we started dating, and 4 years ago today, we got engaged. We were hoping that it would marked with another special event of our daughter being born, but the hours are dwindling and I think she has decided she didn't want to share her day.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow at 1:30, where they'll hook me up to the monitor & check me for progress again. So, maybe we'll have more news then.

OR MAYBE I'LL GO INTO REAL LABOR TONIGHT! You just never know :) That's the fun part about all this. You just never know.

David has said Friday from the beginning - maybe he's right. Who knows?

It's go time...

...or at least that's what my countdown says. Not so much of what my body says though. I just got home from the doctor, so here's the update for the week.

There definitely is some progression. I am now 80% effaced (yay!) and my cervix has moved into postition for labor (whatever that means!). Still no dialation, but she wasn't surprised. Again, she told me not to worry about that at all.

I am also having consistent contractions. I started a few days ago having random contractions, but nothing that I thought much about. Then, last night I started having them about every 20 minutes. Nothing painful - but I was at least aware of them. I was able to sleep & this morning they were more like every 10-12 minutes. Still, again not painful at all. At the doctor's office, she put me on the monitor and was able to tell that I'm having contractions every 3-5 minutes. They still aren't super strong, but another good sign.

So, what does this all mean. We don't know. I asked Dr. Martin that even though she can't tell for sure, could she at least guess, and she gave me about the same answers. Could be today, could be tomorrow, or could have to be induced! The most feeling I got from her was that it would in the next couple days. She did schedule my inducement for next Tuesday if nothing has happened by then. I also have an appointment to be monitored on Thursday afternoon of this week also.

So, I'm off to walk a few miles, eat some Mexican food, etc. so that we can move this thing along. Just kidding. It would be great if these contractions got stronger though! I defintely wouldn't mind today or tomorrow!!!

1 day to go...

That's what the countdown on the side of the blog says...1 more day. If only it could really tell me when I was going to have this baby! Tomorrow is my due date, and it is strange to think about. As of tomorrow, I will be offically ready. (But, if you've talked to me in the past week, you know I've been officially ready for awhile now!)

It just baffles me how this whole process works. How all of the sudden, your body & your baby decide they are ready and labor begins. It is amazing to me that today this baby lives inside of me, quite content to be warm and carried around, and sometime in the next week she'll be held in my arms instead. It is amazing to me that someone cannot see God in the whole thing. It's simply a miracle.

Anyhow, still no baby. I go to the doctor tomorrow, so if Kathryn doesn't decide to come before 1:30 tomorrow, Dr. Martin will discuss induction for the following week. I am really praying we don't have to go there. If we do, we will be fine, but I am praying lots that my body would take care of this process on it's own.

For now, we just wait and see. I'll update tomorrow (or sooner if I go into labor!) with the newest news.

We are definitely ready (as ready as we can be!) to have our little girl here!

Ok, she can come now...

Kate's Room

We finally finshed Kate's nursery. It's been very close for awhile now, but just needed a few details to be completed. Well, they're completed - she can come now!

Now we just need more pictures of our sweet girl to put in the frames!

My mom and her talented friend Liz made the cornace for the window!

Kate's handy Daddy hanging the cornace

Deck the Halls

Last weekend, my parents were in town & we had a super productive weekend. Not only did we finish Kate's room, but my mom & I finished my Christmas shopping, and wrapped all the presents! We also got out all my decorations for Christmas, and got my house decorated! David and I decorated the tree last night - so now the house is completed. I guess she can come now!

Us in front of our decorated tree - it's kind of shadowy - but there's a shot of my belly for ya!

Kate's Nana (my mom) got her a new stocking!

Fence Building

While my mom and I were busy - so were the boys. Between October thru December, my parents were going to be here 4 different weekends(for showers & such), and my dad loves to have a project. His idea this time was a privacy fence. David & I had talked about this a few times before, but when we had it bid out, it was way too expensive & David didn't know how to do it, so we just hadn't. Since Dad had some experience, David decided to take advantage of the offer. They have worked hard, and it's almost finished. Did I mention we have a HUGE backyard??

Digging the first postholes

My brother was in town one weekend & helped set the runners!

David had a youth event (does playing paintball count as ministry?) so I helped Dad set the last post. See - even I helped!

David & Dad with his fancy new nail gun!!

Isn't he too cute?

The finished corner! Didn't they do a great job???

There's a few things left to be completed, but they're almost finished. The way I see it, Kate won't need the backyard for a little while at least - so I vote she can go ahead and come even though they're not finished ;).

Can you tell I'm ready for her to come??

...any day now...

PS. I can't get my font to go back to normal size. I have tried a billion times. I'm done trying.

You've been pregnant forever...

That's what my sweet husband told me this morning as we waited in the waiting room to see the OB. It does feel like it. I've been pregnant since the beginning of March - that is forever!

39 weeks to be exact. I've been pregnant for 39 weeks. Technically only one more week to go...

This morning they checked me again, and finally we have some progress!! As of today, baby Kate has dropped down "significantly" (more than the last time) & I am 50% effaced. Still no dialating, but she says that's not unusual for a first time baby.

Dr. Martin said everything still looks good as far as the baby goes - still head down, etc. Her only concern with me was my blood pressure, so I am trying to take it easy so that I don't end up in the hospital before I'm supposed to.

So, that's the news of today. Don't forget to put your guess in for her arrival on the post below!