40 weeks!

40 weeks = full term!  We made it.

What an awesome feeling to have made it to the finish line.. Almost. 
We didn't expect Bennett to come on his due date.

This week was a tough one.  Although we knew not to rely on the due date, it's hard to see it come and go.  I thought March 1st would've been a great birthday for Bennett, but God obviously had other plans.  It was also very sad for me to arrive at my due date and know my mom wasn't around to celebrate with me.  

I cried a lot on March 1st.

Scott and I went to a kid's consignment fair this week and bought a bunch of discounted clothing for our little boy.  We got some great overalls and onesies, and a couple great newborn caps to cover his head.  Scott scouted out a great baby gate for half off!  That'll certainly come in handy when Bennett becomes mobile.  In the meantime, we'll probably set it up and give Fudge some independence in the house.  Our friend Natalie came with us, and she also found some great deals.  Last time we had gone to this consignment fair, we didn't know the gender..
But this time we were ALL over the little boy things!  

I also had some contractions this week.  The night of the consignment fair I was sorting through the clothing to be washed, and I was having some radiating pain throughout my lower back and around my hips.  It didn't stick around for very long, and there was no pattern to it.  But I had never felt anything like it before!  And then a morning or two later I woke up to rhythmic waves of back labor.  It was mild, but there was certainly a pattern.  I was hoping it was the real deal, but an hour later it subsided.. 

Oh well. 

Also continuing with walking this week.  Scott and I hit the gym yesterday and I did a number on the treadmill.  Boy was I sore after that!  And then today we took the dogs for a walk, and the pelvic pressure was really strong.  As of our last appointment with the midwife, I was only 1cm dilated.  But tomorrow I have another appointment, and we're hoping for more progress!  

I'll keep you all updated.

Bare belly at 40.5 weeks:

39 weeks!

Wow!  I am truly almost there..  Can't believe this week is my due date.

I had a lot of movement going on this week.  Experienced some cramping and a BUNCH of Braxton Hicks contractions.  But nothing that resembled the real deal.  One of the girls from our child-birthing class had her little girl, and that really got the rest of us excited! 

Scott and I focused a bit on finishing our To-Do list.  I went to Kohl's and Walmart and bought two bed gowns to wear at the birth center and once I'm back home recovering.  They're certifiable mu-mu's with awful floral prints.  Eek!  But I'm getting so tired of clingy clothing, that I just wanted a tent or two to get lost in.  We also bought our non-perishable snacks for energy while in the process of labor.  Scott installed the car seat in the car, and I finished the "Thank You" cards for my church shower.  Our "hospital bag" is all packed and ready to go!  

.. All we need is a baby.

I've been pretty tired this week, and the swelling in my ankles is [at times] pretty comical.  I've been trying to take more naps when time permits, because one ever knows when labor is about to begin.  But it's recently come to my realization that my mom went "18 days late" with my older sister.  I've heard there can be correlations between a mother and daughter's laboring experiences.  I am TRULY hoping Bennett won't be a week or two late.

But I've been really doing my best to trust in God's timing these days. 
His timing is often strange and unpleasant to us, and I'd like to learn to handle it more gracefully. 

Here's me, at what I HOPE will be my largest: 46 pounds.