One Week

Striking a pose while sleeping in the car seat. Who knew that she would love the seat so much?
Asleep in Mommy's arms.
Violet with her "arranged" future husband, Giovanni. This was their first meeting. I hope that future meetings will go better.
Apparently I can't rotate pictures... This is Violet with her Yay (Yay in Thai means maternal grandmother). We were trying out a theory that babies like to be swaddled and then flipped to their side. Do you think she likes it?
Violet's first meeting with her cousin Finn. They have matching scrubs thanks to Mimi!!
Ooooh! Getting sleepy.
She likes to smile right before dozing off.
We got a Cookie Bouquet from Joe's work :). It was not only cute to look at but fun to eat.

The wait is over.

My water broke around 2 am Friday night (technically Saturday morning). We were at the hospital by 3am. The great staff at Winnie Palmer helped me deliver the most gorgeous baby in the whole world :). After 3 hours of pushing, she was finally born at 5:56pm on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 8 lbs 10 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long.

Joe and I are back at home now with Baby Violet. Things here are just amazing. It will be a couple of days before I post anything new up again. We all need the rest! I will have more stories to share with you soon. We are very fortunate.

She's perfect.

My Boys

My puppies must know that I am pregnant right? I mean, why else would Momma's belly swell up to watermelon proportions? Why else would Momma's stomach kick them in the face during cuddle time?

Dogs are supposed to be very in tune with Mother Nature. I hope they know what's coming their way.

Stagnant

Come hell or high water, I will have my baby by the end of the next week.

I went to the doctor today. Same ole, same ole. I was still just 1 cm dilated and I have a good amount of amniotic fluid-- nothing worrisome to warrant an induction for tomorrow. The baby is safe and happy in the womb. She's just not ready to leave me yet.

The sonographer made a prediction. Based on the measurements, she thinks that the baby will weigh around 8 lbs, 12 ounces... Will my baby look like a cross between a sumo wrestler and the Michellin Man? I will love her regardless, fat rolls or not.

Anyways, back to the delivery, if I don't have her on my own within the next week, I'll probably be admitted to the hospital Thursday evening to get induced. I have another doctor's appointment on Monday. Hopefully time won't stand still this weekend. Stay tuned.

A Day in the Life of Skooter

It looks nice, huh?

Week 40

I can't believe that I'm in Week 40 already! I am excited (and very thankful) that I have carried her to full-term and haven't had any complications but seriously-- I'm still pregnant.

So what are the joys and woes of the last week of pregnancy you ask? Well, I got several more stretch marks on my belly (I heard that stretch marks sneak up on you at the very last second-- I was hoping that it was just a myth) AND I have swelled up to the size of a, a.... a very large person. This picture is very deceiving--my feet, ankles, fingers, face, you name it--it's swollen.

Oh yes, and a FYI- it's not a compliment when you walk up to a pregnant woman and exclaim, "Whoa! You must be having twins!" I have had this reaction more than once in the past few weeks and have gotten to the point that I want to sucker punch the next complete stranger that says so.

Am I feeling hormonal right now? Possibly :).

During my last doctor's office, nothing had changed. I was still just 1 cm dilated (but according to my doctor, a "good" 1cm now). I have another appointment on Thursday where I will have a sonogram to check my amniotic fluid levels and judge the overall health of the baby. If they find that the amniotic fluid levels are too low OR if I've dilated to 3cm, we'll be having a baby on Friday. If none of these things happen, then the doctor wants to schedule me for a stress-test for the baby the following Monday. Regardless, she'll be here soon. I *must* be patient.

Week 39.5

I decided to take a picture because I felt that she dropped some more yesterday.

My teacher always told me...

never start a sentence with "it" unless the subject is clear. Yesterday, my fortune cookie stated, "It is definite." Maybe the "it" the cookie was talking about was child birth. The "control" could possibly be referring to the fact that Violet's movements have been stronger and stronger and that I should just roll with the punches... ha ha, no pun intended.

But still-- me the hopeful optimist-- was hoping that labor would come. Last night came and went. No baby yet.

Ominous, perhaps?

My mother and I went to get Dim Sum at a local Chinese place by the house. My fortune cookie predicted this, "Today, give control over to another person. It is definite."

I must say when I read this, I got goosebumps. Maybe today's the day?

Violet's Rocking Chair

This has to be one of my favorite pieces of furniture that Violet owns. This rocking chair was a gift from my mother-in-law. We LOOOVE this chair, despite the fact that Violet won't be able to use it for awhile.

Week 39

Yeeeees, I am still pregnant. I haven't felt so much as a stomach cramp. This waiting game thing sucks. Though, I have been talking a lot to Carm who has shared with me newborn stories (sleepless nights, communication barriers, etc.) that makes me wonder if Violet is better off in the womb. ha ha.

Benson's anticipation!

Benson found the perfect place to perch (or not to perch) his chest!

I call this picture, "Comfy Beast."

Setting up for Violet.

This is our living room! Joe set up the Graco Sweetpeace today. You can also see our glider and ottoman.

Some new things we've learned...

We went to the doctor's office yesterday for my weekly visit. I was really hoping that our doctor would tell me that I was 6 cm dilated and that I've been having crazy contractions but just not feeling them because I have a strong pain tolerance... Alas, my doctor told me that I was still 1 cm dilated, there have been no real contractions, and that it looks like Violet will be making her due date.

We did learn, however, that if things progress and I dilate to 3 cm by Wednesday or Thursday (March 12-13ish), he would induce me on Friday, March 14th! *KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED* That means Joe and I could have our baby girl in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!

Sooo, one of three things can happen:

1. Violet comes on her own in these next two weeks.
2. I dilate to 3 cm before March 12-13th, and get induced on the 14th.
3. I don't dilate enough by mid-March, wait another week, and then get induced (assuming that she doesn't come on her own by that point).

What will happen? Only time will tell...