Baby Watch 2016: Maxed Out

March 7, 2016

Quick update on #truebetykebabywatch2016: clearly, we don't have one yet. Ha!

When you can't stay away from the bean dip at trivia night... #spillage. Adam also decided to point out to everyone at the table that I put down 8 Girl Scout cookies. I wanted to punch him in the face. 

To say that Adam is anxious and ready for him or her to get here is the probably the biggest understatement of the year... and me too, of course. But I keep trying to put everything in perspective. Why would I want to rush the kid? I HATE being rushed... Adam knows this. Now, I'm not the shiniest example of a punctual person - and admittedly don't always estimate appropriately as to how long it takes me to get to places and do certain things - so it's only fair that I let Baby T take his or her sweet time... right?

Also, why am I sitting here wishing upon every star that 12+ hours of severe pain get started? That's straight up masochism! Up to this point, I really am doing alright. Now, I don't know how I'll feel tomorrow or next week. And granted,  I admit that I am uncomfortable and tired a lot - sleeping is tough, I can't get up and down very easy, and my back is really achin' - but for the most part, I'm feeling pretty good, physically. We've even ventured out on a few decent walks the last few days since the weather has improved. So, I'm not desperate... YET.

I was able to get some video of the baby moving... so cool. 

What it comes down to is that we have ZERO control over when this thing's really gonna go down - and that's a frustrating and freaky notion. It could be tomorrow or it could be 2 weeks from now (terrifying), which I've heard is the latest they'll let someone go past their due date. We actually thought we were having some action two Fridays ago... I had pretty regular, pretty powerful Braxton Hicks contractions, combined with nausea, for almost 4 hours straight, every 7-8 minutes. But they weren't unbearably painful - and we're both on board with trying to stay at home and labor in the comforts of my sweatpants vs. the crinkly paper gown for as long as possible before we head into the hospital - so in doing so, we waited them out and the contractions eventually subsided. I've had frequent BH for over 2 weeks now, as well - and the baby has dropped, according to both the doctor and general audience consensus (Lena) - so progress is being made... it just seems like predicting when labor will actually begin is the biggest mystery of the natural world - EVERYONE has a different experience, so there's absolutely no way to figure out what my story will be.

Seriously... MAXED.

Regardless, I hope and pray that my story will be a good one! I've been joking the last few days that I'm just sure since I've said throughout the entire pregnancy that I'd prefer he or she not join us on MY birthday, which is this Thursday, March 10th - of course that's when it's gonna happen... why wouldn't it?? I realize that sounds totally selfish... I know... babies are a gift - I completely agree; I'd just like to have people remember to give ME gifts for the remainder of my years, too :) I love birthdays! So, I've come to accept it - if it's gonna be within the span of a few days, it might as well be smack dab on my day, and then I can hold it over my kid for the rest of his or her life, right? Hahaha... I'm kidding.

My latest Etsy purchase - he was literally on patrol as I was snapping the pic.

The really tough part for me right now is that I don't think I have the capacity to plan, read, absorb or ingest any further information, advice or tips about how to give birth or care for a newborn at this point. I am MAXED out - both in my belly and in my brain! And figuring out how to work with the chance that I might be "out-of-office" any given day is difficult, too... especially when there are due dates or deadlines that I know for sure will be happening while I'm on maternity leave. It's super hard to work up motivation to care, at this point... I AM just READY.

We ventured out last weekend for one more "date night" - live bluegrass music at the local art gallery... it was great!
1) People were super nice 'cause we were the youngest folks there and 2) I've already mentioned how people are just more pleasant to pregnant chicks. 

I mean really... we've been patiently waiting for 274 days/39 weeks/9 months to get this kid in our arms. We're at the stage where we talk about (and I worry about) things like what he or she will look like, how we're going to handle his or her future sports schedule, and what we hope he or she inherits from each of us. Adam asked me the other night... "What if he or she is ugly?" I responded - "We're not even gonna know it if he or she is! We'll be so obsessed with the kid that he or she will be the most amazing, gorgeous, perfect baby that was ever born!" And that's truly how I feel.

The delicious, carb-tastic dinner Adam made for me last Saturday... I even enjoyed a few sips of vino.
This bun is finished bakin' - I figured that would be okay. 

What has been awesome and has made me feel so loved are how many friends, family, neighbors and co-workers have been checking in on me... I think that only further elevates my hopes that I'll have some good news to share soon!

Please hang tight along with us, my friends... and please kindly send along vibes of patience! :)

XOXO

The final touches...