2...

Monday: 2 more days until Blayne's estimated arrival!

This is one of my favorites of the pictures we took yesterday. Don't worry, there are lots more; even some with smiles ;-)

With two days to go we're doing well and just hoping that labor is possible without a terrible amount of foreshadowing.

3...

Sunday: 3 days and counting...

Got a little captain in you?

Yes, yes, this is what not drinking for 40 weeks will do to you! Ian and I decided it would be a good idea to take some 'pregnancy portraits' with our new camera before we no longer have the opportunity. The idea was to get some stoic shots, but alas, at 3 days and counting we have thrown sanity out the window.

We did actually get some nice serious shots but- we'll save those for the days to come since we're awfully sure we'll have more than just the remaining 3 to keep up the countdown...

4...

Saturday: Cinco de Mayo! 4 days to go...
As far as signs of labor go...we may be making progress. One big step in the right direction: nesting. Fortunately, Ian has taken on this responsibility for me! He must be feeling the pressure because he is working day and night on his boats, gardens, and anything he can get his little hands on. I very much appreciate him picking up the slack on this one, because quite honestly, I'm too tired.

I also finally experienced a Braxton Hicks contraction! Just one, but none the less, something that indicates the possibility of labor starting on its own in the next few days. The bad part is that I am pretty sure it was in fact a contraction because it scared me...it was not the painless tightening of muscles I have read about...it was more of an 'oh yeah...I'm going to need that epidural when the time comes' type experience.

It goes without saying that we still have hopes that we will not have to resort to induction, but we'll see as the days pass. So, with no news being good news- go have a margarita for me and enjoy Cinco de Mayo since it doesn't look like anyone will need to jump on an airplane today!

5...

Friday...5 days 'til Blayne's expected arrival!

Not much new to report. We're hanging in there; some of us better than others, and as I'm often reminded, she's not late...yet.

Either way, we have some great date choices in the upcoming days: Cinco de Mayo (very appropriate for a Miller/Springsted child); May 9th (she could join the elite 5% of people who are actually born on their due date); May 11th (I would win the guessing game and get to keep my beloved Mulligan); and Mother's Day (4 days late, but sweet). Any day in between would be equally nice- any day after...well...ask us in a week.

6...

Thursday: 6 days to D-day!


Here is the belly at 39 weeks.

One is a 'normal' silhouette, and the other is an 'I am going to try my hardest to look as big as I feel' pose...can you tell which is which? Is it the perfectly round air-filled belly or the devious facial expression that gives it away?

Blayne and I went to see Dr. Johnson today. He seems to think she is holding out for Mother's Day and had me -painfully- schedule an appointment (a regular check-up- not an induction) for the 10th of May...the day after my due date.

Until then, I will be drinking tea, eating spicy food and rubbing my ankles. It is a good thing that I am working from home next week because it would be difficult to do all this sitting at my desk.

7...

Wednesday: 7 days to go!

Still pregnant...and frightfully, with no real signs of impending labor. Ian continually assures me no one has been pregnant forever, but I am starting to wonder if I might be the first.

Last night Daddy gave Blayne and me the most awesome gift- a brand new, super fancy digital SLR camera to record all of our new memories! It was a huge surprise to us and we are so excited! We think Blayne knew not to come before the camera was delivered, as she will want her first moments of life captured in style! Hopefully now, there is nothing else holding her back and she can go ahead and be on her way. In the meantime, however, we will be busy reading up on how to operate our new camera so that we're ready for her when she does finally decide to make her debut.

8...

Tuesday: 8 days to D-day!

So at 8 days to go...I apparently don't have the endearing demeanor I perceive myself as having because Ian came home last night with several home remedies to induce labor. He tried to pass them off as "wanting Blayne to arrive on the date he guessed" but knowing the prize, something tells me that is a flat out lie!

So, at 8pm I started a regimen of 10 cups of raspberry tea a day (I would not recommend starting this at night, or drinking all 10 cups within an hour- just a thought...). This is supposed to induce labor as well as make for an easy labor. Hilary did it and she seems to have survived, so I figured, why not? We did jump on the band wagon a bit late- I believe this is supposed to work best when started at 37 weeks...so, I guess I'll just have to drink twice as much!

We ate eggplant too, another apparent labor inducing nutrient...we'll see what comes of that. So, all in all, other than having a very full bladder, we are hanging in there with 8 days left!