The countdown...begins?

Well ladies and gentleman you are reading the post for our second week of anticipation and deception. Deception? Yes! Today S is officially 38 weeks and on her 36 week doctor visit  it was noted that she was 1/2 centimeter dilated, 70% effaced and station 2. The doctor even said "You might not make it to your due date". For those out there that do not know what any of what I just said means, let me break it down. The goal dilation for your cervix is 10 centimeters which is when it's ready for the baby to make his/her way through the birth canal. Effacement is the thinning of your cervix which in conjunction with dilation will help your baby to come out. Goal for effacement is 100%. Station refers to how low the baby is in your pelvic bone. The goal for this parameter is +4.

So given all of this information you could see how excited we were a week before S was full term to learn that she was beginning the labor process. We believed that since she was starting to dilate that she would certainly start labor by the time she was full term. But one week has passed and a second week has passed and there has been no change. While S has been having Braxton hicks contractions (minor contractions that lead up to labor) her water had not broken and she has not been getting the type of contractions that would cause us to go to the hospital. So we are at the same place that we have been for the past couple of weeks.

In the mean time it has helped us get ready for baby Z and we have managed to take FULL advantage of this wonderful prep time. Older sister, E, and I picked up the dresser that my father-in-law purchased and set it up in the room. My mother and step-father purchased the car seat that we have set up in the car. We washed all of the clothes and bedding and set up the crib to have it nice and ready for baby. We vacuumed the carpets, dusted the furniture, cleaned out closets and even scheduled to have our dog groomed on Thursday of this week.To say that we are ready is an understatement. All we are waiting for is baby.

S's family is on pins and needles since they don't live close by. Everyone wants to know what is going on at every minute of every second since timing determines when they will be coming to visit. Out of all of my in-laws I must say that my father-in-law has been so adorable. He's one of the people to be scheduled in the room when S is in labor and his excitement level is amazing. His excitement is shared by the many people he speaks with daily at his job. He's managed to make cheerleaders out of perfect strangers that he speaks to daily (and randomly) in his life. My mother is the other in-law that will be in the room during delivery and she simply can't wait. My mother has been on cloud 99 as she has been prepping for the baby by buying clothes and items but also doing distant Reiki on the baby to make sure that she is cool and calm before she is born. (She's a Reiki master) She shares all of our updates with her friends. I must say that there is nothing like seeing soon-to-be grandparents as they await minor details in the late hour of pregnancy.

During this entire process I am continually amazed at how wonderful my wife is doing. Yes she is gassy and yes she is lethargic but my, my, my how great she is to bring another beautiful child into our family. My love for her goes deep and far beyond any idea that she can conceive. She's amazing.


Now how about some pictures to satisfy your curiosity.

Nice!