the last month & an introduction

monday, may 5th: i am 35 1/2 weeks. my doctor checks me and my cervix is intact. not dilated and not effaced. the ultrasound reveals that the baby's estimated weight is 7 pounds and his head diameter is 9 1/2 centimeters. i still have a month to go before his due date. like we thought, all signs point to the fact that he's going to be a big baby.

monday, may 12th: i go to my 37 week appointment and my doctor doesn't check me. not sure if i'm dilated or effaced at all. i don't gain any weight. his heartbeat is strong.

wednesday, may 21st: we go to my 38 week appointment. my doctor checks me and i am dilated 2 centimeters and 50% effaced. i lost 2 pounds. his heart rate is good. stoked that my body is getting ready!

wednesday, may 28th: we go to my 39 week appointment. my doctor checks me and i am dilated 3 centimeters and the ultrasound reveals that the baby's estimated weight is 9 pounds 10 ounces. my doctor tells me that if i really want a c-section that the baby's size would allow for it. she also said that as she's checked me, she doesn't feel like it would be impossible for me to vaginally deliver a big baby. i have some anxiety about the fact that she even mentioned a c-section, but also feel hopeful about the fact that i am dilated to 3 centimeters, i passed my mucus plug on saturday and that she feels like i could deliver vaginally. my body is preparing to do what it needs to in order to deliver a baby vaginally. i just hope it continues to do so. even if i have to have a c-section in the end, i at least want to try for a vaginal birth. we schedule another appointment for my due date, thursday, june 5th. doctor says she'll induce me on the 7th if i haven't had the baby by then. now, we begin to pray for him to come early.

friday, may 30th: no baby yet. i am getting anxious and slightly bored. i've done the laundry, cleaned the baby's bedroom, the bathroom and our room. made my returns and ran all my errands. our bags are packed and the camera is charged. i am ready. but when is HE going to be ready? i've felt a few contractions here and there over the past few days, but nothing consistent. i'm hoping contractions start or that my water breaks. i want to meet my baby! i start reading different birth stories online. some scare me, some get me really excited. one of the birth stories talks about using clary sage essential oil to induce labor, i just so happened to purchase this oil a couple weeks ago. i mix a few drops with coconut oil and rub it on my belly and the bottom of my feet. nothing happens.

monday, june 2nd: still no baby. everyone, especially me, is just waiting for something to happen. i get text messages from friends and family asking about my status. sadly, i have nothing new to tell them. my doctor is on call tomorrow, i not so secretly hope that i go into labor tonight so that she can deliver me tomorrow! the frame of mind that i am in is so different than anything else i've experienced. i am glad to know that i will have the baby by saturday, but i was SO hoping that he would come early because of his size. for now, i am just trying to relax, but that is kind of hard to do when you are waiting for the most important day of your life to come and you really aren't sure what day it will be! so i will keep waiting. after all, i have waited years for this child. prayed for him. suffered for him. and been blessed because of him. i will keep waiting. because soon, i will meet this child who came right fresh from heaven and i will never be the same. and that suits me just fine.

wednesday, june 4th: we wake up at about 9 am. i check my phone. my good friend wendy, who is also our birth photographer texts me to check in . i tell her nothing is happening and we both hope that it happens soon. she is scheduled to go out of town thursday through sunday so she'd miss my induction day on saturday. about an hour later my contractions start and we leave for the hospital an hour later...


i would like to introduce you to the newest member of our family...

rockwell brady rex
born wednesday, june fourth
10:02 pm
10 pounds 4 ounces
22 1/2 inches long

we are SO in love!

we have never been so tired, but we have never felt so much joy. we feel very blessed. i'll get to posting the whole birth story, with more beautiful photos by my dear friend wendy when i get another free moment. i've got a cute baby boy to snuggle.