Our awesome digs

We feel really lucky to be in such a wonderful environment. Here's Pidge/Kathleen when we first arrived having the baseline strip done. From what I understand, this measures the baby's heartrate as well as and in relation to Pidge's surges (contractions).

The private room we're in is really lovely with wood floors, a huge jacuzzi tub and lots of cabinets to hide unnecessary medical equipment.

The nurses have also been so great and our midwives are just the best hands down. We're also super blessed to have our friend, Nina as doula suggesting different things to make Pidge more comfortable and taking the weight off of me so I can just ride along on this experience with Pidge.

And speaking of Pidge, she's such a trooper. Looking at her, you'd hardly believe she's experiencing labor pains. She's so calm, relaxed and in control of what's happening to her body. So far, we're having the birthing experience we hoped for.

Not much sleep has been had, but Pidge has had a few cat naps and is really relaxed and restful. We couldn't ask for more...oh,maybe for LBP to arrive!

More as it happens...........

Labor update 6:56am

We're here at Mercy hospital, came in around 4am. Pidge is doing great and laboring restfully...if there is such a thing. She makes it look really easy! She's resting in the tub right now.

Send your good thoughts this way!

Lazy Sunday...

Well, LBP is certainly being lazy. Bev and I were as active as possible today, trying to kick start labor. We've been on 2 hikes today and went blackberry picking in our friend Meghan's back yard. Unfortunately, LBP is still lazing around inside my big belly, as comfortable as can be. I think you can sort of tell from the photo that I have dropped a little, which is a good sign, and I have been having mild contractions for the past couple days, also a good sign, but no sign of any real labor starting.

The good thing is that most of the things they say to do to try to "induce" labor naturally are things I really enjoy; hiking, eating spicy food, driving on bumpy roads (well, not that I necessarily enjoy that one usually, but there is construction in every direction we go around here, so its at least easy to find), etc. So, for now we just keep doing all of those things and hope to meet our little one soon.

I will admit, I am starting to feel a bit impatient, but I suppose its good practice for the concept that the baby now has a say in our schedules, sometimes more than we'd like to admit.

Looks like its back to work tomorrow for me. I'll keep you all updated if anything exciting happens.

Healthy baby tests

Alright, so here's the most recent update for all of our impatient supporters out there. We went for an ultrasound and non-stress test yesterday to check on LBP and make sure everything is healthy. All is looking good. The placenta is still in great shape and doing its job, the baby is in good position with its head down and we got so see it making little sucking motions with its mouth (very cute). There is plenty of amniotic fluid. As of yesterday the ultrasound estimated the baby to be around 8lbs, but those can definitely be inaccurate.

We then went to an appt with the midwives after the ultrasound and did the "non-stress test", which basically meant they hooked up a heart rate monitor to LBP and I got to lounge in a comfortable chair with my feet up and play cards with Bev while we watched the monitor numbers change. Every time the baby moves, I had to push a button and then they check to make sure the heart rate when baby is active is rising as its supposed to and decreasing when its not active. The other fun part of it was that we could actually see when I was having contractions based on the numbers, even though I wasn't feeling much. These were very mild ones and the monitor still picked them up. I've definitely had some that are more intense, but nothing consistent.

So, all of this leaves us in the be patient and wait category because everything with LBP and with me are completely healthy and normal. We will do more testing next week if we still don't have the baby yet. We're hoping the coming "hurricane-like" weather will trigger some labor action this weekend. I hear 10 days past due is a good time to have babies. :)

Cold feet

We're hoping this doesn't mean Cooper really isn't ready for Little Baby Pigeon.