39 Weeks

Well, it's Week 39 AND WE ARE HAVING A BABY TODAY! It's weird to be typing those words! On one hand these 39 weeks have felt like a lifetime and on the other hand, I feel like we just found out we were pregnant! Starting today, my life will never be the same.

Let me recap the past week:

I celebrated my 25th birthday last Sunday. My prayer the ENTIRE pregnancy was that I would not have Holt on my birthday. Yes, it is purely selfish. I really didn't want to share my birthday because I knew from that point on, it would never be "my" birthday again. I wanted my own day and I wanted him to have his own day. Again, 100% selfish. But, that's how I felt. LUCKILY, he cooperated! And my husband gave me the most wonderful birthday! He woke me up with breakfast in bed, gave me a beautiful new necklace, we went to church, and then he surprised me with our families showing up in the afternoon to celebrate with cake and gifts! One of the best birthdays I've ever had--surrounded by the people I love most in the world (not to mention the weather was amazing--probably the coolest birthday I've EVER had).

We went back to the doctor on Monday and got a fabulous report. I've dilated to 2.5 cm and am 75% effaced. Holt's heartbeat looked great and he is what they call "engaged" in my pelvis (meaning he's locked, loaded, and ready for delivery :p). My doctor then talked to us about the option of inducing. He told us that if I wasn't dilated or effaced at all, then it wouldn't even be an option at this point. However, since I have progressed some AND we know he is measuring to be a bigger baby, he was comfortable with going ahead and inducing if that is what we wanted to do. He also explained that the only risk involved with deciding to induce is that there is typically a higher rate and chance of a C-section--but that is generally with women who start at zero dilation and effacement.

Now, I know that a lot of people are anti-induction. And up until about 6 weeks ago, I counted myself among that group. However, over these past 6 weeks, we have discovered I'm carrying a larger baby and my body has been contracting now for over 3 weeks. Plus, at this point, I know my child is 100% fully developed--the only thing changing in there is that he is growing larger by the day. The hubs and I have weighed all the factors and prayed over this decision and both feel confident and at peace to go ahead and induce.

SO, we scheduled to induce on Thursday, August 7th--TODAY!

I am so excited yet extremely nervous of the unknown. I've never gone through labor before and honestly, I'm completely terrified. But, I know millions of women have gone before me and done it, so I can too! I can't wait to meet my son face to face! Please be in prayer with us today over a couple of things--

1) a smooth and safe delivery
2) that Holt and I will be able to breastfeed successfully (this one is extremely important to me)

I can't wait to introduce you to my son!

How far along: 39 weeks
Stretch marks: NONE
Sleep: It's been kind of up and down this week. I've woken up several times a night with contractions, but I'm always able to fall right back to sleep.
Best moment this week: Soaking up these last days of it just being my husband and me. It's so surreal that our lives are about to change in such a drastic way.
Miss anything: I'm so excited that I'll be able to sleep on my tummy again!
Movement: Oh yeah. It's fun to guess which body part we think he pokes out.
Food cravings: Nothing intense. It's been a lot tougher to eat this week in general--I just get so full so fast and most of the time I"m real indecisive because nothing sounds good.
Food aversions: Nope
Labor signs: Definitely the real thing today!
Belly button in/out: It has stayed in the entire pregnancy! *happy dance*
Rings on/off: On--completely shocked that I"ve been able to wear them the whole summer
Happy/Moody: Mostly EMOTIONAL---especially knowing we get to meet Holt this week!
Looking forward to: MEETING MY SON TODAY!!
Baby development: Fully cooked and ready for delivery :)