40 Weeks.

Baby girl,

Our due date has come and gone, and you seems to be quite content in your current home instead of joining Daddy and I. Truth be told, I'm impatient, frustrated, moody and nervous. My next appointment in on Friday, and I know that they're going to talk about induction. Daddy's coming with me and he'll be my support. I'm starting to cave a little bit that you'd be safer on the outside than inside, but I've spent my entire pregnancy and before reading and preparing my body, and Daddy for a natural birth. I was so hoping I wouldn't be one to get totally wrapped up in my due date, knowing that they way they figure out your due date is strange, and that every woman is different and doctors don't usually think that way.

Due date shot.

It also doesn't help that every family member & friend is asking me nearly daily if there's any news. Half of me gets annoyed that they think I wouldn't tell them, and the other half just feels bad that I have no news to share. When I talked to the woman from our health insurance this morning, she said that the painless rock-hard belly things I've been feeling for a few weeks or so are Braxton-Hicks contractions. That made me feel a little bit better at least. I know things are moving in the right direction. At my appointment last week, I was still at 1cm dilated, but I'm 50% effaced now, so things are moving, but in the back of my mind there's that unrealistic thought that I could be pregnant forever.

With the passing of the Memorial Day family gathering, we know that the next time we see all of Daddy's family will be at your arrival! I'm excited for that, but a little nervous because I know the waiting room is going to be filled, and Daddy and I agreed that we'd like to just be a family of 3 for at least an hour or so before we introduce you to the rest of your family. I told Grammy about this, but Daddy hasn't said anything to his family about it, so I just hope there isn't any hard feelings about not being allowed in right away. I'm quite glad that I'm finished work, I get enough text messages through the day asking if I'm still pregnant, and I know that your Grandma, Grandpa, Grammy, Pappy and even Daddy are being questioned daily if you've made your arrival yet.

On Sunday night, I think I lost some of my mucus plug. I was super excited and told Daddy right away, and we couldn't sleep for a little, thinking that we'd be meeting you soon, but that didn't happen. You must be quite comfortable in there, and I'm currently looking for a name that means stubborn! Speaking of names, I've been doing more research on names and their meanings. We have a huge list to pick from, and I'm really hoping that you make the decision easy for us when you're born! The names we really like are super popular and don't have the best meanings. So we have a giant list with the meanings and we'll figure it out at the hospital. At worst you'll just come home without a name until we figure it out, haha!

We got another ultrasound last week to check your growth, you seem to be a little peanut, and the midwife just wanted to make sure you're growing okay. The tech said everything looked good and she was going to have the radiologist double check and she'd send the results to the doctor/midwife. I'm planning on asking her on Friday to make sure everything is good. I would love, love, love if you came out before Friday, because I know she's going to bring up getting induced, which terrifies me. I've spent all pregnancy and before preparing my body and mind for a natural birth that an induction makes me really nervous. I know that millions of women have inductions and their babies are born healthy, but I want to experience that part of womanhood without a filter. The end goal is a healthy baby, and if it comes down to it, I'd do anything needed to achieve that goal. We'll see what happens. I'm going to try to go to 42 weeks and if you don't come by then, maybe you'll be safer out than in.

Heartburn is around just about daily, and you also must be sitting on some nerve or something because my inner thighs feel tingly, and sometimes I'll get a cramp in my right thigh if I'm standing a certain way. I think I've dropped even more if thats possible because I feel like I have a bowling ball between my legs now. So I know things are moving in the right direction, you are just taking your sweet old time and proving to be a Crane. I've been trying to walk more, too, but it's so exhausting! With the humidity this past weekend, my hands and ankles have swelled. Nothing terrible, and I'm pretty sure it's just due to the weather mostly, but it's uncomfortable. Sunday night I came home and put my feet up, by Monday morning they were fine again. Stretch marks are also getting worse, but I'll take them and wear them proudly!

I also got this massive headache last Wednesday. I woke up at 3am crying it hurt so bad. I woke Daddy up and he just comforted me. I don't think he was really awake, but that's okay, he didn't get mad at me and that's what counts. He's been so great lately, he's my rock and my comforter. He's going to be an awesome Daddy for you!

Guess that's it this week. Hopefully I get to meet you soon baby girl, don't be too stubborn in there! I can't wait to hold you in my arms and see your perfect little face and see who you look like. You have a whole family waiting for you!

Love,
Mommy