10 days or less

I went to my weekly appointment yesterday and I got the best news ever, Lincoln will be here in 10 days or less! Hallejuah! The RN that I have been seeing my whole pregnancy did the usual measuring, checking for Lincoln's heartbeat and what not and then asked how I was feeling. I decided now is not the time to be all "Oh I'm just great," when that's not the truth. I told her about the severe pressure I had been feeling in my hips and how it feels as if Lincoln is just going to fall out. I told her I don't even want to walk anymore because it hurts.

She then asked if I wanted to get my cervix checked even though they really don't do it until 39 weeks. I wasn't sure if I wanted to because I was so afraid that she would tell me I'm as tight as a clamshell and then I would start to cry, but we decided it was a good idea since I was showing some characteristics of early labor. Well, we found out that I'm almost completely effaced (yes!) but I'm only 1cm dilated. :( However, this really does not mean anything because his head is, no joke, chilling super low and she was actually shocked how low it was when she checked it out. She even said, "Oh! I poked his head!" and we both laughed. She was not expecting to do that with how little I am dilated. She then said the best news I have received all week, "Well he's not going to be a small baby, but we are going to try to get him to not to be a big baby. By your next appointment, if you have not gone into labor and you are only 2-3cm dilated we are going to break your membranes and try to kick start this labor because he is already 7lbs 12oz. about." YES!!! Then she said, "If that doesn't get labor started, which it usually does, then inducing is something we will have to discuss! Really at this point all you need are contractions." DOUBLE YESSSS!! OH and TRIPLE YESSS for not putting on any weight from my last appt!

I think my hopes and dreams are coming true though because this morning at 5am I woke up with horrible hip pain and back pain. I seriously could not walk regularly because I could feel my hipbones squeezing him from the inside. I was forced to walk like a duck. I could not get my legs together if I tried and I looked like I was doing a serious squatting work out. I took a bath, then a shower, and tried everything and nothing would stop it. Finally at about 11am this morning, it started to slow down and I am still having little contractions but the pressure I was experiencing has lightened back to what I have been feeling the past couple of days. It is still super intense pressure, but not like I'm squeezing my poor child's head like this morning. These are all good signs people, it means he's on his way! I say bring 'em on because if that's all I need for him to get out then damn it let's go! If Wednesday rolls around and I still feel like this, and there is still no baby, I'm going with the Beth Woods method I was told about and sucking down some castor oil!

Here I am only 5 days from the last picture and yes I think I look larger.

38 weeks and a few days, finally!

Here is also what Lincoln will look like when he's born. This picture was sent to me this morning by my MIL/monster-in-law/belle-mere. It's of Nathan when he was born. How cute and who would of thought 26 years later that little baby is having a baby to call his own! I couldn't ask for a better man to do this with.

My wonderful, sweet husband. 

Hoping my next blog is the birth of our child or me in some serious laboring pain!

~Julia