Thirty Eight Weeks

This was my first official week of maternity leave, little man. And I have to admit, I didn't miss work one little bit. I was kept very busy with a multitude of appointments, all to make sure we are both doing OK. It was a lot of running around. But worth it, because I managed to acquire a few great 3D images of your sweet little face. You have big round cheeks and an pouty little mouth right now. I think you look a bit like Daddy. We both can't wait to see what you really look like in person. When I got the first picture, I texted it to Daddy. He was truly amazed. When we spoke on the phone later he said..."First things first, that's our kid!"

Aside from lots of appointments, I've been putting my time away from work to good use. I got a great start on the blanket I've been wanting to make for you. Have I mentioned it yet? I have made dozens of blankets for friends and family, and even on commission, over the years. I've saves all the scraps of fabric from all of these blankets, knowing that some day, I would make a patchwork quilt for my own child. I was afraid I wouldn't have time to get to it before you get here, but it's looking quite promising. It's filled with a random assortment of patterns and colors with different animals, stars and moons, and other motifs. I think we're going to have lots of fun playing on it and cuddling up in it when it's finished.

Another project I've managed to check off my list was creating some photo books of the first six years Daddy and I spent together. I wanted to capture all of those memories, so that moving forward, each year starting with this one, I can just create one book for the year, instead of having so much to keep up with. 2012 doesn't look to have a lot of photos yet, but we'll still have about a quarter of it with you, so I'm sure it will become a thick book quite quickly!

Daddy finished up a few projects this weekend too. He converted the outlets in your bedroom to a modern style, so we can plug in power strips (you need a lot of devices, Luigi! Lamps, humidifiers, monitors, wipe warmers, there just aren't enough plugs) and then of course, encapsulate them in childproof containers. He got the monitor set up as well, mounted on the wall, pointing perfectly at your crib. I'm sure we'll spend many nights just watching you sleep on a tiny little video screen. I can't wait!

*An update on Luigi's impending arrival. I had my 38 week appointment with my OB on Monday. She is willing to let me try to deliver vaginally because Luigi is still under the size cutoff for recommended C-section for a GD mom. So, we're going to give it a go, and see what happens. Because I will be induced, there is still a very good possibility that I will end up in surgery, but I'm excited to get to experience labor for at least a little bit, and that Luigi and I will hopefully experience some of the hormonal benefits of the labor process in terms of the cortisol surge he'll get to help with breathing, and my preparation to breastfeed. On Monday, I showed no signs of any dilation or effacement, so this induction could turn out to be a process. This Saturday and Sunday mornings, at 39 weeks exactly, I will be heading in to L&D as an outpatient to receive an oral dose of meds, possibly more that once, to begin cervical ripening, and some monitoring. Then, if nothing has started on it's own by then, we'll be heading in on Tuesday at some point yet to be confirmed, to start pitocin. I'm hoping the ripening meds do the trick and we can avoid pitocin, but a girl can't have everything, right? And at least I'm not heading straight to the OR! It's hard to believe that Luigi should be here within the week! Wow!