Christmas has come and gone and I'm still pregnant

Christmas Eve 2012

I don't really have much energy to talk about the holidays - and you might know the reason why. I am not really complaining about being pregnant - I mean, looking at the bright side, I have a few couple more weeks to be completely "alone" with Carl - when the Lorenz arrives, its never gonna be just us again. But when sleeping becomes a task and walking around makes you breathless, I guess I can complain once in a while.

On Christmas eve, we had dinner at our place and we were full. Carl's sister Lei and her husband were also in town. It was fun, but I was exhausted. We opened gifts and we got plenty! We received gifts from each family and so there was plenty of gifts to unwrap. For our family, I received a new hoodie from Carl and a really yummy smelling perfume! I got Carl a new white shirt, wallet, and a bottle of Lacoste Pure. And we got Lorenz (we wrapped a gift for him just in case he arrived before Christmas) a cuddly ball!

Our loot for the holidays!

Anyway, so Christmas has come and gone and I am still pregnant. Actually, my father-in-law's birthday has come and gone too. Today is my mother-in-law's birthday and still Lorenz is inside my belly. We've been guesstimating Lorenz's arrival but it turns out everyone's guess is only as good as the other person. We are still hoping I give birth before the year ends so that I have more time to recover since I will be back in school right after the holiday break. Yesterday, I was at the doctors again and I was 2.5 cm dilated and 85% effaced. Wow - not a lot of progress really! I guess I am going to reach my due date - which is not bad at all, since January 2nd is my dad's birthday. But my guesstimate is also as good as anyone else's so - I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Wishing your Holidays are filled with love and laughter!

Bring it On!

They said no matter how much one loves being pregnant, there comes a point when you are just ready to end it all and wish everyday that your baby will finally make its debut. I guess I've reached that point. I am now 38 weeks, my mom has arrived from the Philippines - almost everything is ready... I am so ready to pop. But as of my last doctor's appointment, I was still 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced. Not much progress - the doctor even said I might very well reach 40 weeks. Seriously... I think I've maxed out the definition of huge!

So my mom arrived on the 14th, and I feel more confident now that I can PUSH through this. She helped me set up baby's things except for the crib. She HAND-WASHED all of baby's white clothes - literally soaked in bleach and meticulously inspected every seam! She is one amazing woman. I've contemplated on an unmedicated birth because of her - all of us three children were delivered at home by a midwife with no pain medication whatsoever! I've pretty much convinced myself that if I thought about how she managed all three births, I can PROBABLY get past the labor pain and deliver Lorenz with no epidural whatsoever. Of course, I can change my mind, and I will find a good reason why along the way - and I've convinced myself that that is OK too.

Mama is here - bring it on BABY!

Homestretch

Here we go! I am counting down the weeks. My due date is January 2nd. But before then, I need to wrap up the semester with 1 theoretical exposition paper, 1 multiple regression methods paper, 1 family court case report, and 2 final exams.

I now have a huge whale of a body. But I guess it helps that I am not the only one wobbling around in the grad lab. There's Katie who is due on the 18th, and there's Sarah who is due on January 23rd.

with Sarah and Katie on a day we unintentionally all wore blue

My OBGYN, Dr. Dabling, has started seeing me weekly. This week, I am 1 cm dilated and 80% effaced. I was definitely not going to have my baby anytime soon, unless my body and/or the baby suddenly changes its course in a matter of 2 days. Next week, I just need to finish all my requirements and take those two exams by Thursday. I am praying my baby would let me finish everything first before he makes his debut, and also, if he could wait for my mom to arrive. 

Side story, when I learned I was pregnant, I only had one capricious wish - that I get to have a "professional" maternity photoshoot. Carl welcomed the idea and we planned on doing that when I get to be 30 weeks or so. The "affordable" photoshoot was not easy to find and the fall leaves that would have been a pretty background were all gone and were now replaced by snow. And our last resort was to do the photoshoot at a studio... and here are some of my favorites of my 36-week pregnant body!