Still waiting...

What a belly!

Well...the due date is tomorrow. We'll see if little Joey decides to make his grand entrance there or wait a few days. We're hoping he comes this week. I've had very few feelings of contractions or any kind of tightening this past week (minus last Monday).

At our appointment on Thursday, my midwife said I was 1/2 cm dilated, which is not much but better than nothing. (Some women can be dilated 2 - 3 cm for weeks before their baby comes!) She did say that his head was nice and low, which is good.

So in the mean time we're working on what we can do: walking, stretching, squatting, taking my evening primrose oil, resting, and the like. He's (the baby) not been very active this week except for today he was moving around a good bit. Maybe he's settling down for the big event! : )

Here are some pictures from our walk this evening. (It was raining again! It was quite nice until the wind started blowing the rain...)

Waiting

...a blurry self-portrait...

39 Weeks

A week from today and this little boy is due! He really could come anytime now...but who knows?

Isn't this the most attractive picture you've ever seen?
In my pajamas no less...

At our last appointment (on Thursday) I hadn't gained any new weight, his heartbeat was quick and strong, and my cervix was still softened but no dilation as of yet. So, I've been trying to rest and get things done here and there. One of my goals has been to have our wedding album completed before Joey's born. I'm, like, this--close!

Here's a pic from Halloween. I love the look on Ethan's face (Nick & Ann's son)!

Update: I forgot to say when I wrote this last night that we've actually had rain in the last couple of days. RAIN! Like, real rain that falls from the sky...well, it started with some drizzle on Sunday and it doesn't seem to rain for more than like 30 minutes to an hour...but it's rain!

And guess what? It's supposed to do it again today!

As for baby stuff, I had a lot of contractions/tightening/Braxton-Hicks for a couple of hours last night...then it stopped. We're trying to tell Joey to come between Monday and Wednesday of next week. Optimal option for Joe's time off and that's when his grandparents (ie, my parents) will be here. (Actually they'll be here from the 12th to the 17th. Hopefully, he comes then...)

Happy Voting Day!

Elections & the Blogsphere

Since tomorrow is election day, I wanted to share a few posts I've read geared toward Christians and voting. Some of them deal primarily with the question, 'Should a person vote on based on one-issue?' You know the one on the minds of most Christians: abortion.

Here are a few blog posts I find insightful, thought-provoking, and with a good perspective:

Let Christians Vote As Though They Were Not Voting, by John Piper

Thoughts on Voting and Politics: "John Piper's Heart in This Election," a video



In this video, Piper makes a statement on why he believes a woman shouldn't run for president. He explains this further here.

Justin Taylor gives his opinion on Piper's (above) video: Piper, Politics, and Abortion: A Few Thoughts

I would particularly encourage you to read the section in the "Agreement" where Taylor talks about Obama and what the consequences of signing the Freedom of Choice Act will be.

Randy Alcorn had a good (but very long) post on the topic of voting and abortion:
I'm Not Voting for a Man, I'm Voting for Generations of Children & Their Right to Live

Then, Jess at Making Home (one of the new blogs I've been reading) wrote a good post on our perspective of the outcome of the election: God Is Sovereign Over All Human Authorities

There you go...enjoy and go vote!