She should be here by Christmas! 41wks 2days

We had a fun weekend when Dan's mom came up to visit. It's always good to have people around to take my mind off of the waiting. She did something to make it fun, though--she brought her pastels and easel, and I got to paint for the first time! It was actually a bit exhilarating to have this huge paper in front of me on the easel and all these colors to play with. Pastels seem like a unique medium to me since you can put any color on the paper and it shows up, a bit like crayons only way more grown up :) And then, you can paint over one color with another. And then, you can play with the texture of it by smudging with your fingers! I didn't really start with anything in mind to paint, and I ended up with a scene that looks rather kindergartenish in parts, and very full with some decent depth to it in other parts. There is a definite gestating theme going on, as the bottom part looks very much like a seed in the ground, all hidden and waiting to sprout=) I also got hot meals cooked for me and a new paint job on my toenails, courtesy of the grandma-to-be, and I feel quite pampered as I begin my week. Of course, then Eric came over and the three of us sat around the new bathroom soaking our feet in the spa tub and catching up--it's a luxurious life I lead these days!

Today we had a visit at the birth center for an NST (which was reactive--she gets an A+) and then we got a sonogram to check her fluid levels (AFI was 14--also perfect), and I got a little membrane stripping action going on when the midwife checked me. And guess what... I'm THREE centimeters, now! Yea! I've been having some contractions off and on today, and I'm taking some more labor tincture to see if that will encourage anything. We'll keep you updated if anything starts!

I do want to thank all of you (there are so many!) who are reading these posts and praying for us and sending us little notes. We both really appreciate hearing from everyone, and knowing that you're thinking of us. It's very humbling to hear from everyone and know that many people care about what's going on in our little world. So, thanks y'all!