Waiting...

I know a lot of you are shocked that I haven't had my baby yet and honestly, I am too! The wait has not been easy. All around me my friends are having their babies this month. Please pray that I start labour right away so I can avoid being induced tomorrow or Saturday, pending the results of the non-stress test. Anyways - after walking a lot today and soon I'll do some more stairs I think that's all I can do to help this along. I've been trying to balance that with rest as well. Don't worry - I will update the blog with info as soon as I can after we have the baby. That'll hopefully be the next post!!

40 Weeks and 5 Days

I am not in labour yet! Jeff and I can hardly believe it...I am more uncomfortable every day (mostly when sleeping though so getting through my day isn't too bad). Today has been a good day in some ways and I think it's gotta be close. I've had pretty much the strongest Braxton Hicks contraction all day that just won't go away no matter how much water and fluids I intake and have experienced nausea throughout the day with some lovely abdominal cramps and backache. Other than that I've had quite the bursts of energy today...I've done quite a bit of laundry and some cleaning and was able to make the baby "area/room" functional for at least awhile. :)

For those of you who do not live in Alberta - we're experiencing some crazy weather. It's been snowing almost constantly since yesterday around noon. It feels very cold outside with this windchill at -19C. We're supposed to get about 20cm of snow by Tuesday (10-15cm of this is supposed to come tomorrow)! I'm going to attach a couple shots of the snow blowing outside taken this afternoon from our front window. There is also a shot of me and my friend Lia taken yesterday (not very flattering of me though...) and a special shot of me struggling to zip up my oversized winter jacket today. For those of you who have seen how big this jacket is you'll know that I'm HUGE compared to the rest of the winter season. I seriously thought I'd never have issues trying to do up the zipper but the last two weeks have proven me wrong!

Trouble Sleeping

It's after 2:30 am and I haven't been able to fall asleep yet. Baby girl has been traveling around and squirming quite aggressively for the last hour and a half. Sleeping just isn't happening for me and although it's frustrating I think that maybe something more exciting will happen while I'm awake at this hour of the night! Soon I'll try to go back to sleep. I contemplated having a snack or something but that would mean more heartburn. I would love an almond butter sandwich right about now. Hmmm...some scrambled eggs would suffice as well. I received several wedding inquiries in the last few days which has been great but overwhelming, plus 2 commercial jobs that I'm going to have one of my associate photographers shoot for me over the next few weeks. There are probably 4-5 calls in all - so this is good! I have to work on getting the quotations done tomorrow and returning calls/emails. I better try to sleep again but I may eat something first. :)

Today is my Due Date - 40 Weeks

Well - no labour, no changes...Today is my estimated due date. I am definitely anxious to have our baby girl out. In the mean time I've made photography blog updates...check them out: http://racheljphotography.blogspot.com and I uploaded a whole new wedding gallery on my website. Visit: http://www.rjpdi.com and click on weddings and then Doug & Bekki. I had fun working on these images and today I'll upload some images Jeff and I took with our point and shoot on a walk with Buddy that we took 4 days ago.
Here are some photos of Buddy (our dog), Jeff and I before our baby is born...I love the shot Jeff took of Buddy playing with a stick. We actually have very few shots of the three of us so we thought it'd be great to take some shots before the baby arrives shortly.

39 Weeks 2 days

My actual due date is approaching and I have decided to resign to the fact that our baby will come when she's ready to. Even though I've had plenty of pre-labour signs including dilation my body isn't ready to labour yet I guess! I'm trying to relax and enjoy this time before the baby arrives. I'm catching up on work for the most part but still have quite a bit to do. Maybe in these next couple days I'll get more done so I can relax and feel better about what's about to happen. I'm getting super excited as are the baby's grandmothers. I didn't sleep well last night and decided just to get up and get ready for the day a few hours earlier than normal. Later this morning Jeff and I hope to go to Transcend for some lovely espresso before I drop him off at school. This is his last week of classes and exams start next week. We're truly hoping our baby comes this week (early) but she'll come when my body's ready. This is definitely testing my patience of which I have very little of to begin with so it's been challenging for me! :)

39 Weeks

I've made it to 39 weeks and still no baby in my arms! I am so big, my belly's fundal height now 38 cms. I've been experiencing stronger pre-labour symptoms the last few days and after my pre-natal appt on Friday my midwife said it should be close! Here's a pic of me that Jeff took at about 38.5 weeks late at night while I was baking cookies. Today I baked some really yummy muffins and got some photo work done. My good friend and assistant Aaron was over helping as well and we finished up a lot this afternoon! I still have 2 wedding album orders I'd like to do right away but I think it'll have to wait until after baby's arrival. We'll see! I got a lot done this week in terms of photography work but unfortunately there's still so much more to do!!!

38 Weeks and 1 Day

Well - I feel like I am experiencing pre-labour symptoms now and our daughter will come into this world any day now. I've been experiencing consistent Braxton Hicks contractions for the last few days and they've gotten much lengthier today. In the last 3 hours I have felt her drop even further and it's been almost unbearable. I feel like I can barely walk at times. :) I have to change positions a lot in order stay reasonably comfortable and I can't seem to focus on my work tonight. I had my last photoshoot today before baby's arrival. I feel a little apprehensive about how this whole labour thing is going to play out. I talked to my mom and grandma this evening and told them how I've been feeling. I've been really craving fruit the last couple days and am enjoying anything juicy. Jeff picked up these awesome oranges that are pink inside and so yummy and the gala apple I'm eating right now is so juicy and crunchy I could probably eat these all night! I think Jeff and I will have to take Buddy out for a nice walk tonight and see how I do. In the meantime some raspberry leaf tea is going to be brewed...Until next time!