Waiting

During this pregnancy, I was anti any "I'm getting fatter" pictures. I know, I know, being pregnant isn't the equivalent to being "fat". But unfortunately for me, it is. I gain more weight elsewhere on my body than in my stomach. Why would I want to document that? I'm such a grouch. :)

However, my sisters continually were texting me for belly pictures. So I took a few. I don't even know how many weeks I am in these pictures. 24? 28? It's a mystery. I would guess I'm about 5 or 6 months in the first two and maybe 7 or 8 in the next two?? 

People always told me that I looked small for how far along I was, and in fact, I always did measure a little small. But that didn't stop my hips from expanding! I couldn't fit into any of my clothes from 3 months on. Sigh. I might be OK if I never see another stretchy skirt for as long as I live. 

So, after 2 weeks of non-stop unpacking, I was finally starting to feel like I could be ready to have a baby.

A day or two before my due date, I finally took the boys into the office for the first time to meet everyone. Travis happened to be doing treatment on a wailing 3 year old when we walked in. The boys had wide eyes as they listened to 30 minutes of hysterical shrieking. Little do they know their Dad's profession is the stuff of kids' nightmares. 

One of our last pictures of our family of 4. And no way, Jose, do we normally let our kids jump in bed with us! This was a rare moment of snuggling before crazy, jumping Collin got himself evicted in the morning. It shows the boys' personalities to a T.

My due date was Friday, Aug. 23. I groaned as I watched the day come and go. I took these pictures the Sunday before my due date.

The next day, we took the kids to the park and to see the movie, Planes. 

While the table top belly was starting to prove itself minutely useful, I was couldn't wait to get this baby outta me!

On Sunday, we had Stake Conference. I brought my crocheting with me to make a last minute hat for her for the hospital. I also brought my thermos filled with raspberry tea. It was the last of my gallon that I had started drinking at 8am. This stuff is supposedly a guaranteed baby deliverer. 

I was feeling nuthin'. 

When we got home from church, I was determined to walk her out. Travis didn't want me walking alone, so we took the boys and started huffing it around the neighborhood. Collin and Weston only lasted about 1/2 hour before they were complaining. So we went back to the house to get the stroller and continue walking. I was keeping a fairly fast pace and this time we decided to tackle a pretty steep hill by our house. I felt bad for Travis pushing the boys in the double stroller! 

Still no contractions! Bug! 

By now, I had blisters on my feet so I couldn't keep walking. 

Back at the house, we all collapsed and fell asleep. When I woke up, I started drinking more tea. I downed another gallon. 

My mom had called earlier to see how I was doing and it was decided she'd drive into town that night. Around 7pm it was raining and stormy, but I slapped on some mole skin and grabbed an umbrella and started circling the block. 

Do I even need to say it?... Nothing! I was so discouraged. 

My mom drove in around 8 or 9pm.

It was fun to show her the house and know she was here to help when the time came. I just prayed it would be that night!