dsc02812.JPGToday, Baby Ciho and I had our 37 week OB appointment. We are now going every Friday to see the doctor and will continue until the baby arrives. However, it COULD be sooner than we think! I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but I really really really want this baby to come soon. Dr. B checked me today and confirmed that the baby's head is down and that I am already 2 cm dilated and about 25% effaced. I know this may not mean much as I could hang out at a 2 for weeks, but at least that's 2 cm closer to where I need to be, and without any pain.

An interesting thing is that with Kaiya, I didn't progress until I was in actual labor. Two days before Kaiya was born, I was in the hospital for something totally unrelated to labor and when my doctor checked me I had not progressed in the very least. So, I'm very excited to already be progressing even though I haven't had any real contractions. I know I'm having practice contractions pretty regularly because I can see it, but I haven't felt anything yet. Maybe soon!

There are few reasons why I would love for this baby to come, well, today or at least soon:

1. It's HOT! Last night when Andrej and I went to bed the thermometer in our bedroom read 78 degrees. No one should have to sleep in a room that is 78 degrees, especially a certain someone that is 9 months pregnant. My feet and hands are are not handling the heat at all and are quite swollen. They actually make fun tasks like washing dishes absolutely unbearable. I told Andrej I would much rather sleep in an air conditioned hospital, with people poking and prodding at me every few hours, than in our house right now. The one thought that is getting me through is that there is light at the end of the tunnel and it will only be at most a few more weeks until Baby Ciho arrives. Two years ago when I was pregnant with Kaiya, I still had two very long hot months to endure before giving birth.

2. Our dear friend and Kaiya's most beloved and ONLY babysitter, Marianne, is moving to Kentucky on May 17. We are really sad to see her go and honestly don't know what we will do without her. She has been such a HUGE help and blessing to us over the past year and a half and Kaiya absolutely adores her. Not to mention the fact that when I do go into labor we have to do something with Kaiya and that something is taken care of until May 17. Marianne is on call and will come here any time, day or night, to care for Kaiya, until she leaves for KY. After that we are at the mercy of friends, who have all graciously offered to keep Kaiya, but with kids of their own it won't be as simple as Marianne coming here. My parents will be on the first flight here, but at the very least that will take half a day, or it could be like when Kaiya was born and they didn't arrive until after midnight. Andrej had to beg the nurses to let them in to see Kaiya. Honestly, I'm more nervous about what to do with Kaiya and being away from her for two days than giving birth.

3. Besides my swollen feet and hands and not sleeping very well, by far the worst thing I'm experiencing right now (and did during my last trimester with Kaiya) are migraine headaches. Unless you have migraines yourself, there is no way to even describe the pain and pounding taking place in your head. They make me sick to my stomach and there is absolutely nothing I can do to alleviate the pain. Last Friday night, I had the worst migraine of my entire life. I vomited four times, took four super hot showers and took medicine that I probably shouldn't take during pregnancy (no worries it came right back up) trying to get through the six hours that migraine took over my body. I know the killer headaches are related to all the hormones floating around my body right now and my lack of sleep, so yet another reason for Baby C to come on out.

4. Last but not least is that even though there are still lots of loose ends around the house I would LOVE to finish before the baby arrives and even though we still haven't decided on a name, I am ready to meet our son. I'm ready to see if he will look like Andrej, or me, or Kaiya. I'm ready to hold him in my arms. I'm ready to plant little kisses on his precious head. I'm ready to have him look into my eyes and melt my heart. I'm ready to have him curl up on my chest and sleep. I'm ready to have his tiny fingers wrap around one of mine. I'm ready to kiss his tiny little toes. I'm ready for him to come.

However, I learned through my pregnancy with Kaiya, that no matter how very ready I am for him to come, he will only come when he is ready and not before. So, I'll wait and continue to go to the doctor weekly and hopefully before too long Andrej will be letting you all know in some form or fashion that we are indeed in labor and will be introducing you all to our son soon.