We had two doctor's appointments this week since we are overdue, and Pat is continuing to thrive.  And stay put.
He/she is a stubborn little one...I can't imagine why.

We are having a battle of wills.

Actually, I'm pretty sure Franklin has been coming into our room at night and whispering to the baby, "stay in there..."
He is loving the extra attention and walks, but I know he can sense the change coming.
He has destroyed two baby toys this week.
I'm sure this is just the beginning...

From what I understand, most women are typically induced within a week after their due date.  

So, I'm sure that is why we have gotten flooded with calls, texts, emails, etc.
all week from family and friends wondering what the heck is going on in Wichita. 

Trust me...no one wants Pat to be here more than Andrew, Franklin and I, but we just don't have anything to report!
I'm pretty sure Andrew even used the, "don't call us, we'll call you" line this week.

There is no concern about his/her size, and I continue to feel really good and sleep well so our doctor is fine with our choice to just wait this out.  As long as Pat continues to pass the fetal non-stress test and BPP sonos, we can choose to wait for another week-ish before we have to talk induction.  This means Pat could potentially be a June baby.  JUNE!

I have been walking and walking...eating pineapple...and jalapenos...and walking. 

Still heading to work every day, and at this rate, I plan to be there until the very end.  Might as well!  I can't imagine all the stewing I would have done this week at home alone all day.  (Plus this is just making me learn to be even more creative than I thought I could be with my current wardrobe...who needs more than 10 pieces of maternity clothes?!  I am struggling...)

The silver lining in Pat being late is I have finally gotten to relax this past week after such a busy spring.  It's awesome how much extra time I have when I'm not spending three-four hours editing each photo shoot after being at my full-time job all day.
It was amazing having such a great spring for my photography business,
but I am really happy to have a bit of a break before I start booking shoots again this summer. 
(That being said...summer and fall are BUSY with shoots so let me know if you want to get on the calendar!)

Can't wait for the holiday weekend!  Chris and Lauren are visiting, I'm sure Andrew and I will sneak in a few more dates and more walks.  And, I hope my neighbors are forgiving as I'm planning to spend as much time as possible at the pool and don't have a maternity swimsuit.  Eek! 

Happy Weekending!

Pat,

You are officially late.  I don't like to be late.  We are going to have to work on this in the future.

Since we've passed your "best if used by date" we know you'll at least be here within a week and a half or so.  Sooner is better than later as your father is starting to get anxious.  He made me walk up and down the driveway last night when the storm was rolling in thinking that would speed you up.  He made my eggs with a LOT of Tabasco on Friday morning to get you to arrive.  He about forced you out when he sped over some railroad tracks in Mulvane on the way to Luciano's for dinner on Friday night.

And Franklin woke us up this morning with one of your K-State sock monkeys, plus left one of your blankets and stuffed giraffes on the living room floor.  In his defense, he did leave you his bone on the rug in your room in exchange.

The boys are starting to lose it.

I am holding it together and making the most of the extra time you've given us.

1. Clean/organize basement...maybe 1/2 way done?

14. Wash baby clothes/towels/blankets/etc.
15. Buy a few remaining items off our registry
16. Edit four pending photo shoots and get them back to clients within two weeks max
17. Five more shoots left before the due date.

 18. Write and send shower thank you's
19. Add a patio and firepit to our backyard - first round of supplies were dropped off - maybe they'll start this week?

 20. Clean baseboards
21. Co-host gender reveal party for our friends, Gabe and Angela
23. Q2 Business Taxes

24. Worry about the baby's size.

25. Pack for the hospital.

26.  Boil bottles

 Slowly, but surely.

Seems to be your motto too.
 

I'm back to my normal self after Monday's crab session.  Thank goodness!  No wonder little one isn't here yet.
Who wants to come into the world to hang out with a grump? 

And, as I approach our due date on Saturday, I'm really okay with still being pregnant.  Even for the next week or so.

If it hasn't happened on its own, there's a reason.
I'd rather Pat be good and ready to come out on his/her own terms than forced at this point.  Plus, I had my mentality all wrong last week.
I was hesitant to make plans in the event I'd have to cancel them should Pat arrive early like I was originally thinking/hoping.

Well, Pat, two can play this game.
I'm going to plan on you not being here this weekend and go to dinner on Friday with friends,
see a movie on Saturday and go to church and yoga on Sunday.  So there.

After not being able to sleep at all on Tuesday night, I slept sooo well last night.  I'm still walking every day.  I'm not puffy.  My back doesn't hurt.
And Andrew said he'd give me a pedicure tonight (this guy really will do anything to save a buck).  

My pregnancy has been awesome.  And, I'm going to enjoy the entirety of it.

However, I think for Frank's health, it needs to end sooner rather than later.  Not sure what he's doing while we're gone at work,
but in the past two weeks he has sprained/broken his tail and is now limping on his back left leg.

Two separate injuries.

The tail was taken care of last week after a trip to the vet and taking an anti-inflammatory and pain pills.

The limp just started a couple of days ago, which means no walks for Franklin, and he is so sad.

Oh, and he has a sty on his right eye.

He is falling apart.

--

And since everyone else got an update in this post, I feel compelled to share that Andrew is starting to think we are having a girl.  He is freaking out.  But still being very productive and still earning the title of Handy Andy.

The front of our house is painted!

Ooooh.  Ahhhhh.

The backyard is prepped for our patio extension and fire pit!

Too bad it looks terrible right now as we wait for the crew to come in and actually lay the stone and build the patio/pit.  Such a mess.  The evenings have been beautiful and would be so perfect to take advantage of everything just about to bloom.  Our hydrangeas and magnolias are just about to pop.

Seems to be a theme around here...

On Saturday, I hit the 39 week mark and on Sunday "celebrated" Mother's Day.

I use the term celebrating loosely because I had been dreading Sunday.  I have been crazy emotional the past several days, and that didn't help,
but I did not want to celebrate Mother's Day without a baby in my arms.  

And everyone was so thoughtful and lovely and sent cards and texts and included me in the day that I thought would mean so much to me,
and who am I kidding...I probably would have been sad if no one would have said Happy Mother's Day to me.
(Do not underestimate me when I say I'm emotional!)

But it certainly wasn't how I expected to celebrate my first Mother's Day.

I'm not sure it even counts.  Not without Pat.

I don't really want it to.  Because I couldn't get out of my funk and was sad all day,
and how am I supposed to feel about a Mother's Day without hugs and cuddles from the baby?  It's not the same.

Parts of the day were lovely!

Church with Andrew, a beautiful morning and breakfast outside.  Flowers from my neighbor.  Yoga.  A nap.
Dinner with  friends.  A really good chocolate dessert.  An almost clean house.

But it didn't feel right.

I don't feel like a mom.

Yet.

Also, Pat:

Please decide to come sooner than later so I don't have to listen to people and their innappropriate comments and opinions.  Since when did it become okay to say whatever pops into your head?

Things I can't wait to not hear again:

1. When are you due?  Saturday.  Really?!  You are so small.  Is the baby okay?   
Yes, thank you for your judgement that I'm starving myself to have an unhealthy baby.  
Can't be too big, can't be big enough. 

2. Maybe your baby will be late and you can get more done here!   
From someone at work who shall remain nameless, but I would imagine you can all guess who...

Okay, bad mood will be over NOW!  

Only a week and a half to go until the DUE DATE.  Maybe we'll make it there?  Maybe we'll make it past there?

I'm not sure my extra walking is doing anything.  Or the pineapple I ate on Sunday morning. 
Or the spicy chicken sandwich I had from Chick-Fil-A yesterday.

Darn it.

I want the baby to come out on his/her terms, but goodness I am impatient! 
This is nothing new of course, but situations like these just bring out the best in me.  :)

Everyone said these last few weeks are the hardest.  I just always thought they were talking about how I would be feeling.  Physically. 
And I feel really good.  I can't complain.

But now I'm realizing they must have been referring to the waiting game.  It is draining!  The anticipation.  So tough.  I would just really love for this baby to come before Sunday.  It's Mother's Day!  How unfair would it be for the baby to wait it out, and I don't get a Mother's Day until next year.  Andrew gets a Father's Day in June regardless.  And my grandma's birthday was May 12th.  

Come on, Pat.  At least think about it.

--

You want an update on the nesting list?

It's a constant battle between trying to use every waking hour to get things crossed off the list
vs.trying to spend time with Andrew, Franklin and friends and RELAX.  

1. Clean/organize basement...maybe 1/2 way done?
14. Wash baby clothes/towels/blankets/etc.
15. Buy a few remaining items off our registry
16. Edit four pending photo shoots and get them back to clients within two weeks max
17. Five more shoots left before the due date...no more shoots - two to edit.
18. Write and send shower thank you's
19. Add a patio and firepit to our backyard - Andrew has been spending a lot of quality time with his shovels.

 20. Clean baseboards
21. Co-host gender reveal party for our friends, Gabe and Angela
22. Hang frames in our bedroom - now to fill them...
23. Q2 Business Taxes

24. Worry about the baby's size.

25. Pack for the hospital.

There were of course intentions to get more done this weekend.  But, I took three naps, had two shoots, edited one and a half, skipped yoga, had a lunch date with Andrew on Sunday, had dinner with our neighbors on Saturday and got caught up on DVR'd TV. 

Meh.

The list can wait.

What else will the grandma's do when they come visit?

It's May.

Our baby will come this month.

As in maybe tomorrow.  Or maybe three weeks from now.  CRAZY!

We are getting so, so excited.  To meet the little one.  And name him/her.  And hopefully that happens soon since I just want to tell everyone our options because I love them all!  And keep changing my mind.  Ha.

Since I turned 37 weeks on Saturday, Pat is considered full term.  We made it! 

And so, I've started walking more.  Frank and I already do a two-mile route in the morning before work with my neighbor, but we're doing another two-mile route in the evenings.  Andrew or I usually take him for a quickie before dinner, but I've added quite a bit of distance as I really don't want to go so far over our May 19th due date that I have to be induced so I figure trying to walk this baby out a bit early can't hurt.  

Franklin apparently disagrees.  He was dragging behind me and laid down in someone's yard not even halfway through our walk last night. 
And then acted like he just couldn't go on during our walk this morning. 

So four miles a day it is.  With or without Franklin.

And I added some stretches to my morning routine.  Yoga has been awesome throughout pregnancy, but holy cow I feel like I'm 80-years-old when we settle into poses and then my joints haven't really wanted to go back afterwards during the last few classes.  Gotta get those hips stretched and flexible! 

Eek!

Additional almost-there developments:

I am now waking up once a night to go to the bathroom.  And so it begins.  

Andrew had a dream last night we are having a girl!  Premonition?  Fear?  

Haha.

And the last few weeks I just want to be a homebody and be at my house.  I've been going home for a few lunches during the week and trying to avoid scheduling too much in the evenings and on the weekends so I can be at home with the boys.  Lame. 

But this is it. 

The last few weeks before our life changes FOREVER.

I'm trying to soak it in.

And (slowly) making progress on the nesting list.

Easier said than done, especially when I spent four hours cleaning our house on Saturday.  Because it needed it that badly. 
And I did finish the laundry.  There's just never enough time in the day.

1. Clean/organize basement...maybe 1/2 way done?
14. Wash baby clothes/towels/blankets/etc.
15. Buy a few remaining items off our registry
16. Edit four pending photo shoots and get them back to clients within two weeks max
17. Five more shoots left before the due date...four shoots down, one to go, four to edit!
18. Write and send shower thank you's - a handful more to write/address
19. Add a patio and firepit to our backyard - Andrew is almost done prepping!

 20. Clean baseboards
21. Co-host gender reveal party for our friends, Gabe and Angela (p.s. it's a girl!)
22. Hang frames in our bedroom (IKEA purchases from January. JANUARY!)
23. Q2 Business Taxes - blah 

24. Worry about the baby's size. 

25. Pack for the hospital.   Feeling much better now that this is done.  That, and feeling that this is much more real now!

I have to focus on editing pictures this week.  And I WILL finish writing shower thank you's.  The last shower was a month ago.  Embarrassing! 

I really hope I continue to feel well and my energy and motivation don't leave me now.

Almost there...