yup, still pregnant.

I’m a planner – always have been, always will be. And when things don’t go according to plan, I’m generally not very happy. So you can imagine my dismay when Colin and I wound up in Labor & Delivery about a week and a half ago. At about 33.5 weeks pregnant, this was certainly not a part of the plan. I was told I was having preterm labor and was hooked up to a fetal heart rate monitor and a machine that measured my contractions for one very long and scary Saturday night.

I was, to say the least, stunned. We ended up with perhaps the only male nurse midwife in the world, which would have been fine had he been the least bit comforting or, as it turns out, competent. His favorite lines varied from, “I can’t say this baby isn’t coming tonight” to “oh you’re definitely having this baby within a week.” The icing on the cake was when he told me bacteria was already starting to eat away at the amniotic fluid, so there was no way the pregnancy would last more than a couple of days. When I ran a 99.1 fever the following morning, I was pretty sure the bacteria made it to my brain and toxic shock was only moments away. It wasn’t.

Two more nights in the hospital, two steroid shots to mature the baby’s lungs, multiple doses of medication to stop the contractions, several near-panic attacks about the IV in my arm and one very reassuring ultrasound later, I was able to go home. And here I sit, albeit on bed rest, 35 weeks pregnant.

And while I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone, I can’t say it was all bad. Now I know just what to expect when I go to the hospital for the real thing. I know my husband won’t leave my side except to refill my water and grab takeout for dinner. I know there’s nothing like a good nurse. I know that my parents will do anything to support us through this journey, day or night. I know that at 33.5 weeks the baby weighed 4lbs 10oz, which, coincidentally, is what I weighed when I was born. I know that despite the shots and IVs and monitors, I was in a place where miracles happen.

And sooner or later, we'll meet our little miracle too. According to his plan, not ours. And that's just fine with us.

test drive

At our Newborns 101 class, they suggested you let your dog get acquainted with some of your baby purchases to help prepare them for the big change. This may or may not be what they had in mind:



Big sister Bean has also generously tried out the bassinet (it rocks back and forth!), the crib (more blankets, please), and the bouncer (now that thing is confusing). And while it's still up for debate whether or not she knows there will be a new addition to our family soon, she has received her fair share of kicks in the butt while sitting on my stomach (yes, she still tries to sit on my stomach). I think it's the start of a beautiful relationship.

l + c = w

As his due date approaches, I can't help but wonder what the little guy is going to look like. There are actually various websites out there where you can upload a picture of you and your partner to see what your kids might look like. I don't think I'm going to take my chances with a digital mix of our facial features.

Here's what I looked like as a baby (yes, they're both me):



And here's Colin:



Luckily for both of us, things improved in the looks department as we entered our toddler years.

Me:



Colin:



That last one is an all-time favorite of mine. Who do you think Wiggle will look like?