I’m still having mild but noticeable contractions, 3 days and counting. They are enough to keep me from sleeping very soundly at night, but I feel rested enough that it’s not really bothering me – just enough to get me psyched for labor and baby!
Today at one point they were as close as 10 minutes apart but not strong enough to convince me that the baby was going to be here any time soon. Now they seem to have spread out again. At this rate, I may be able to tell the baby someday that I was in labor for a week, though it hardly feels as dramatic as it will sound.
I still don’t realistically expect to have the baby before next weekend since weekend babies seem to be such a well-established pattern for us, but we’ll see. It’s fun to finally feel the anticipation building!
On the bright side, nearly all of my checklist is done and I have a new toy that I hope to use a lot during labor: hubby, Lydia and Kaitlyn conspired to give me an iPod Nano! It’s Lydia’s gently used one since she plans to upgrade soon. I had intended to save my pocket money and buy it from her when she was ready, but she and hubby saw how much I’ve enjoyed borrowing it for my walks so they struck a quiet deal. Kaitlyn added a pair of genuine Apple ear buds for me, and hubby also bought an arm band to make it easier for me to carry and use when I exercise. I’m so tickled to have one of my own! I spent some time today loading it with Max McLean’s Bible (love his voice and enunciation!), Dandelion Fire by Nathan Wilson
, and all my Jamie Soles albums, plus some other quiet, peaceful music that I hope will be good during labor.
Oh – and did I say in a previous post that there were less baby animals around here? I forgot to mention the fact that we caught the tarantula in the very act of creating an egg case while our company was here on Saturday evening! I don’t know if she got along with her old boyfriend better than we thought back in January or if it’s just wishful thinking on her part (apparently captive females will sometimes create a whole case of unfertilized eggs), but it was shocking to say the least.
And our 2nd broody hen, who I thought was expecting sometime after the weekend, is now the proud mother of between 7 and 10 fluffy baby chicks. I can hear their happy peeping all the way up on our deck. So sweet! Can’t wait to hear my own sweet baby soon!
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I think we are all almost excited as you:) I keep coming to check on you. May God keep you in his care.
I have been looking and listening for a long time for an audio bible which resonates with me and does not have all kinds of extra fluff. Tell me a bit about Blue Behemoth: what are the payment options? Do I have to have a credit card? Or can I pay via paypal? I ask because I cannot seem to find out the information without creating an account, which I would not need if I can only pay via credit card…
Oh. And *anyone* who knows can answer… Kim may very well be a tad distracted to come and answer this one. Thanks!
Drat, I found the answer… *so sad*.
And you are still not indicating birth yet… *so distracting*.
I woke up in hopes of reading you were in labor or had the baby during the night but… no. Oh well, enjoy the last few days of this pregnancy.=)
I sooo feel for you! I always run past my due dates, so I know how you are feeling. My last one was 8 days late, and I was beginning to lose hope!! (Isn’t it funny how we sometimes think that if we pass up our due date, then it’s never going to happen
Like the baby is going to stay in there forever!!) Anyway, she ended up being 10 lbs. 2 oz., my biggest baby! She was the first one after 6 home births that we decided to have in the hospital — we had just moved to a new town and didn’t know anyone — but I’m glad now that we did. I had an epideral, and after having 6 natural homebirths, I didn’t know birthing a baby could be sooo easy 
To say the least, I was not looking forward to the pain! I don’t understand people who say things like, “Well look how many you’ve had, you ought to be used to the pain by now!” For me I think it makes the anticipation worse because I DO know what to expect!
Anyway, sorry for taking up your time, I will pray for you and that sweet baby and for a safe and quick delivery!
God Bless!
How sweet for them to conspire to give you the iPod! That is really awesome.
You are so on my heart, Kim. May the Lord bless you dearly with this new little one. We can’t wait to meet her (him?) someday soon…
~Karen
I was one of the 29 people who said they checked Kim’s blog “several times everyday, w/o fail. My life is empty on the days that don’t post”. Although, I would say ” my life is enriched on the days that do post ” . That’s actually true.
Anyway, never more do we happy 3% (remember that poll? It’s on page 3 now) check Kim’s post now for Baby News. : ) I can speak for all 3% because I know the type. I’m one of them.
Hang in there, Kim. We are looking forward to the blessed event and Happy, Happy news. I think June is a beautiful middle name for your darling baby girl.
Best Regards from your Groupies
Jamie,
You’re too funny – and sweet! Thanks for the encouragement. I can’t wait to share the good news with you soon!
Hello Kim, I have been following your blog for several tears now, and I don’t think I have ever left oa post. Yet I may have a little something to help you with your labor starting. I was pregnant with our 5th baby, and 2 weeks overdue. I ‘m always a midwife gal, but of course they start cinnecting ya with doctors when anything gets “unusual”. I asked for a few more days, to avoid induction…bound and determined to find an herb or something. I talked with some natural herb guy, and he told me that these unproductive contractions may have been from lack of calcium…did you post that before? Drinking liquid calcium during labor? Anyway, I upped the water, and drank the liquid calcium every two hours to help bring on the labor, then I also took Nature’s Sunshine ‘s Master Gland every two hours (check with your midwife…I think you are smaller than I was)….or Nature’s Sunshine’s 5W ( delivery prep), and had the baby that Monday! (Weekend wait) Let me know if any of it helps. I never tell the bnurses what I am on before the labor, though my husband knows if there are any complications ( we have to do hospital deliveries due to hemorraging history), then later all the nurses and midwives rave about what a great labor that was. I THEn reveal the herbal remedies, and of course give the glory to God, which I wasn’t hiding during the labor…lots of verbal praying:) Surely you’ve had some more experience than me, but I thought I’d share in case anyting helps.
Kris,
I’ve said all along that I’m not positive about my dates. I still think they’re right, but I’m not at all surprised to go a week late, especially since last weekend was so busy. Things should be much calmer this weekend so I’ll be surprised if things don’t start happening then.
Thanks for the suggestions. I’ve used 5W with most of my pregnancies, and also used Master Gland at least once. I’m taking Evening Primrose Oil this time, but I really just don’t feel like this baby is quite done cooking.
Sorry for mispellings!
We are praying for you and your sweet Little One, Kim!!
Love and hugs…
What happened to Bob the tarantula? Did you release him after a few days or did she, like, eat him or something?
Beulah,
We let the male go after a few tries at introducing them. Shelob seemed very aggressive each time – but we didn’t watch them every moment. Either we missed something, or she just misses him now. I guess we’ll see if anything comes of her egg case.
Count me in as one who has been checking your site several times a day waiting for news. May your labor go smoothly and quickly-
I’ll admit I’ve been checking your blog 20 times a day.
Um… tarantulas? K I must me too new here or have missed the whole tarantula drama but hey as long as it’s been captured then I say YAY! Lol! I’m not arachniphobic or anything but tarantulas would be rather disturbing if they were running loose in my home…
I was in labor for 2 weeks with my daughter and yeah, I agree, it sure sounds more dramatic than it was. It was more like… well, tedious I guess. It was a very long 2 weeks, painful and exhausting and drug out, but not really dramatic until that last 24 hours. Courtesy of the full moon, I think I mentioned in a previous comment. Speaking of which… Thursday was the full moon, wasn’t it?
I hope it picks up and gets down to business for you soon! I am excited for you! A home birth must be so amazing. I want to try with my next. For now I’m in a midwife-run birthing center. My problem is that the local hospital is known for being HORRIBLE, like they’d let you die in the waiting room while they are having a break or something. Heard so many horror stories. Anyway I opted for the next best thing which is a private, midwives only birthing center. I’ll have my own birthing room and jacuzzi and nobody there but hubby and the midwife, and I can go home and sleep in my own bed as soon as I want. I hate sleeping in strange places, I don’t do IV’s or drugs or epidurals or too many dialation checks. I pace like a mental patient and recite The Lord’s Prayer over and over while in transition- something I hear hospitals may frown on as they’d prefer their patients hold still and stay quiet. I want minimal interruption and quiet to do my work (I want to be the only one making noise until that first beautiful baby squeak is heard!), and the birthing center is across the street from a hospital with a much better reputation than my local one, just in case. Pretty much win/win. If it weren’t for the issue of the local hospital being so rotten and my having had hemmorrhaging with my first, I’d have gone for a home birth this time. But alas I chickened out. I hope God will bless us with another baby someday though and that I will be able to have a home birth. I am so looking forward to reading your story! You will post about it, right? Because I am really hoping to read all about it! 
Anyway, so sorry for the long ramble. I’m naturally long-winded and sometimes I forget to try to reign it in… :-/