Getting Ready

This morning I woke up

with my heart pounding a little harder

and a little faster.

We are officially UNDER

the 6 week mark until our "guess date".

5 weeks and 6 days.

YIKES.

We are entering the second half 

of our trip in Canada,

and already I am glad we only 

decided to stay for one week

of Spencer's two week break.

We are thoroughly enjoying our time

with family and friends,

and look forward to spending time 

in Abbotsford next.

It's just that, well,

I'm uncomfortable.

I am not sleeping well at night

which means I tire easily in the day.

My belly gets in the way,

and these "practice contractions" 

are really annoying me.

I feel a bit of anxiety 

being away from home,

my OB and the Birthing Center

in Portland where she will be born.

Today while wandering the streets

of sunny Vancouver with Spencer,

I had a few episodes of Braxton-Hicks

that got the best of me. 

At one point I wanted to just stop

and sit in the middle of the busy cross walk,

but instead I skuttled as quickly

as I could to the safety of the sidewalk

on the other side of the street.

It made me think 

"What if I am in early labor? 

I am so far away from home.

I don't want an ER doctor delivering

my baby!"

This visit Little One hasn't had as much Stage Fright.

Both Smid uncles got plenty of love kicks from their niece.

Our dear friend Dave got kicked by a baby for the first time,

and unlike her Mama,

I think she likes being the centre of attention.

It is weird saying good bye to people knowing 

that the next time I will see them

I'll be holding my baby girl.

Today I woke up feeling a bit bigger,

and apparently it wasn't just me who noticed.

I can feel her head lower

causing just a bit more pressure.

Today for the first time her little 

foot got caught under a rib (ouch!)

and she seems to like tickling my blatter.

Thankfully,

even swanky Vancouver hotels

take one look at a big belly

and open doors to 

"elite bathrooms" just to avoid a puddle on their marble floor.

Next week Spencer and I return

to a somewhat quiet Portland.

All of our friends will still

be at their homes for the rest of the break.

We have a few appointments

and plan to go on our"Babymoon".

If weather permits,

a couple of nights camping,

just the two of us.

July will be a slow month of 

just hanging around Portland

and our apartment pool.

Spencer will ease into his 4th quarter

(the last one of his first year.)

We are keeping our lives,

our schedules

low key for the last month before

and after my due date.

We will be hanging up

our "Tour Guide" and "Hotel Manager"

 hats for the time being as well.

Keeping our lives as comfortable

as possible as we make 

final preparations for Little One

and adjust into parenthood.

We have been so pleased with 

how everything is going with 

the pregnancy so far.

Our care and treatment

from our OB has been exceptional

and we feel so good going into

this incredible experience with her at our side.

The hospital accomodations

are DELUXE and I can actually hardly 

wait until we get to stay in this 5 Star suite!

I am so thankful that the state (maybe even the US on a whole?)

allows for a more extended stay then they do in B.C.

allowing Mom and Dad to learn how to care 

and adjust to life with a newborn.

I pray everything goes as well

with the delivery as it has with the last months

of my pregnancy! 

41 days....

maybe less 

(*cross fingers*)

maybe more.

EEEEEP!

Photo of myself with 3 week old Jeremy.

(Photo thanks to Darcy)