Last Adventure before Baby?

I ended the last post saying maybe the next one would contain good news. Well that is accurate, but not for the reasons you might think. No baby yet, but today's post is about good news -- because we had a good day. :)

At church this morning, Matt talked about "Rugged Obedience" and I could definitely relate to the points of the talk. He discussed Moses and the ways that Moses obeyed God and had to ignore his own expectations and timing and trust God. It was definitely a message that encouraged us in our current situation. :)

In the afternoon, Jackie, Jessamyn, Katie and I were hanging out for some much needed girlstime.

We were gonna watch a movie, but got sidetracked making cookies. Then Evan showed up and he and David were hanging out. Marcus stopped by while he was in town to see Katie, and the boys started playing Wii. At that point, Jessamyn called her dude over, and JD joined the games downstairs.

Therefore, we ladies decided to go on an "adventure" to get some essentials (like milk for the cookies) and to pick up dinner.

We first went to Food Lion for the essentials.


Then we went to Gumby's where Jackie was memorable but not too memorable. (To retrieve our free Pokey Stix using our club card coupons). We acted like we were spies the whole adventure...it was fun pretending to be clandestine.

Then we raced over to Papa John's. Here, since we ordered separately to use two coupons, we split into two groups and pretended we didn't know each other. We were just being silly having fun!



The whole time while driving around town in Novalee Jolene (K-Po's car), we were listing to "Motown's Greatest Hits" in the car in honor of Motown's 50th anniversary.

Below is us dancing... this is the best photo my phone could take while we were all moving!


After getting back home, we shared the pizza with the men and watched "88 Minutes" with Al Pacino. Not Al's finest work, but it was fun to joke around with the group and try to guess the ending.

After the movie, Evan told poop stories while we all laughed hysterically. (His stories followed up a conversation on childbirth where I was trying to explain parts of what being pregnant has been like...there was an actual tie-in somewhere...)
The goal of all the laughing was to try and induce labor -- but so far it hasn't worked.

Despite no mini-chinny yet, I had a blast today with friends. I'm glad we are able to enjoy the journey while we wait and have fun living life!

Tomorrow is Labor Day -- maybe in more ways than one? Only time will tell...

No Full Moon Baby

Well, we had a bunch of contractions last night, and I was timing them, but they weren't consistent enough to go to the hospital. We even went for a walk at 11:30 pm in hopes of making them stronger. And they did continue, but as the night wore on, they got slower. They continued to slow down overnight once I went to bed, and although they have started back up today, they are still slow.

I'm not sure the full moon has helped, so far... let's hope today is the day?

All along throughout our pregnancy, we've gotten a weekly email from babycenter.com telling us about our baby's development each week. This is also the email which would give us the size, for those of you who know about our produce comparisons each week. These emails are all based on the due date that is listed. Today, ironically, we got the below email:


I'll have to admit it was slightly discouraging to get an email with the subject: "Your 1 week old." Actually, we don't have a 1 week old. We don't even have a 1 day old. Or a 1 hour old. We have a 41-week old baby in the belly.

Oh well. God's timing is best. In this we have to trust. Otherwise, David and I would be going nuts right about now.

I hope my next post can be good news! We'll have to wait and see!

Mini-Chinny update

Or should I say, the un-update.

This week has been anti-climactic. We went for our regular doctor's appointment on Wednesday morning, and although the baby was very far down (still), there wasn't much progress on dilation. Still just 1.5 cm. They scheduled us for a BPP ultrasound (bio-physical profile) to check on the baby's health, and sent us home.

We went to the BPP yesterday and our baby scored an 8/8. That means it met all of the criteria for a healthy, safe baby. Plenty of amniotic fluid. Plenty of movement. Strong heartbeat and breathing. The only quirk was the fact that Mini was lying in a sideways fetal position, which explains why I have a huge bulge on my right side. The ultrasound tech confirmed that the head is all the way down in position -- the baby is ready to roll except there's no way out right now. Also, now that I understand the position, I understand why I have an awkward shaped belly that puts pressure horizontally across me (which has made it very tough to sleep lately).

Anyway, things checked out, which meant no need to rush an induction. We had previously been told that we wouldn't be allowed to go past the 8th. We were okay with that date (which happens to be our 8th anniversary) and so we've been looking at that as the beginning of the next phase. Yesterday, I received a call from the doctor's office and because of scheduling reasons, I was told we'd be induced on the 10th if necessary. I know its only 2 days, but I was so discouraged. Ugh. That would put me at 12 days past due date. Just about 42 weeks... I am praying we don't last until next Thursday.

Today, I went to Starbucks to do some paperwork for work (it's a work from home day) and Kristal got me to try a sample of a pumpkin-spice frappacino. If you know me at all, you know I hate coffee anything. But I figured, hey, why not. So I tried the sample...it was tolerable, and I hoped it might spark something!






After Starbucks, I met David for a quick lunch at China Inn. His fortune said "Your luck has been completely changed today." I took this as a positive sign. :)










So that's the latest update... I've been having contractions, just not regular ones. Still just a waiting game...so keep praying. Pray for contractions to be regular and productive. And to not stop once they start.

Full moon tonight... maybe that will help?

the good news and bad news...

always better to start with the "bad" news first... september is here and still no mini-chinny! we are still on the great baby-wait of '09 and i am beginning to wonder if i am permanently pregnant. at least that's what some of my co-workers keep joking around with me!

all-in-all, it's not terrible news -- just not what i was hoping for. we will keep you posted on the baby, though.

in "good" news, i have the day off today from school because of a water problem in giles county. that's right, it's the second day of school and we already are missing a day. that is some good news indeed. yesterday, i will be honest, i was quite miserable being at school. i really was not looking forward to today, so when i got the call last night saying school would be canceled for a "major county-wide water problem" i was leaping with joy. what an answered prayer!!!!

katie pepiot returns to blacksburg today after just getting home from her peace corps duties in south africa the past 2 years. i am so excited i cannot wait. she really wanted to see me pregnant -- maybe that's why i have not had this baby yet! anyway, she just promised me on the phone that once she arrives around lunch, we will do everything possible to get this baby out. i love her persistence and dedication to me. this is the girl who took me off her christmas card list 9 years ago when we worked in hokie grill as students at VT. who knew then that almost a decade later, we'd still be amazing friends and she'd be here with me in the final moments when i'm going out of my mind trying anything possible to get this baby out of my belly into my arms!

more later... gotta get some work done from home today! oh the joys of paperwork and my job...

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Afternoon update: Katie arrived to Blacksburg safely!


Above is Katie hugging Jessamyn! It's so great to have her back in Blacksburg from the Peace Corps. She plans to stay and visit through Mini-Chinny bring born. :)

Goodbye Terri

Those of you in Blacksburg know that our dear friend Terri, who has been on full-time staff with our church the past several years, has decided to move. Friends of Terri gathered tonight at Souvlaki's downtown for a going away party. Jeanette and Terri have been having Monday roommate lunches at Souvlaki's the past several years and have become friends with the owner Mike.

When Terri decided she was officially moving in early September, they asked Mike about having the going away party there. Mike agreed and shut down early tonight for a private gathering of Terri's friends. Terri and Jeanette helped take orders and work the counter, which was fun to watch. It was jam packed in there, too!

Here are a few pics of the 204 girls working the party:
















A fun way to close out my birthday, although David and I peaced out early because it was soooo hot in there with all the people!

We were glad to celebrate with Terri even if it meant we weren't having a baby yet. :)

Birthday Dinner!

Tonight we celebrated my 30th birthday with a random hodge-podge meal consisting of 4 parts.



Pork fried rice, fried potstickers, fries with pasty cheese, and homemade green bean casserole.

I know, a random combination, but that's what 40-week pregnant women eat. :)

Spoils of Gardening!

David wanted me to post a quick picture of all the vegetables he just picked. Behold the fruits of David and Sarah's labor! (and Jess who furiously weeded recently.)

30 is here

As many of you know, today is not only our due date but also my 30th birthday. I was selfishly hoping to have the baby before today so I could say I had our first child in my 20's. I don't know why it mattered - and obviously it's a moot point because today has arrived, I'm 30, and mini-chinny is still hanging out in my belly.

I've been on several long walks the past two days but nothing major to report as far as contractions go. They continue to come and go.

Anyway, I appreciate all the birthday wishes and look forward to posting other exciting news soon!

No News Yet!

I know a lot of folks are curious... because for all our delinquency lately, I promise we will post an update when we are in labor and the baby has been born.

But unfortunately, we don't have any news yet. We are 48 hours from due date and we don't have any clue how long it will be until it's time.

We had our latest doctor's appointment yesterday and he confirmed that mini-chinny is very, very low and in position -- the problem is there is no room for him to exit right now. I have no dilation or effacing really happening. Once contractions start, the baby is in position so things should move decently once I start with some heavy contractions. But so far, I've just been having light contractions on and off for a week. One night they lasted a while and I started timing them, but they stopped and it was a false alarm. So there's really not much to report... yet.

But I promise we'll update when there is something to say. Keep checking back!

August!

The month of August has flown by...

The first weekend we had a 2-day childbirth preparation class at the hospital. We learned all about labor and how to breathe during it. We took a hospital tour and found out a lot of good information to help prepare us for the big day.

This next picture was taken Monday, August 3 before work...


We've been at home every weekend, not traveling this month because our baby is due Aug. 29. This meant we missed the annual NLCF staff retreat, which was the second weekend of August. While it was a bummer to miss out on hanging out with our friends, we enjoyed a relaxing weekend full of getting things done around the home. We also were able to go to Steppin' Out, Blacksburg's annual downtown summer festival.

Jeanette's birthday was on Saturday, August 8th, which is when the staff were out of town. When they returned on Sunday, some of us went out to dinner to celebrate her birthday. (Her dad was staying with us for a few weeks while he worked on the house he and Mrs. Staats own in Blacksburg and plan to retire in this fall!)


On Monday, August 10, my wonderful friends threw me a baby shower here in Blacksburg. My mom and sis drove up from Richmond and my sis came with me to the shower while my mom entertained my hubby. It was definitely a unique baby shower, full of interesting games (one with melted chocolate in diapers), and of course I was showered with wonderful gifts. It was a huge blessing to receive all that we did, and I had a great time celebrating with everyone. Probably the most original shower food for a baby shower, too, since my friends had all my favorites: cream soda, grilled cheese, oat fudge bars, and dark chocolate candy! Also, the ladies made origami animals to hang on a homemade mobile for the nursery (nice idea Jessamyn!). It's pretty cool.

Some other folks have better pics I know, but here are two taken on my camera. The first is of me and Kristal, who returned from being gone all summer at LT. She had fun making up for lost time talking to Mini-Chinny. The second is a pic of Rachel's head on a stick along with booties from Guatemala she mailed me. She wasn't able to come to B'burg for the shower so I made sure she "attended" while I opened her gift. :)




Finally, we have gotten the nursery ready for Mini-Chinny. I think I mentioned before that we were using a panda theme, and have as a result named the room "The Panda Room." (All the rooms in houseofchinn have a name...) We moved "The Cheetah Suite" to the basement, where the guest room now is, and it makes more sense since Peter started his Cheetah research living in the room in the basement.

Here are some pictures from the nursery...






This past week was "move-in" here in Blacksburg, as the students have all returned. We had several church events in the evenings that kept us busy, which helped pass the time as I have been anxious to get this "show" on the road!

So here we are... August 22 and awaiting the arrival of the baby. David has been nesting like crazy this month, doing a deep clean and organization of our house. I cannot explain how much he has gotten done -- so much that has needed to be done for years. He has been amazing!

I have had "false labor" several times this week, having been experiencing contractions for about four days now. Of course they come and go -- sometimes in the middle of the night -- and a few times I have thought "this is it!" For now, we are just waiting, though, knowing that the time will come soon enough!

We'll keep everyone posted as we count down the final 7 days until our due date. I promise we'll send a few updates when I go into labor/deliver Mini-Chinny.