Progressing towards labor...

I had another prenatal appointment yesterday. These appointments are once a week now, since I am in my 9th month. At 37 weeks and 5 days yesterday, my doctor "checked" me for the first time, to see if I was making any progress. She said I am "almost 2cm" dilated and about 50% effaced, and that the head is really low (at a -1 station). Dr. Young predicts at least another week until I go into active labor. And because she is in a low position already, she said I should have an "easy labor." Of course "easy" isn't actually "easy," but it was still good news to hear! :) My labor with Mekhi lasted just 6 hours from start to finish, being induced with prostaglandins. I have very good memories of how everything went, and I was able to get through the labor without even needing an IV or any medications, with support and distractions from my sister Renee and dear friend, Jessica. My worry this time (up until now) was that since I'm not planning on being induced, that I would be one of those women who are in labor for 24+ hours (or 42 like one of the women in our birhting class told us)! So it was reassuring to know that things are starting to progress already, before I am even in labor. It is reassuring to know that when I do go into labor in a week or two, some of the work will already be done! It is also exciting that Wade and I will get to go through the experience together this time. He is such an amazing and supportive husband, I am really looking forward to sharing such a profound experience with him!

My mom and sister fly in from Oregon on the 6th, so they are really hoping that Phoebe waits for their arrival before making hers! Mom is really looking forward to being present for her birth... so we'll just have to see how God plays it all out! Either way, they will get to be the first family to visit and meet the new addition to our family! Mom and Valerie will be here from the 6th through the 16th, and then they'll head back home to attend a family wedding. So hopefully Phoebe does come just a few days early so that they will get to spend more time with her!

We are expecting the Dorrell side of the family a week later. James and Carrie will be arriving by airplane from Seattle on the 23rd, and the rest of the family (Jack, Barbara, Melissa and Heather) will be driving down together from Coeur d'Alene. Now that the previous guest room became the nursery, we will be getting creative with sleeping arrangements so that we can all share this special time together!

My other sister Renee and her family live here in Boise, so in her first month of life Phoebe will get to meet all 3 grandparents, 5 aunts, 2 uncles, and 3 cousins (and Grandpa Jerry will have the best view of all, I am sure, from heaven).

I turned in my preadmission form to the hospital last week, put the infant car seat in my car, packed the hospital bag and diaper bag yesterday, and our babysitters (Auntie Renee and Uncle Zach) will be home from camp in a few hours, so everything is ready... that should buy us another week, right? Now I can relax and enjoy a weekend of leisure with my husband to celebrate our first wedding anniversary! Needless to say, I will not be fitting into my wedding dress this year! But we are looking forward to enjoying our wedding cake that we saved in the freezer :)