Colin Thomas McDonald - March 13, 2013

Introducing our +1, Colin Thomas McDonald, born March 13, 2013 at 7:58pm.  He was 7 lbs 15 oz, 21" long**.  I was so happy to finally see that face that we had been waiting for so long to see!  I don't like to wait 10 months for something, but in the end it was definitely worth the wait.

Without further ado:

Minutes old

Taken March 14 - Bella Photography

Hopefully this works? Just a mash-up of pictures leading up to meeting the little guy.

Now here we are -- a family of three... responsible for another human being.

**Updated: Previously I had said he was born at 7lb 11oz... that was what he weighed at his 5 day check up.  He was born at 7lb 15oz.  I swear, I'll get this right one day.

The end was nigh..

... but I had no idea.

Weeks 39 and 40 were pretty normal for me.  I was still feeling pretty good.. googling what contractions felt like, various ideas for how to jump start labor (evening primrose oil, castor oil -- so glad I didn't have to go that route, spicy food -- even though up to this point it had no effect).  Not because I was uncomfortable per se, more because I was getting impatient.  I started working exclusively from home, the idea of being 30 miles away from my hospital terrified me.  It would have been just my luck to drive in and then have to have a coworker drive me back to the city while I'm in pain.  It didn't sound like a good time.  

Week 40, coincidentally on our due date, I had a doctor's visit which was pretty anticlimactic.  I wasn't really progressing looking like labor, so we made an appointment for Monday morning to look again and schedule an induction.  I know that a lot of fear is involved with inductions for a lot of people.  I looked at it in a very "at least I know my absolute final day"... and was super relaxed about it.  I liked just having a deadline.  I guess that's the engineer in me.  He was scheduled to be induced on Sunday night, I was supposed to go to the hospital that evening at 6:30 and get all set up.  I never did make it that far.  Haha... but that's a-okay with me!

Otherwise, weeks 39 and 40 were pretty status quo.  I was still sleeping through the night, no swelling in my ankles or feet, and generally I just felt pretty good.  

Here are the pics - along with the last picture I took before he was born.  I took one on Tuesday morning on our way to the hospital - just in case.  So it's me 40 weeks and 4 days.  Looking back, I didn't think I looked that big.. I was super wrong.  I looked uber-pregnant.  Thank goodness to me I didn't feel that way.

Coming up will eventually be birth story (never though I'd be in to that, babies change things), and pictures of our new little guy.  He's pretty stinkin' cute, and we are pretty excited that we get to keep him..  

Week 39:  The Woozy Watermelon

(from my food poisoning where I was gross sick)

  

Week 40:  The Potentially Punctual Pumpkin

(clearly not the case)

Right before leaving for the hospital for our false alarm -- 40 weeks 4 days. 

T-Minus 4 days until.. probably nothing...

I have 4 days until my due date.  I think that means absolutely nothing, except that it provides a basis for the longest I can possibly go before my doctor decides he isn't coming and she will take matters into her own hands.  So, that's fun.  

I knew going into this that the due date was essentially a guess anyway, and there was little chance that anything would happen then, and I would most likely be late.  But, now that I'm actually nearly there -- I have to say, I have a hard time liking that concept.  Not that I'm necessarily ready (I know, I know... you're never ready), but it would be nice to just know that on this date I have a baby.  It's like the deadlines I was working on the last few months for work - I liked having that due date as the light at the end of my tunnel... oh wait, that never worked out either.  Damn.. Ha.  

But, just for fun - I'm attaching a picture I took in the bathroom out here in Lombard today to show off my 40 weeks.  I have to say, the most enjoyment I get these days is people finally feeling confident that I'm pregnant and asking me about it...and then being able to respond to the age-old "when are you due", with "Friday"... and then watching their faces shift from "aaww cute pregnant lady" to "holy shit, she's about to have it on my floor".  It's a small amusement, but I'll take it.  

I also would like to say that I made it through 8.5 months without anyone touching me.. and in the last 2 weeks or so, I've had 2....  Soooooo close.

Now here's what I look like at 9 months... sans make-up (wait, that's not unusual, I never do my make-up).

One day I'll get to posting baby shower pictures and new 2nd bathroom pictures... and everything else that I have planned.... I swear it.  I'm about to have a lot free time on my hands, right?