Due Date Day

March twenty-fourth has come - our daughter's due date. 

Baby girl is still lounging, nice and cozy in my belly.  I imagine she's lying in there with a beach towel, a pair of shades and a glass of tropical punch garnished with a mini umbrella.  

Our appointment on Friday showed that I am still the same 70% effaced and 1 centimeter dilated that I was the week before.  And the week before that. 

Our doctor called her a "little stinker" and asked us to come back on Monday for another check and a non-stress test, since I will officially be overdue tomorrow.

I don't have that "Get her out now!" feeling at all. 

 I feel more excited and more anxious because I know that we are definitely, no matter what, coming to our last days together.  And we now know for sure, she will be here in 8 or 9 days at the very latest.  

When I returned home from the appointment, I decided I should really get on packing our hospital bag.  I had everything washed and set aside for a good month but wanted to wait until we were closer to our due date.  I always imagined as soon as I packed us up, I'd go into labor.  Or that I'd go into labor and be huffin' and puffin' my way through packing us.
It was nice to be able to pack in peace.
I got my long list out, threw the bag on our bed, threw a good ol' Full House episode on t.v. and got to work.



Target has always been one of my bffs but in these last few weeks, we've grown even tighter. Every day I'd think of (or be told of) another item that should go in our bag.  I lived there last week as I finally completed checking off our packing list.

Before heading out the other night, I asked Steve if he had any last requests for his side of the bag.

"New slippers, gummi bears and beef jerky!" 

What a combination.  As I approached the lady at the checkout counter, I could see she had a big smile on her face.  "When are you due," she asked as she rang up my hilarious order of nasty beef jerky, knock-off gummi bears, dollar bin treats, $2 earrings, nail polish remover and neon undies in a size or two too big.  "Sunday...oh, and the snacks are for my husband" I said, as I laughed and smirked.  You know she totally thought I was lying and imagined me going home and pigging out on a gummi bear/beef jerky ice cream sundae.  I wouldn't put it past me, though. 

 I've been known to make a nice bowl of trail mix with milk

and eat ramen with pepper, peanuts and dijon mustard this past month.

Muffin sat by and watched my every move while I packed.

 All set!

(besides a few items that will have to wait until the time comes.)

Friday night, I decided to make some more freezer meals for the upcoming weeks.

The Mr. bought me a few cooking magazines a couple months ago with some pretty awesome (and easy) sounding recipes.  I gave the chicken and broccoli casserole a try and it turned out great.

I'm actually learning to follow directions. ;)

Saturday morning, I woke up and could have sworn that it was going to be "labor day." 

There were booby traps following me from the instant I opened my eyes.

As soon as I stepped out of bed, my foot sunk into a freezing cold, squishy, wet slipper.

Miss Muffin, who loves to try and steal a sip of my water, must have knocked over my cup in the middle of the night, causing it to land directly into my slipper.

Next, I headed to the bathroom to get ready for our day.  Eye makeup remover was one item I did not want to chance forgetting for the hospital.  (I have a feeling it's gonna get a lot of use with this emotional mama.)  So, I packed it on Friday (and was too lazy to use it that night before bed).  I, like a total dumbo, grabbed a tissue and pumped a little bit of some handy-dandy hand soap onto it - Hey, hands...eyes...they're all the same, right?!

And in my groggy state, I went to sweep the tissue over my right eye and got a nice glob of cranberry orange soap right smack inside it.  It burned like no other and stung like someone poured Tabasco sauce in my eye and then lit it on fire.  I'm not lying.  I don't know what's in that stuff, but it is evil. Feeling like a total moron, I tried to flush it out and keep quiet before telling Steve.  I was literally dying laughing and almost crying at the same time.  Two minutes later, it was even worse and I could barely see out of both eyes because of the insane burn.  I went in the hallway and screamed to Steve in the office. 

After he realized his wife wasn't in labor he screamed -"Flush it out, baby, what are you doing?!  Why in the hell did you use hand soap to wash your eye out?!"

(as he rightfully so, laughed his butt off and stood in the doorway staring at his loony wife). 

"Because I already packed my eye make up remover!!  Don't just stand there, help me!!  Help me!  Help me!  I can't see" I shrieked (as I am laughing uncontrollably and hanging over the bathtub drowning my eyes with water).

This literally went on for about twenty minutes until my eye actually gained its sight back.

I truly believe that yesterday morning was just a glimpse of what our labor will be like - there will be burning and stinging and laughing and screaming and crying and more laughing.  And definitely more crying.

 Pure evil!

Steve grabbed my camera out of my purse and snapped about 289 photos of the whole thing.

Here's a few of our favorites.

Smart  Dumb Maria uses another tissue

(and places more dust in her eye) to try and help with the pain.

 This is our absolute favorite.  This was me in the middle of laughing so hard, crying, and me telling Steve that I was going to squeeze some of that demon soap in his eye if he didn't stop laughing at me.

Thank you, cranberry orange Home Goods hand soap.  Labor will feel like a breeze after the pain you put me through. ;)

So, after my eyesight finally came back around, we were truly ready to start our day.  I had worked up quite the appetite.  And what better way to feed it, than with a trip to the sweet, Shady Maple Smorgasbord in Amish country.

The drive through Lancaster is always so pretty, rain or shine.

We picked up my mom and Karen and were on our way.

The drive was extra long and scenic, as we were stuck behind a carriage half the trip.

Luckily, Road Rage Randy Steve kept his cool.

Steve made fun of us ladies for wasting belly room with salads.

This is what our first plates looked like.

 And this was his...

Fried chicken on top of steak on top of fried shrimp.

We shortly followed his lead (just with maybe about 1/4 the amount of meat).

I didn't eat it all...promise.  If baby left me more room, I so would have.  Everyone laughed at me as I walked waddled back to our booth, carrying a plate of desserts and 2 pieces of cake.

 My mom looks so sweet and innocent here.  I think it's a good look for her.

I was glad we came across these - I picked up the cutest little bonnet for baby girl.  I tried to tie it on Muffin, but she ran for it.

 After 3 hours of lunch and shopping

 ***

Last night, we got festive and dyed some eggies.

Muffin was thrilled she got her own little cup.



***

Much thanks to my friend, Rebecca.  She sent us a sweet package this weekend filled with thoughtful treats for all of us.   She made the tutu for her daughter this past year and wanted to pass it on to us for baby girl - so touching.  I see a photo shoot or two with baby sportin' it.

Thank you so much, Rebecca!

<3

So, here we are - due date day.

40 weeks.

 LOL!

Whether it be tomorrow, mid-week or next week...

We are ready.  Waiting.  Practicing patience.

  And filled with massive amounts of excitement and love. 

<3

Have a sweet night, everyone!  Thank you so much for your constant support and love.

<3



40 Week Lovin',