Olga, my midwife, kept telling me to go on a date night with my husband while waiting for the baby to arrive. 

So yesterday, with the baby being 3 days late, we finally did.

And boy, that turned out to be the best idea ever.  Heartily recommend it to any preggie moms out there.

Althuogh, I guess, we did luck out in picking a great restaurant at random. 

Well, back up a little…I'd always lamented about there being no authentic Italian restaurants in San Jose, but yesterday, I had to eat my words.  Let me tell 'ya - it's not at all odious eating your words when they're accompanied by the best home-made mozarella cheese I've ever had, and Tuscan baby back ribs that were to die for. Even had live music playing a Diana Krall repertoire.  If you're ever in the area, check 'em out – Ristorante Fratello at Meridian Ave in San Jose.   Address details and reviews at Yelp.com.

P.S.  Another midwife checkup this morning.  Fetal monitoring shows all is well, and even revealed a few contractions.  That was a surprise.  A woman can have contractions without feeling them?  Hooray for me!  Surely, baby Douglas will be here by Sunday, no?



 

Cervical exam yesterday.

90% effaced, 2-3cm dilated.

Whoa. 

And that's just on Braxton-Hicks contractions alone.  No real action yet. 

The midwife's findins have created a new energy about the house.  There's a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation in the air, and Grandma has stocked up on groceries for confinement cooking.  Friends are calling up, getting the news, and feeding back into the giddiness.

I've been waking up every morning lately sending this thought to the baby: "It's a good day to be born".

Maybe today will be the day. 
 

When my baby is born, I will be a mother.

May I always be able to love and protect him, as I do now.





 

Hmmm….the due date came and went yesterday. 

No signs of imminent labor yet. 

Let's see – castor oil, long walks, birth ball rock n' roll…

Heck, a desperate woman might even resort to seducing her husband.  You know, for the labor-inducing prostaglandins.

I have a feeling this little guy is going to take his time coming out. 

As I write, he's kicking up a party inside.  Ouch.


 

Thought I felt some minor contractions last night and this morning.  Woke at six – just too uncomfortable to sleep.

Was hoping this would be THE DAY.

Alas, it's now past nine in the morning, and seems like nothing's gonna happen after all. 

Think I'll go for a nice long walk.  Come on, baby, it's time.  Bring it on.