Almost there - with pictures!

These will probably be the last pictures of my pregnant tummy, which is exciting for everyone! I had Robert take two, so you can see the difference - I feel like I don't look as huge when I'm clothed. He also took these pictures from sitting down, which makes them a little off, but overall they're a fairly accurate depiction of how large I am. I even developed a few stretch marks here at the end, just in the last couple of weeks. They are just hiding below my belly button, which means that I can't really see them - even in a mirror they're difficult for me to find. The only ones I can see are a fairly amusing "x" that has appeared atop the scar from my naval piercing. That was looking odd enough without the stretch marks.
After the past couple of weeks excitement about when the doctor would decide to induce, it now seems that she has decided that my body can handle itself. This going back and forth is making me a little nuts, but I can't really complain, since I would like to be able to go into labor naturally, if my body will do so. I guess that just shows how well I've done over the past few weeks, in terms of keeping my blood sugar under control and what-not. It's still not great, but Gabriel is still doing fantastic, and the doctor is no longer as worried about either of us suffering terrible side effects. I don't even have to go to the hospital for extra monitoring this week! Now I just get to hope I go into labor this week. My due date is this Saturday, and I don't believe the doctor will let me wait for labor on my own after next Monday. And we are ready for this baby! We really thought that she would want to induce early this week, so we are pretty good to go. My mom is flying in tonight, so that she can be here for the birth. I'm glad we'll have at least a day or two with her without the baby, because she'll be able to help me look at the baby's room with new eyes, and hopefully figure out how to organize it a little better, I think.
So we should all think labor-ful thoughts for me this week! I have been feeling stronger contractions since early this morning, but still nothing regular, or even strong enough to pay much attention to. Maybe we'll get a New Year's baby after all!
And just for fun, I thought I would include a picture of our little Christmas tree, and the other member of our small family, George. We had a lovely Christmas just with our own small bunch. I missed seeing all of our family as we are so used to, but it was nice to be able to be relaxed and just focused on ourselves for this year. As I mentioned before, we feel as though Gabriel is already here enjoying it all with us. We are so ready for him!! Soon . . . and maybe by the next time I post it will be with a new baby to show you!

Whew! That was a close one!

As some of you may already have heard, I almost had a baby this weekend! Because of all the stuff going on with my body (see last post) the doctor was concerned that we would run into complications that could affect the baby. So far he looks great, and he is considered full-term as of this weekend, so she was not worried about him being born early. She felt that the risks of complications were higher than the risks of inducing labor. But when she examined me, she discovered that my body is no where near ready for labor, even being induced. She was still going to go ahead and do it, but after conferring on it with some of her colleagues, she decided that the monitoring we are already doing is enough to catch anything that might be going on with me or the baby.
So, probably no pre-Christmas baby for us, which we are grateful for. At least I am - I knew I was not ready. There is the potential that my body could still go into labor on its own, but that's unlikely I think. Or after our visit on Monday, she could still potentially decide that we need to have the baby this week - but I doubt it. She still wants me to have the baby early, but she's giving my body more time to get there as well. That way even with induction it will remain a more "natural" birth experience. So I'm thinking weekend after Christmas, when he'll be at 39 weeks.
Also, my brother told me a funny story that I want to share. He was talking to his daughter (who's about two and a half) about me being pregnant and having a baby, and he asked her, "What's the baby's name?" Her response? "Bacon."

Thanksgiving

Today I'm so thankful for my family. For everyone who I will not see today, and for the family that I get to spend Thanksgiving with today. I am especially thankful for my little growing family that consists of me, Robert and Gabriel. It sounds really weird, but I feel like he's a part of everything we're doing today - I mean I feel like he is a separate individual who is enjoying the holidays with us. I know that he's still a part of me, but when I think of us getting ready for the holidays, I view him as being not a part of me, but his own little self. It's really hard to explain. But I'm excited to do all of the Christmas decorating and everything that we have not done for the past five years. It's because of the baby that we'll be staying home, so it feels like this is our first Christmas together. Even though he won't officially be here yet! So maybe that's why I feel like he is participating, when really, he is just along for the ride.
So that may not make any sense, but I wanted to try to convey what I was feeling today. I'm thankful for all of you, and I love you very much! And I'm thankful for chocolate covered peanut butter balls, which Robert is making while I type this!