He's a-comin!

Well, folks, it looks like we are finally closing in on the big event. I went to the midwife today, and she reports that I am 3cm dilated, 90% effaced, and James's head has descended nicely. She said she would be surprised if I was not in labor within 24 hours, but she "could make no guarantees" so we set up an appointment for Monday in order to check me out and make sure all was still well at that point for an induction next Friday, May 1. So... James will be out on May 1 whether he likes it or not, and very likely he'll come of his own accord sooner than that.

With labor clearly mapped out on the horizon, I decided it was time for my final set of belly pics. After this, my belly will be in hiding for quite some time, so enjoy it while you can:) I also included a bonus picture of my "bicep" which is admittedly not that impressive, but it served me well in yoga today, so I thought I'd give it some internet props. Yoga... it's own brilliant adventure... it was raining all day, and I left my car lights on, so my battery died while I was inside trying to make my legs into a pretzel around my belly. Luckily, one of the ladies I knew from my happy bambino classes came to yoga today and offered to bring her truck over to give me a jump (Thanks again, Jamie!!). Unfortunately, it was her husband's truck and it had a weird cover on the battery, so we couldn't figure out where we were supposed to attach the wires... so two giant-bellied women were standing in the middle of the street with jumper cables in-hand looking dumbfoundedly under the hood of a truck. It took a lot for me to push my feminist ideals aside and find a man to ask about battery location, but at least he was very gracious about pretending I was not completely useless. Once he "found" the battery for us, I was able to get the jump I required, so that was swell.
Just a quick FYI: we will probably be switching websites soon. Jess got me an account through the Apple store that will allow me to create my own beautiful webpage with a significantly more user-friendly format than this one. I'll let you know when it's up and running. Probably a few weeks before I have that kind of time or motivation to put into anything:)

One final thought:
I PROMISE I will post a blog (or make Jesse do it!) shortly after delivery. I will also have mom making rounds of calls and it is likely that I will be sending a mass text message. So, until then, my wonderfully enthusiastic baby brigade... know that I'll be resting or laboring for the next few days, and we'll be in touch soon with our wonderful news.
Much love,
the Bornselhofts

what we already know about our son...

Today is James' official due date. And still, no James. I am beginning to wonder if the ultrasound tech got together with my spleen to plan an elaborate and cruel practical joke, resulting in the eventual spontaneous combustion of my "baby". In reality, though, he's still par for the course. Anytime within the next ten days poses no health risks, and that's really a lot more important than my personal agenda (can you tell I'm convincing myself as I go??).
So, I'm fully certain at this point that I absolutely DO NOT know when this baby is going to emerge. What I DO know, is that he has inherited his parents' propensities for stubbornness, independence and procrastination. Let's just hope he decides to make his grand entrance before mommy looses her mind completely. Oh god, she is starting to talk in the third person.
Eeep.
~Leanne:)

labor?

Hello all:)
Jesse and I suffered through our first (and hopefully last?) false alarm last night.
I started having regular contractions about 5 min apart at around 10:30pm. I called the midwife at midnight and she said since I could still comfortably talk and move through the contractions there was no reason to come to the hospital, so we did our best to rest. The contractions seemed to slow down considerably at about 2am, at which point I was able to get some sleep. Unfortunately, Jess was up most of the night being worried and excited, so it was frustrating for us when he had to go to work today after all. We were both pretty disappointed when we woke up this morning and realized that it was either a false alarm, or an inconsistent early labor.

Earlier in the day yesterday, I had an unexpected burst of energy. I rocked at yoga class (probably the best practice of my life... the instructor really pushed me, but not past any limits. It felt AMAZING!) and then I went to the midwife in the afternoon. The news was basically the same as last time... any time would be great, no predictions about when or anything. I asked if she could tell about how big James might be... she thought on the high side of average: 7-8lbs. but she also said that "long-waisted" women like me are sometimes able to hide babies well, so he could be bigger.

Aside from that, there isn't really anything new going on this week. Just waiting. Sigh.

Love,
A slightly dejected mama-to-be

full moon soon cometh

Hello again:)

a few quick points of business:

1) THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!!  We have received so many calls and cards and e-mails over the last week (and throughout the whole pregnancy, for that matter) filled with thoughts of love and support.  It means the world to us that so many family and friends have been keeping track of this pregnancy.  We are truly blessed to have each and every one of you sending your beautiful energy in our direction.  I am certain that knowing I have so many well-wishers will make labor easier for me.

2) To avoid confusion:  I'm still registered at babiesrus.com but I am now ALSO registered at happybambino.com  The only duplicate item is the breast pump.  I only need one, I just REALLY need it, so I put it on both:)

Onward to fun blog:

I have a prediction that this baby will come with the full moon on the night of April 9th/10th.  Just throwing that out there.  That would be super, because honestly, I don't know how much more of this my poor skin can take.  It's stretch-mark city around here (No peeking!  I edited it out of the photos pretty thoroughly!)  And yes, I've tried cocoa butter, and yes, I find it completely useless.  

On a cheerier note, I CLEANED some more today, and it looks like this apartment is finally coming out of chaos mode.  I'm very proud.  Today's happy news also includes my yoga class, where the non-preggo substitute instructor was blown away at the end of class when she found out how far along I am... she said there was no WAY she'd have been able to stretch like that when she was 38.5 weeks.  She was skinny and toned and a yoga instructor, so that made me feel pretty smug!  Even more important than my ego boost, though, was my reassurance at today's midwife appointment.  Once again, everything looks good... James has his head down, a steady, normal heart rate, and good movement.   I have normal belly growth and weight gain, fantastical blood pressure, and several signs that labor is in my very near future.  They don't do checks for dilation or effacement unless they're worried, so I don't know where that's at.  However, all systems are go for launch whenever James decides he's ready:)  Today's midwife guessed that James will probably be pretty long based on where she felt his head and his bum in my belly.  I would not be at all surprised... the Wesselhoft genes don't mess around!

As for Jess... he finished a 9-day stint at the Apple store tonight, so he's pretty wiped out at the moment.  I promised him I wouldn't go into labor until at least tomorrow evening so that he'll be able to rest up a bit.  Here's hopin' I can keep my word.  Who wants a woozy labor coach!?!

That's about it for now.  I'm hoping it's not too many more posts before the big news.  Patience is not my strongest point even when I'm not filled with a myriad of crazy hormones.     

Much love,

the lady in waiting

happy bambino/new registry

Hi all:)
I've had a few queries lately about what we still need for James, and I have a few new answers after completing the birth and newborn care classes this weekend. The classes were at Happy Bambino, a mom-owned and operated, nature-focused baby store and resource center here in Madison. The classes were incredible, and I feel totally armed with the information I need to get started off right. I created a new registry on their website (www.happybambino.com) with a few things that we still don't have, including a couple of wraps (gypsy takes priority over sling) and some resources (breastfeeding support and membership). Many of the classes would also be helpful gifts. In general, I feel like the merchandise they carry is really nice quality and the owners have personally researched it to make sure it's gets good reviews from both environmental and functional perspectives. Some of the stuff might be cheaper elsewhere, but I really am a big fan of this place, and I'd love to see them getting support as an awesome independent business.
Happily, Jess and I are feeling pretty well prepared, and there isn't a whole lot left we "can't live without" except, of course, the baby himself:)
Just wanted to put up that info right away, but I'll write a more fun entry in a couple of days. Who knows, maybe James will decide to COME OUT and then I can put up a REALLY fun entry:)
Love,
The newly-savvy preggo and co.

I have energy!!! (April fools....)

Welcome, friends, to the month when James will enter the world:)
So, I am now 37.5 weeks along, and I am soooo ready to have this baby. Jess and I went to childbirth classes last weekend, which I found very helpful. I think it was a lot of estrogen for Jess to handle, but he says he got some good info out of it, too. Everyone in the class had to write down one word that summed up our ideas about birth. Jess wrote Genesis. I wrote Privilege.  I guess someone had to be the esoteric couple:) If I don't have a baby by Saturday, I'll be going back for breastfeeding and newborn care classes over the weekend. Tonight I went to Meriter Hospital (where I'll be delivering) for the UW midwives' open house. It was nice because I met the two midwives I hadn't had appointments with yet. I also ran into one of the couples from my birth class there, and they kept me company while Jess was off being the breadwinner.
I'm having a tough time balancing my desire to nest with my desire to lay motionless and stare at the wall. It seems like TV+knitting is a nice combo that way. I shouldn't make it sound like I'm doing nothing, though. Today I cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen, typed my birth plan, wrote some thank-you notes, and sanded our beloved rocker for a little over an hour. I feel like there is still a ton that I want to get done, and I'm making progress, but it feels slow and I just can't seem to keep the pace I'd like. Being that I'm getting so close to my due date, I'm trying to cut myself a little slack on that front. I'm being very choosy about my subbing assignments at this point, and I probably won't do much more official work between now and when James is out and about. Just too tired... and I also would really hate to have my water break in front of a room full of kindergarteners!
I am trying not to get too worked up about the "any day now" idea. It really could be as long as 5 more weeks and that would still be normal... but it's hard not to get antsy. I am trying to keep this Emerson quote as my mantra: "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." I have complete faith that if I can tune into that peaceful space, and trust my body to do what it is meant to do, this labor will be a beautiful experience.

That said... labor is imminent! :) Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers as we begin the final countdown to James's birthday (whenever that might be!)!
Love,
Your favorite well-informed birth industry consumers, and their reason for learning

P.S. I quit at pictures this week. Better luck next time!