October 8??

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday where we learned that my body is still working on getting into the ripe labor shape it needs to be in. With this, my doctor looked at us and suggested we set an induction date just in case. She's a very sweet doctor, very kind, doesn't seem to think of you as just another patient, but a human being and recognizes that having a baby is a life changing event. And, she always gets two thumbs up from both Kevin and I when she acknowledges Brooklyn the first thing she comes in the room. It makes us feel good that she is including our little girl in the process. Normally you have to wait a week before they schedule your induction date, meaning that October 10 would be mine since I am due on October 3. She said she'd cheat a little and would try for Monday, October 6. That day was full and she doesn't work on Tuesdays, and she wanted to set it up with her and not another doctor, so she scheduled me on October 8. So, if I don't go into labor on my own, October 8 is the day. I would, of course, love to go into labor on my own. I've been having some pretty painful contractions, but they don't stick around long enough to constitute actual labor. I'm uncomfortable, sore and tired, all the normal end of pregnancy symptoms.

While I'm very anxious to meet my new baby girl, I am soaking in all the time I have left just Brooklyn and I, because our world is about to change very soon and there's no going back. Getting this close to our baby girl's birth just makes Kevin and I reminisce about the time right before Brooklyn was born. We couldn't imagine how much our lives would change and how rich they could truly become. It's amazing how much a baby changes your life. It's something I wouldn't change for the world though. I absolutely love being a mom, nothing in life is more satisfying and rewarding. Just gazing at Brooklyn from across the room, watching her deep in play and realizing that she's all mine and something that Kevin and I created is just the most incredible feeling. Before I got pregnant this time and even for the first few months, I wondered how I could possibly love this new life inside me the same way I love my first born, but I really believe that your heart grows bigger with each child and I am already head-over-heels in love with my baby girl. I just am extremely eager to meet her, to hold her in my arms, to see what her precious face looks like, to kiss and cuddle her, to look into her eyes, to comfort her, to protect her and to introduce her to the world.

So, October 8 may be the day. The Lord only knows the answer to that question. But, I'd like to throw a question out there to all the moms that are reading this. What did you do to induce labor? I've heard lots of suggestions from eat lots of baked beans to run up and down your stairs in your house 10 times take a break and then repeat for seven times. What worked for you? I'm ready to give a few things a try to see if my baby girl will decide to arrive on her own without an induction.