I haven't given birth...yet.

*A brief note to all interested parties*

I do have a bumpdate; however, I'll probably wait and post it with pictures of the nursery sometime this weekend.  My mom is finishing curtains and we have purchased a glider (which may not make it into the pictures as it's not due to arrive until next week) so I'd like to get some updated pictures on the blog for those who are interested in that sort of thing.

Favorite is hellbent sure Ryan will make his debut on Sunday (also Favorite's bday), and there are definitely some signs that indicate he's going to come sooner rather than later.  Can you ever really tell, though?  Babies can be so darned unpredictable.  If you're a betting person, though, here are the latest updates:

• Over the last two weeks he has dropped significantly. 
• I am having contractions.  They aren't regular or particularly painful, but they're definitely happening.
• At my last appointment, I was 50% effaced and beginning to dialate.  (My next appointment is Thursday afternoon.)  The doctor also gave us the stern "if-you-feel-these-things-come-to-the-hospital" speech.
• It has become particularly painful to walk.  My hips and back are sore fairly consistently and I've developed this need to hold my belly when I move because it feels like he's going to fall out at any given minute.

We have one more shower on Thursday and an appointment to meet with our tax accountant on Friday.  By then, I'm hoping to have finished the last week of lesson plans I have to write for my sub and be 80% caught up on grading.  I think the last thing on my docket will probably be the 85 Julius Caesar papers from my sophomores.  Frankly, though, I'm impressed we've gotten this far.

The end game here is an actual baby.  And most of the time I'm still surprised I'm getting one of those.

Stay tuned for the (according to Favorite) soon-to-come announcement of his birth :)