I beseech thee...

What a great word, huh? "beseech"

Anyway, I just wanted to ask you all (beseech you all) for your prayers for Brad, baby, and I as we approach the pending and UNKNOWN date of delivery. (I know the only way for it to be known is to schedule a c-section, but the whole guessing game is getting old, especially now that it really could be any day, but I don't feel like it's ever going to come and I will just be in a perpetual state of pregnancy forever! Eew...Could you imagine?)

For those of you who can't quite remember, the actual Estimated Due Date is January 8 - this coming Monday. I honestly feel the same as I did about a month ago. I haven't really had any contractions worth mentioning or other signs of labor beginning. And when I go for weekly checkups the report is that "nothing is happening". My Dr. isn't worried, though, and at the end of the check-up she always says "If we don't see you before your next appointment, we'll see you then," implying that just because nothing has changed doesn't mean it couldn't all of a sudden start happening one day. So I'm not doomed to being pregnant forever!

So since she's not worried, I try not to worry or be anxious either. She did say this last time (same as what the infamous "What to expect when you're expecting" book says) that some women dilate over the course of a few weeks, and others dilate over the course of a few hours and both are completely in the range of normal. I personally find it a little annoying that just about everything having to do with pregnancy has such a HUGE range of "normal".

I think it would be interesting to hear different pre-labor stories from those who have one or some to share. Were your babies born before or after the due date? How early did you dilate and have contractions or false labor before the baby came? Or did you feel "completely" normal until the delivery day? (Completely normal in the scope of being pregnant, of course!)

And back to the prayers: Please pray for a smooth, uneventful delivery for all three of us; I wouldn't mind if you pray for a short and easy delivery, too! :) Please also pray for a healthy, happy baby, our transition home and all that is involved with taking care of a newborn and recovering from the delivery. I'm so thankful that Brad will be able to take some time off so we will be able to learn together and experience the first days (and nights!)of our child's life together. We are excited!

Also, thank you again, for all the encouragement you sent me about a month ago when I was feeling more nervous than excited. I still have moments of nervousness, but they are brief and Brad and I are mostly just excited to meet this little gift of life. I'm continually learning, lesson after lesson, to rest in the knowledge that God is in control and that He is my strength and comfort. What a gift it is to know our God!