Well, here we are....

I know, I know, this is the way I start every posting. It's been forever, once again! But too bad, once you are at this point in pregnancy, you have to prioritize, and I have to choose laying down and resting to typing in my blog. I said to someone to let me know if they create a laptop where you can type while laying down, because that would work a lot better. As I type, my feet are about the size of hot-air balloons and I really need to put them up, but I want to get a post on here.

Ok, so where to start? It's almost D-day, and little Baby Landers could come at any time! And, for the most part, any time would be just fine....however, on a side note, our bestest friend Steve Voss is getting married this weekend in Chicago, and Eli is in the wedding! That means, he is leaving tomorrow morning and returning on Sunday afternoon! We knew when they planned that wedding that I wouldn't be able to go, but we thought that since I will just be 37 weeks, the odds of the baby coming were pretty low for a first baby.

Well, go figure that when we went to the dr. last week he told me that I was already progressing! If you want to know details, I was 1 centimeter dilated and 50% effaced! Trust me, I am very realistic, I understand that I could still be weeks away from delivering, but it definitely surprised us since we didn't expect to hear that anything had happened! Needless to say, it kinda freaked us both out with Eli leaving for Chicago this weekend (that was last Thursday). But my mom is coming to stay with me this weekend, and Eli reported to me that he has printed out all the possible flights back to Harrisburg each day, each categorized by different things....so he is ready!

I was really nervous for awhile, but then I was like, "What can I do?" I know I need to relax and stay calm, and decided that God would handle it a lot better than I would, so I am just trusting Him to take care of us! And I know He will!

We have our bag all packed and ready to go, although I don't really think I have any idea what I really need. After all, I've never done this before! But I gave it my best guess, and now I can say I have my bag packed! In talking with a friend who is due just three days before me, we agreed that is weird that you can feel ready and yet totally not ready at the same time. I mean, my body feels ready, and I think my mind feels ready, but yet I feel totally unprepared. I absolutely do NOT want to pretend to know what to expect in all of this. I think I have probably educated myself to the MAX, but at the same time, my own experience is going to be completely unique, and no one can tell me what that will be. I am so very thankful to have my amazing husband right by my side, as well as wonderful sisters, a supportive mama, and great friends! It really makes a huge difference.

I go in to the doctor again tomorrow. We tried to get in earlier before Eli leaves, but they had absolutely NO openings! Apparently, there are a million and one expected births in the month of August at Hershey! So I will attend my first doctor's appointment alone, and hope that he doesn't tell me there have been any enormous changes, since by that point, Eli will be midair!

So, in conclusion, I drop Eli off at the airport in the morning and my mom comes in the evening, and meanwhile, this little guy will just have to stay hidden until Sunday, or at least until Eli gets in on a last-minute flight back. I am so very sad not to be able to be at Stevie Ray's wedding, especially since we have waited SO LONG to meet this marvelous lady we hear so much about. He completely understands, but we were so looking forward to being part of his special day and spending time with him and Erin and the Voss family. But I guess I will live vicariously through Eli, and will send my best thoughts off with the new couple. They have promised, and I am publicly proclaiming their commitment, that they will come to PA to see us after little Landers comes (hopefully this fall). That's pretty much all I can do from here...

Oh, and one last thing. We finally decided on a name! We are keeping it a surprise to others until the baby is born, but we were totally stuck between two different names. We asked God to help us know what he wants us to name the baby, and he gave us a clear sign the other night! So now we are ready to go! Let's do this thing.

Here's this week's picture, see if you can tell if the baby has dropped or not: