You're FINALLY Here!!!!!!!

Hi Baby Cameron!! It's so nice to finally meet you in person. Your Mommy and I are so thankful that you decided not to stall this time. Once you made up your mind to enter the world you made quick work of it. Mommy is doing great. You should see her smile when she holds you in her arms. Everyone is so excited to meet you. I have to put your pictures on the net for all of your family and friends to see. I can't wait to get to know you better. I love you!

Love,
Daddy

Heading to the Hospital!

Well, apparently you have decided to follow doctor's orders and have no intention of arriving without a little help. We are all packed and ready to walk out the door and just wanted to capture this moment. We are nervous and excited and nervous... My first time to have to stay overnight in the hospital. At least when I come back home, I will have something to show for all these months of hard work! You know, after having such a curvy figure for all these years, I always assumed that I would be blessed with an easy labor... Guess we will see if I have just gotten the short end of the stick for nothing.

So tonight we will just be hanging out, hoping the drugs will do their part to make tomorrow easier. Not sure what time we will officially be inducing labor, but we are praying that it goes quickly and is safe for both you and me. There are certainly lots of prayers over us, little girl!

So here are your mommy and daddy for the last time as just a twosome! We are so ready to meet you and are very blessed on this day... The day before you.

The Waiting Game

Miss Behaving,
The doctor put two big sensors on my tummy yesterday to check out what all was happening with us. One picked up your heartbeat and the other was supposed to monitor contractions. Let's just say that one didn't get much of a workout. But your heartrate went up and down and I felt you move alot. After seeing the readout, she said you are a "perfectly reactive" baby. Still healthy and comfy to stay put. Sorry sweet girl, but you are about to be served your eviction notice!

I have an official time to go to the hospital - Wednesday afternoon - and they will start me on some medicine that will hopefully make inducing labor easier. I have been waiting so long to write a blog post that worked in the phrase "cervix softening!" The next morning is when we will kick off the big shibang, and you will most likely have a birthday of October 30th! Should be easy to remember!

So now is just a matter of passing the time. I can't really be up and running for more than a few hours before I get worn out, but I am trying to stay busy. Today is grocery shopping and maybe cleaning a bit. Last night your daddy let me boss him around and we reorganized the storage building. It needed a new set of shelves and we cleaned and swept it all out. Looks nice and big and organized now. He even bought me Tetris to play on the Wii (since I stink at all the hard games) and bought the Internet channel so I can check emails without having to climb up the stairs. It is super cool and should be very handy when you are keeping my hands full. I can see us looking up recipes or answers to funny questions.

Just so you know, your daddy and I are really anxious about your arrival. I have never had to stay in the hospital before, so we hope that everything goes smoothly and that you are here before we know it. He is really ready to take a week off from work too! He can't wait to spend time with you since I have been hogging you for all these months. He says that he is so excited, but really nervous about officially becoming a dad and feeling so responsible for you and me. He loves you so much and hasn't even laid eyes on you yet!

You know, if you decide to change our plans and come a bit before Thursday morning, I am totally okay with that. Everyone in our family is just waiting for the call. Your Grammy even mixed up her planning period with a class coming to her science lab and the poor kids missed out on doing their science activity for the day. She says she is more calm today but in her words, she was "a basketcase!" Do us all a favor, and quit making us play the waiting game!

Young lady, do you know what day it is?

Well, still nothing. We have spent the weekend doing everything that people have said brings on labor. Walking, eating spicy foods, uh... don't ask about that other thing. It doesn't work either. But we did have some excitement on Friday. One of the perks of your daddy's job is that he occasionally gets to meet famous people. And he says this was the best one ever:

That's right - King George. He came in for a knee brace and your daddy had quite a conversation with him. Said he is very kind but shorter in person than you think. :)

Since we have run out of things to do other than sit around and wonder why you are taking so long, your Grammy decided to come keep me company for a few days. Maybe she just wanted to have a head start on all your other grandparents if you decided to make your arrival... Well, you showed her. We spent Saturday morning hanging out at home with Emerson and Ryan and your Aunt Rachael. It was funny to see how interested Emerson is in Joe Dog and how nervous he is around her. He did lots of sniffing but would bolt anytime she made a grab for him. We had a fabulous lunch and did a bit of shopping, which was the true highlight of the weekend thanks to Crazy 8. I had no idea that we had a store in San Antonio, so I will be making many more trips there in the future. Check out the cute new things you got, little girl!

Who doesn't need a dress with milk and cookies on it? We even picked up a few Christmas presents while we were at it. We had a great time. Then your daddy took all of us out for a fancy dinner at our favorite place, Scenic Loop Cafe. We might not be eating there again for a while, so it was a wonderful evening with cool weather on the patio. Next time, I am having a margarita for sure!

But today, we are still waiting. Nothing to pass the time. Tomorrow we go back in to get monitored for a bit and hopefully we will set a time to induce labor. You know, I have always been a bit of a procrastinator (just ask my roommates about my senior thesis) but I can get amazing things done at the last minute. No doubt you have your own plans. Could I possibly entice you with the fancy new cusions that your Grammy brought for the rocking chair? Story is that your Papa brought this rocking chair home to Grammy when she was pregnant with me, and that's why she wanted us to have it. Now we will have two rocking chairs in the house, so I hope it is a magic calming thing for you.

Seriously, can we make some kind of agreement here? I know I am doing a great job as your incubator, and it is probably my own fault for giving you such amazing food and music to listen to. But you have to come out of there at some point! Your mommy really wants to wear pants with zippers again. Any chance for Tuesday? It's Ashley's birthday, and maybe if we make that your birthday too, she might start to like babies just a little bit. Let's talk more over some ice cream.

Please, Not Halloween!

Well, this is my 100th post, but I wish I had more news to share... Went to the doctor again and after another uncomfortable exam, the big story is.... NOTHING. Apparently someone let word slip that your mommy has a habit of being fashionably late, so you have decided to take after me! The doctor said that she would bring me in to be monitored on Monday afternoon and we can decide from there on when to induce labor after that. Absolutely no later than Halloween, but I really don't want that to be your birthday! We will see what we can do to make sure you arrive before then. You deserve to have your own special day and not compete with such a crazy holiday. Halloween has never been my favorite and I hate all the gory decorations and scary costumes. I guess we never really made a big deal out of it when I was little and we always celebrated at the church festivals. It might also have been a factor that we lived out in the country and weren't going to walk 5 miles to knock on people's doors for candy!

Anyway, we are going to have a peaceful next few days. No plans for the weekend other than you! Everyone is so anxious to hear that you have arrived. I am trying not to call too many people because their first thought is that I am in labor. Hate to get them all worked up just to say hello and that I am bored!

At least I got one good chuckle today. Your daddy's stepmom emailed me a funny list of ways to prepare for parenthood. Some were a bit depressing (lack of sleep, being broke), but this one had me laughing - "Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week’s groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children." Nice, huh?

All this Grownup Stuff

Love Bug,
Today I had to laugh at an email that I got at work. I have been trying to inform my contacts that I am going to be leaving through the end of the year so I can be at home with you. This woman (who I am sure would have been embarrassed if I had called her out on it) sent an email to the people under her informing them that I was going to be out on my "Maturity Leave!" I guess it is appropriate, and I will be forced to feel like more of a grownup after you are born!

Every day that passes just makes me wish you were already here. I am worried that this waiting will go on forever, and that labor will be days on end. After talking to your Aunt Rachael, (I am sure she was just trying to not sugar-coat things) she assured me that labor for our Haley women takes forever. Yippee, thanks! I guess we will know more when we go back to the doctor again on Wednesday morning. You are starting to look like that 20% of babies that come past their due date.... Or maybe you are just like your mommy and are a bit of a planner. You might arrive exactly on schedule just because that is when you had your arrival on the calendar!

Your daddy decided to go get a haircut this week to make sure that he looks nice for all the pictures he plans to take with you. All his curls got cut off, but he still looks handsome. He must have been going for the low-maintenance look. We talked the other night about which one of us we think you will look like. He says that you will be much prettier if you look like me, but I just said that I hope you don't take after his facial hair. :) I need to ask your Grammy to bring some of my baby pictures with her when she comes to see you so that we can compare. It is hard to guess your features off of fuzzy ultrasound pictures, but you seem to have big eyes like me.

Well, I am trying to be a trooper and hang in there as long as I can. Half days at work this week was the best idea ever. And this afternoon, I am going back for another prenatal massage. My back has been hurting alot and I am finally to that phase where it is uncomfortable to sit in the car, lay down in bed, bend over, or stand for long periods of time. I guess that pretty much means all the time... You don't seem to mind so much. Maybe I need to stop eating so much good food so you are a little anxious to get outta there! It must be Daddy's fault for making his delicious peach cobbler again.

Come Home, Cameron!

Miss Cameron,
Your mommy has a thing for flowers. Not all the time, but especially when guests are coming. And you are our home's most special new guest EVER, so I figure you should have lots of pretty flowers to come home to. I got all of them for only $16! Your mom has taste and good financial habits. So now the front and back porch look much more festive.

Your daddy's family is coming to stay with us this weekend to go to some livestock sales, so it would be convenient for them if you could go ahead and arrive while they are here. I am sure they wouldn't want to get home on Sunday and have to turn around 2 or 3 days later... But everyone at work says that I should wait until the end of next week. That way I won't leave as much work for them! :)

I know you will come on your own time. Your daddy is starting to get nervous about seeing me in pain. The other night while we were watching TV, I sat up quickly and took in a sharp breath because you were making me really uncomfortable, and he was so sweet and concerned. I think it makes both of us nervous to have no idea how long the whole process will take and how unbearable it will be. Thank goodness for drugs! I just keep thinking that hopefully in just over a week, you will be here sleeping in your playpen, wearing all the cute things that we have had waiting for months and months. I will sing the same songs that you have heard from inside my tummy, and Daddy will tell you all about the Cowboys, and Joe Dog... well, he will probably sniff you and run away when you cry. But we promise, we are all excited and ready for you, Sweet Girl.

Emerson Says Hi

Look at your cute cousin, Emerson. She is already in Halloween mode! Hopefully you will make your arrival WAY before then, and you guys can wear cute little outfits together. We already have your tiny onesie waiting. All the costumes were going to swallow you since you will be fresh out of the oven. But cute you will be!

All Packed Up with Nowhere to Go

Cameron,
All the preparations are being taken care of for your arrival, my little sweetheart. Your daddy fought and fought with the base of your car seat (first one went in my car) and had almost gotten it balanced and clipped in when I walked out to check on his progress. The first thing I said was, "Did you forget to put the seat saver underneath?" It is a little cushy pad that is supposed to protect the upholstery and catch messes... So in frustration, he grunted and had to take it all off and start over. Needless to say, he gave up after that one and has yet to put the other bases in his car and pickup truck.

I think I almost have our hospital bags packed too. Yours was easy, just clothes and tiny mittens and burp cloths. Mommy's bag on the other hand, has to have lots of toiletries and pajamas and movies (just in case) and something to wear home. Your daddy says I should go ahead and put them in my car but I feel like that might just backfire and make you take even longer to arrive!

Speaking of your arrival, I went to the doctor again today. Since we are at about 38 1/2 weeks, we thought there might be the possibility that you are starting to show signs of coming...... but no! Nothing! We did get a good report on your heart rate and my blood pressure and I actually didn't gain any weight from last week (must be all that walking your daddy makes me do). So the doctor recommended that I stay busy and try to be patient. I think I am just making you too comfy in there and you have no immediate plans for eviction! At least I can say, contrary to the horrible description on your little weekly ticker up there, I generally feel good. I think as the days go by, I might start to have more swollen feet and back aches, but I am still trying to make it to work and be productive. As much as I wish I could just stay home and lay in bed all day, I have to be up and going so that you won't leave me pregnant forever!

Crossing off the To-Do List

Meant to post this on Saturday....

Because Mrs. Cara has the same diaper bag for her little girl Ainslee, I figured we just HAD to get ours monogrammed so they don't get mixed up. The good news is that they have been doing the research for the past couple of months and Cara says that it is a fabulous bag with just the right amount of space. So here is the finished product!

I also filled out all the preregistration paperwork for the hospital and turned it in this week. Hopefully that will streamline the process when we arrive for Cameron's birth! The only weird thing to me is that you have to choose your pediatrician before you are admitted, so it's basically like picking a name out of a hat. There is a new practice that I kept noticing when I drove past it, so I did a little online research (good reviews from their patients, have been in practice for about 10 years) and called them up to make sure they are accepting my insurance and new patients. So I guess whoever is on call will get to come meet Cameron and us for her first checkup at the hospital.

So now we are at the end of the week. My feet and ankles are suddenly really swollen today, so I decided that I needed a pedicure on my lunch break. I found a nice fall orange-y color and the woman gave me the most fabulous massage of my feet and calves. I wish I could have paid more to get twice as long! But with just 15 days to go, I guess I should have expected to look like this... I don't have time to complain much because next week is going to be so busy at work. I am trying to cram in all kinds of things before I disappear for two months!