Week 37...

It's now week 37, and as of my appointment last week, I'm 2 cm., and 50% effaced. Young Sohl is happily squirming about as I type, seeming none too concerned with the idea of making an early appearance. I can go in this week to get the membranes stripped, and hopefully that will make things move along a bit more rapidly. In case you can't tell, I'm finished with the pregnancy thing. Not that I'm not appreciative of the baby, the blessing, or the fact that I can conceive and carry the baby. I'm so thankful for all those things. I'm just ready to meet this young man and to begin our lives as a family of five, instead of as just us four with a super tired, crabby, pained mom who requires more personal space than a Mack truck.

Little Sohl Gal is all about babies right now, and loves to see other babies, talk to them, and really, really wants to touch one. I've held her off, because all the babies she sees right now are teeny, tiny babies, or are inside a classroom she peeks in on. I'm not sure she really gets that one will be living in her house, though she loves to "kiss da baby" when she thinks of it (which is fairly often). I'm torn as to how she'll accept the baby. On some level, she'll be upset that the attention she used to command will be shared; mostly, though I expect that she'll be the mothering type, and that I'll find her inches from the baby more often than not.

Sohl son's taken on the big brother role of Young Sohl already. We were shopping the other day, and Young Sohl moved in such a way that I gasped. Sohl son frowned at my stomach, and said, "STOP it, Young Sohl! You're hurting, Mommy." To which Little Sohl Gal added, "TOP IT SOHL SON!!" At least they look out of me and for each other, right?!?

He says he remembers what happened when Little Sohl Gal was born, and we took him to the labor and delivery unit at the hospital to see where Young Sohl would be born. He liked the rocking chairs, the TV/DvD sets, and was highly concerned about the presence of shots. He remembers that I fed Little Sohl Gal, "tummy milk," and wanted to know if I'd feed the new baby the same way. :) Tummy milk. He also has asked if I can open my mouth so he can talk to Young Sohl and hear Young Sohl's voice. I'm always intrigued by what decisions they've made as to how the whole thing works.

My sister is also pregnant, and is 38 weeks, PRAISE GOD! She's also 2 cm., and is "softening nicely," according to her doctor. My mom asked her if we were racing to see who could have the baby first. I'll tell you what - I'm older, so I should get to go first. :)

I'm asking for prayer for my parents. They've been without power since the remnants of Hurricane Ike rolled through the Louisville area, and are possibly to be restored today. A friend has lent them a generator so that they can keep the food cold, and occasionally make contact with the outside world. Mom's been working, still, and says that while she enjoys camping, she likes it better when she's camping because she wants to, not because she has to.

I still don't have official details of what will happen in C's case, but we're prayerful that we'll know by the end of the week.