Clara Katherine Dryden

Clara Katherine Dryden

Born February 27, 2009 at 2:46 am
7 lbs 14 oz; 20 3/4"
Beautiful.

40 1/2 Weeks. We Believe the Picture Tells the Story.

40 Weeks and the Waiting Game

From now on we'll be as confident in the gynechiatrist's forecast as we are in the weatherman's. Today is Baby Girl's due date, and she's giving us no hint that she's interested in coming out. She's close to inheriting Kate's old nickname, Pokie...running just a little behind because she's busy poking around at this or that.

Now we're trying all the tricks to get her out: spicy food, long drives over bumpy roads, pomegranate juice, you name it.

39 Weeks

Valentine's Day 2009 marked the beginning of Baby Girl's 39th week in-utero. We celebrated with a day of R&R, since we've been advised to take advantage of the peace and quiet now! We learned at last week's OB appointment that Baby Girl is quite cozy, comfy, and content in Kate's belly and has no intentions of arriving early. We are so excited to meet the little one but are trying to be patient while she gets ready to make her grand entrance!

38 Weeks & the Nesting Impulse

Baby Girls is kicking in rapid bursts now, testing the structural integrity -- I think -- of her cell. It would seem she's making all the preparations for an escape. Kate's uterus is responding with firm Braxton-Hicks contractions, clenching more frequently and much more intensely.

This nesting impulse is more powerful than anything Paul has witnessed. This morning, I kid you not, Kate was sewing a valence for Baby Girl's nursery. Kate...my wife...sewing! What are the signs of the rapture again? This one might have been lost in Biblical translation. It goes to show the overriding power of biological instinct.

All in all, we're enjoying these last few (days? weeks?) of quietude in the Dryden household and waiting for Baby Girl to join us.

37 Weeks and Counting...

Saturday marked the beginning of Week 37, which means that Baby Girl is technically "full-term" now (although she seems quite content and cozy staying in Mama's belly for the time being)! We celebrated by having Paul install the car seat (thank goodness for his natural engineering abilities), followed by witnessing the Steelers' victory in Super Bowl XVIII. Kate is still feeling good and her energy level is still high, so she has continued walking and going to the gym. Paul was able to document Kate and her friend Teresa (20 weeks pregnant) after a long walk around the neighborhood. Nothing like capturing the smiles of 2 pregnant ladies!