When is this baby going to come???

On the morning of Sunday, August 28th I started having contractions that were very consistent every 4-5 minutes. The rule is to head to the hospital once you've had contractions every 5 minutes for an hour, so off we went. This is a quick picture we took just before jumping in the car.

We were so excited that our baby was finally going to arrive! We got to the hospital and I was hooked up to the monitors and sure enough the contractions were real! Unfortunately, they weren't progressing much. After an hour of speed walking in the hospital (Aaron timed my laps and I was able to beat my time with each one!) we went back in to check on the progress. We were very disappointed to hear that there was minimal change - BOOO! They sent us home, but said they were sure they'd see us later that day. My parents headed down from Moscow so they'd be here in time for the baby's arrival.

The contractions got mildly stronger - just enough to keep me from sleeping Sunday night, but not enough to make me feel like I should rush into the hospital. I saw the doctor Monday morning and things had progressed a little, but she said to go home so I wouldn't have to spend all day in the hospital. She was sure the baby would be born later that day though. By that evening I was really frustrated that we still weren't in the hospital and that maybe my parents made the 6 hour trip for no reason. After we got Zoë to bed Monday night, Aaron and I decided to go on a brisk walk. Somehow he convinced me to do some jogging intervals (40 seconds of jogging, then 1 minute of walking) for about 1/2 hour. Let me tell you, that got the contractions going! At about midnight I woke him and said we should probably head to the hospital. Here's a picture of me arriving at the hospital and hoping that they would decide to keep me there!

The monitors showed that I was definitely having stronger contractions every 2-5 minutes, but they still made me go walk for an hour before they would decide that I needed to stay. I was so relieved when they told me I could stay and have my baby!!!!

Unfortunately, my labor then slowed again, so at 8:00 Tuesday morning (after a second night of no sleep) my doctor broke my water. Labor picked up after that and Liam was born at 1:21pm!