Timing Easter...

So what do you think? I look pretty exhausted right. And swollen. And the sun in my eyes wasn't helping either.

The long weekend was nice. We were both off Friday and neither of us had anything specific planned. We slept late. We watched TV. Basically hung out. Until that afternoon when Chris decided to go get the oil changed in my car. I took that time to go to the grocery store. I got pretty tired walking around and even more tired standing in line waiting for the 15 year old kid to get off his cell phone. Apparently, his plans after work with his dudes was far more important than helping the 9 1/2 month pregnant women get through his check out lane.

Chris was back by the time I got home. I walked in carrying some bags and he says, "You look like you're in pain."

Yeah. I kinda am.

What's wrong babe?

I don't know. My belly hurts. It's cramping or something.

Do you think its a contraction?

Well, maybe, but how would I know.

20 minutes later and we were pretty certain yep, contractions. We started timing them and thankfully, they were all over the place. 13 minutes. 33 minutes. 16 minutes. 44 minutes. We kept timing them on through the Good Friday service at church. Finally, after 4 or 5 hours of what we now knew to be "false labor", the contractions stopped.

Saturday, I woke up so sore. My whole belly just felt like I'd been punched. I took it easy but the contractions came back that afternoon. This time I was doing laundry. And I kept right on doing it. And cleaned the guest bedroom. Then cooked dinner and cleaned the kitchen. Look, if these things are coming regardless then there's stuff that needs to be done.

So when I woke up Sunday morning, I was exhausted. Which we have now established is completely obvious in our Easter photos. But regardless of how awful I look, I have to tell you, I was and am very happy.

I am so excited that I got to feel even "false labor". Never having any of the normal birth experiences was kind of sad. Not boo-hooing kind of sad. Just more of a well, shucks, we'll never know what that's like kind of sad.

Of course, I totally understand those contractions are absolutely nothing like the real thing but I'll go right ahead and cherish the memory of them any way.

However, I am very grateful that they seemed to have disappeared as quickly as they came. Nothing on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. I was a little concerned about working with them but the Lord answered my prayers about that too. I've been able to focus on my final days in the office without a whole lot of discomfort.

Well, no discomfort until someone tells me how tired I look. And how I'm waddling. Or my favorite which is "you haven't had that thing yet?" Seriously. After those comments, I look exhausted, swollen and pretty darn irritated. And no sun in my eyes to blame this time.