Not yet....

Well, as you know because you are getting this update, the baby has not yet arrived. The waiting really is so hard for us both. Our doctor's appointment was this morning and she said everything is looking good and healthy, but I still have not dilated any. I have progressed a little, effacing to 75%.

We tried to talk the doctor into scheduling us to be induced tomorrow, but she does not like to intervene on the first baby until the due date passes, and especially if I am not dilated. After she told us why, we agree that it is not the best idea until I am actually over-due. She explained that if she does an induction when the cervix is not favorable, it increases the chances I would be forced to have a c-section, and neither of us want that.

So, alas, the waiting game continues...
Dr. Gallagher hopes that things will start to change in the next couple of days, but as of now, we have another appointment set for 8:30 AM on the actual due date, next Wednesday. If I have not had the baby by next weekend, she will in fact move forward with an inducement on August 11th.

I am resting this afternoon and praying for peace during this frustrating waiting time. We know the little man will be here very soon...we just have to be patient!

It may be the beginning...

We had a great weekend staying here in town and hanging out with some of our new friends. Friday night we had 3 couples over and cooked out. Jeff and Jen live down the street from us; Andrea and Will live a few streets away and Sheri and Kevin live in a neighborhood about 10 minutes away. They all have kids and Andrea is expecting another girl in December and Sheri had a little boy named Reed four months ago. Saturday we spent the day out and about, bouncing down some hill country roads and walking a lot, then we went to mass... but nothing seemed to bring on labor.

We went to a birthday party at Sheri and Kevin's house Saturday night and then Sunday we had a nice early morning and then went to see our friends Alicia and Brandon and their adorable 10 month old twins for lunch. We really miss our friends back in H-Town but we are so happy we are making some good friends here as well. H-Town friends, we are REALLY ready for you to come visit!!

This week has been busy for both Jonathan and me work-wise. It is hard to concentrate on work these days, but I am grateful for the distraction during the excruciating waiting game! I have a lot to do in order to feel confident in the team covering everything while I am out and I want to take all 10 - 12 weeks off with the baby, not before he arrives. I had back to back meetings from 8:30 - 4:30 yesterday with my business partners and of course, I started having mild contractions at about 9 AM. They have not been extremely painful and come only about every 2 hours. The doctor says that it is normal for 39 weeks and indicates things are starting to happen. We have an appointment tomorrow morning at 9:45 tomorrow for her to check out the progress.

As you can tell, we are VERY eager to meet Baby Boy Tinker and get this new adventure started. The waiting is the hardest part, but we are trying to remember that after the big day does arrive, everything will change, so we're enjoying a lot of time together enjoying each other until then.

We will certainly try to post another update before delivery if it is not tonight or tomorrow, but if you don't see one in the next few days, give us a call to see if he has arrived! We will deliver at Methodist Hospital in the San Antonio medical center.

Please pray for a happy, healthy, safe delivery and baby! And, that it will be SOON!

The Waiting Game....

Today we are officially less than two weeks from the due date and we are so ready to have this baby! Every night, Jonathan and I sit down for dinner and talk about the day, etc...then eventually, we both look at each other and say, "when is he going to come???" We are so eager to meet this little man who has been growing inside for 9 long months!

We went to the doctor this morning for our weekly appointment - I had a contraction at 5:15 AM that woke me up and then another around 8:00 on the way to the doctor's office. I am about 50 - 60 percent effaced still, and not dialated yet. The doctor says that doesn't really mean too much since this is my first baby and we don't know what my "normal" is. She said it is a good sign that we are having lots of activity and the start of what seem like real contractions.

When Jonathan said, "we'll see you next week," Dr. Gallagher said, "well, I hope not...maybe sooner." So, we will keep hoping that Baby Boy Tinker is ready to meet the world and that he gets moving sooner than later. In the end, we know God's timing is perfect, and I know this is the first of many lessons in patience this little boy will bring!!

Full Term Baby!!

We had a great weekend in Houston seeing my family and our friends for the last time before the big day!! It was an exciting weekend filled with activity but boy are we glad to be home! The nesting bug bit today and I have been arranging things in the baby's room, getting the car washed and prepped to put the baby seat when JT gets home tonight and my bag is packed and ready!

Here is an "official" update of where we are in the pregnancy - today is the official 37th week, which means Baby Boy Tinker is fully cooked.

Your pregnancy: 37 weeks
How your baby's growing: Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz. Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

We have our weekly appointment tomorrow morning and they will perform an ultrasound at 7:30 AM before we meet with the doctor to check everything out. They will mainly be looking at his size, position in the womb, and the amount of amniotic fluid still surrounding him.

I will update you after the appointment and post some pictures from the weekend later this week. And be on the lookout for a text or e-mail in the next 3 weeks that says we are headed to the hospital!

The Last Trip!

We will head to Houston for one last trip to see family and friends and tie up some loose ends from the move. Then, we will return to San Antonio for the 20 some odd days of waiting forthe big day!

We went to the doctor yesterday for our 36 week check up. The baby is moving well and his heartbeat is healthy at about 135 bpm. The doctor did a manual exam and confirmed that the baby is in a head down position ready for birth and that I am 50% effaced. I am not dilated at all yet. She commented that based on my size, the baby may be a little small (which is not how I feel!!), so she will do an ultrasound next week at our visit just to confirm size and position.

Exciting stuff - stay posted...

We think We're Ready!

What a wonderful 4th of July weekend we had! Jonathan and I hung out together around our house Friday morning - we got up before 7 AM. Jonathan made breakfast and we watched the cardinals and hummingbirds playing in the back yard. Then, we weeded the front flowerbeds, showered and headed out to run some errands at the mall. We were on our feet all day after some frustration redeeming gift cards - but alas, we got it done! We came home to make some ribs and have a little BBQ dinner. It was a great first J. Tinker family 4th of July! All the time on our feet induced some false labor pains - called Braxton Hicks. They call them practice contractions - geez....I hope I am ready for this thing called labor!

My mom and dad called that afternoon to say they were going to drive in late Friday night to spend the weekend with us. They brought Nannie with them and Matt and Jackie drove in behind them. Because they went to a fireworks celebration outside Houston, it was after 1:00 AM by the time they arrived! We went straight to bed and then woke up Saturday morning around 8:30. We had a nice breakfast and then the guys hung ceiling fans in my office and the baby's nursery, while Matt took the ladies to the baby store. We went down to the Riverwalk Saturday night for a late dinner and took a ride on the river boat - it was so much fun and we learned a lot about the buildings and history of the Riverwalk. Sunday was another fun family day and then everyone headed out before 3:00 that afternoon.

Nannie, Mom, Dad, Jackie, and Matt helped us put together the exersaucer, high chair, portable paly yard and get all the clothes hung for baby boy Tinker - now the waiting officially begins!
I have been having strong Braxton Hicks labor pains at least twice a day now for about a week. We go to the doctor again on Thursday and from this point forward, we will have weekly visits. The due date is officially one month from yesterday, so we will see when the little guy decides to make his debut. At this point, it could happen any day and he will be perfectly healthy and able to survive - by 36 weeks all of his internal organs and exerior features are completely developed - his main goal over the next 3 - 4 weeks is putting on weight. Based on our last exam, the doctor estimates his weight around 5 pounds right now and his length between 17 and 19 inches! I was a big baby weighing in at 8 lbs 14 oz. as was Jonathan, weighing 8 lbs. 6 oz. so there is a good chance he will be a healthy size if we make it full-term.

Mom, Dad, Nannie, Matt and Jackie - thanks so much for coming in and celebrating the 4th with us. It was really nice to be with family and we really appreciate all the help doing the final preparations for the baby's arrival! You guys did wear me out though! After you all left, we relaxed and watched a Law and Order marathon for a couple hours. Jonathan, I know it is not your favorite show, so thank you for indulgin me! We wanted to go to mass at 7:00, but I was having very bad back pain and more false labor pains, so we stayed home and I was in bed at 8:45 PM! I am feeling better today and enjoying some MUCH NEEDED rain right now.

Lots of love,

Christina & Jonathan