The Waiting Game

As I write this, it is Sunday evening. Elissa's due date was Wednesday, making her four days overdue. So we are playing the waiting game. (And, obviously, Lumpy is winning. He/she is a pro at this as it is his/her life’s work so far.) No worries, though. First babies tend to come a little late.

We have been lucky to have the accompaniment of Elissa’s mom Barb since Monday. This past week, Barb and Elissa (and Lumpy) went on some rather adventurous walks, averaging five miles a day. One of these walks had the goal of finding a travel Scrabble game so Barb could play long-distance Scrabble with her mom (Grandma Barb). Unfortunately the game store was closed when they arrived:

Note says "back at 3pm"

As the note requested, they came back after 3pm. Also Barb and Elissa made some walking trips to plan out the construction of birth announcement cards and designed a prototype but are waiting until the baby arrives to put assembly into full force.

On Thursday, Elissa was starting to get more regular contractions (five to six minute intervals). They still weren’t painful or cramp-like, but they caused significant stomach tightening.

Timing pre-labor contractions

She had a normally scheduled doctor's appointment on Friday. Her OB/GYN confirmed that labor had not started yet. Unfortunately, these pre-labor contractions have persisted since then without escalation into the more painful ones that are associated with the start of labor. At this point we are all wishing pain on to Elissa.

Yesterday, we all walked down to the Arnold Arboretum, a destination we had not yet been to in Boston. We took the subway out a few stops and then walked around Leverett and Jamaica Ponds before strolling through the arboretum.

Elissa and Barb waiting for the subway

Near Leverett Pond, we observed a mother turtle trying to dig a hole to lay her eggs and thought it might be a good omen for Elissa.

Mother turtle

Before we got to the arboretum, I tried to coax Lumpy out.

Ben is powerless to induce labor

After a picnic lunch in the arboretum, we took in the arboretum's sights.

A magnolia (?) flower

Kousa dogwood flowers

Elissa and Barb

Barb and Elissa through a yew bush

Wild rose bushes

After the arboretum walk and a subway ride home (and a short stop at Barnes and Noble’s to pick up “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and a few other baby books), Elissa and Barb headed out to the Hatch Shell to catch a free concert featuring David Cassidy and the 5th Dimension.

David Cassidy, showing off his pop star moves

So, the waiting game continues, with hope that labor starts some time soon. Elissa and Barb are both taking this all in with very positive attitudes and trying to let Lumpy know of the welcoming environment out here.

Elissa (and Lumpy) at sunset

Barb at sunset