cervix and the blob

Yesterday I was informed that my cervix was 1cm dilated and the baby is engaged at about position 1. (I have been recently experiencing what I would call mild menstrual-like cramping off and on. To make myself feel like I wasn't going crazy, I had the midwife do an exam to check these things.)

This morning, well..


...okay, it's gonna be graphic. Parental Discretion Advised:


This morning the mucus plug came out! Ew! This is what it looked like: Think of a snotty-blob about the size of two tablespoons, tinged with a little brown blood.  And, it came out of me! Gross!

Unfortunately, this doesn't necessarily mean that labor is starting. It simply means that things are going along as they should. As the midwife says, it could be tomorrow or two weeks!

Anyway, it's a little freaky. --Pam

John, Julie and Ruby came to visit on Wednesday. We had a great time at Flamingo Park!

Semi-hostage love puppy

okay here's what Sammy and I do on the couch.  She likes to lay with her but in my face --- I prefer her head. So I force her to lay with her head on my chest. Its not quite a hostage situation but  still a semi-hostage situation. But once I make her do it she will stay.

Time Left?

(1) Only eleven days left of school! (And you thought that only the kids count down the days!)

(2) Working on 36 weeks pregnant. Pam is ready to not be pregnant anymore. Kind of looks like she's hiding a basketball in there, doesn't it?

(3) Sam is looking older these days. She's slowed down, but you can still see in her eyes the young dog she used to be. She still gets excited if Steve or I go to put on running shoes! It makes us sad.

My room at school

I thought I'd show a pic of what my room looks like at school. I recently got rid of my teacher's desk so I have more room to interact with the kids. I now have a desk and my projector right in the middle of the room where I sometimes sit.

Steve

Peanut butter on banana with a side of dill pickle

Pam here. I'm writing this and eating a banana with peanut butter (a co-worker's favorite) and a couple spears of dill pickles on the side - no, really! It's not a craving really, it's just that I'm hungry and these were the two easiest things to make. I just got back from riding my single speed mountain bike. I recently made some modifications in an attempt to make the ride more comfortable. I installed a super short stem and 2.5" riser bars. This seemed to help a bit. My thighs still kind of bang into my belly. So I end up riding kind of bow-legged. Basically, I'm just trying to stay as active as I can. (Yesterday was deep water running The day before some lap swimming.) When I got back, I ran into our neighbor Serena and her 18 month old Stella. Serena is also pregnant with her second child and is almost the same due date as me! So we get to compare bellies. She took this photo of me on my bike tonight. I'm just finishing 35 weeks pregnant.

visit to baltimore

I was able to get back to Baltimore for my 20th high school reunion. People seemed nicer than I remember. Samara Rosenberg is really growing up! (see pic) I also visited my former Towson co-workers John and Andy (HUH!) at the rotating sushi bar.  On Sunday Jason at I went fishing at Loch Raven. Here is Jason with one of the many pickerels we caught. We also caught a couple white perch, some bass and almost a crappie.

Here are some pics from the 5k I ran in march.