The answer is "no."

As in, "no, I haven't had that baby yet." But even without little one yet in arms, this two-hundred-and-eightieth day is a heck of a lot better than the last one.

***

This day began with the forty-week appointment at the hospital. There is no sign of impending labor, but all is well for the moment. Unless there's reason to cancel (like a 3.6-kilograms-and-growing reason), we'll go back for a post-term check-up next Wednesday.

***

Even at forty weeks, I'm still vacillating between ready/not ready, but I have been googling "early labor symptoms" in the same obsessive way that I used to google "early pregnancy symptoms." (Let's chalk that up to "ready.") However, much as "wait to see if your period comes" is the best advice for the insufferable pregnant vs. PMS question, "wait to see if your baby comes" would be the most fitting response in this situation.

Thus here I am, waiting to see if my baby comes. And that's okay. While the ready side of me is incredibly eager to meet this little one, the not ready side of me is appreciative of these final moments of life as I know it (as is the employed side of me, who is working a few last more hours tomorrow before putting her feet up for good ... or, rather, for as long as it lasts). But that doesn't mean I can't think about natural ways to bring on labor, though, does it?

So I did. Unfortunately, most tips had to be crossed off my list of possibilities pretty quickly. To wit:

Acupuncture? I'd have to get off the couch to do that, right? So no.

Curry? Sounded good, actually, so I made one, but its only effect was gullet-decimating heartburn that kept me up all night.

Nipple stimulation? For three hours a day? No.

"Relations"? Hahaha don't make me laugh NO.

Walking? Okay, this one I can do. My back is almost well again, and I'm feeling better than I have in months. Bonus: there's a new gelato place on my lakeside route, and I don't care at all if my waddling around with a sweet treat in hand earns me a few "pregnant lady indulging her gluttony" once-overs.

***

From there to here, and I still can't believe that it's real.

worth staying awake until midnight for, this.