the beginnings

we went to the doctor yesterday and found out that i am 1 cm dilated and that the baby's head has now descended into my pelvis (for those not in the know, this is good news as she is in position and no longer transverse). we weren't really surprised since i'd been feeling some discomfort in the pelvic area lately and had been experiencing some new sensations, which i guess are contractions. but, the fact that i'm dilated doesn't really seem to mean much as many women go around for weeks being only 1 or 2 cm dilated. so, we're hoping she stays in there for a little while longer -- at least another two weeks just to ensure that she is full term.

i will finish teaching tomorrow and then i will be confined to the apartment, hopefully cranking out a draft of that dissertation proposal before the baby arrives. jeff has a paper he's trying to finish too before our lives change drastically. we're slowly getting there with baby preparations. the crib has been assembled and is now next to our bed; the mattress should be arriving sometime this week; the changing table/dresser is being delivered this afternoon; most of her clothes have been washed and are ready to be put away in the dresser once it arrives; the car seat is installed and ready to go; the baby's room is half way decorated (ran out of wall paper border); and our bags are packed. there's still a lot more to do though...