100 Happy Days Challenge: Day 67

39 weeks pregnant
T-7 Days

Labour watch/bumpdate: I continue to have random contractions/painful braxton hicks (BH). This evening I also had a lot of pressure, which results in those oh-so-lovely sharp cervical pains. These things are effing serious. It really feels like the baby has decided - labour or not -  like he'll just bully his way out. Because I've had painful BH contractions for so long though (around the 20-week mark), I never get excited and think that labour might be underway. The sharp pains and the painful BH are, however, increasing in frequency and discomfort so hopefully, at least, these are proving productive and I'm progressing towards that all important 10 cm. Every cm I get out of the way now, during the pre-game show, is one less I have to work through when it's game time.

Why was today a gooder? Well, let me tell you:

1. We went to Canadian Tire today and Carter was so excited when he saw the Christmas trees and decorations. Anytime we are out shopping and Carter sees them, he runs over to show us and look over all the Christmas swag. This is the first year that he's really reacted to the displays.

Important background information about me: I LOVE Christmas. I love everything about it. I love Christmas music, Christmas baking (and the subsequent eating of this baking), Christmas decorations, Christmas get-togethers with family, hibernating from the cold snowy weather under blankets with Christmas movies and hot chocolate, decorating the Christmas tree, buying people presents, Santa Clause, the fact that I just feel happier and warmer and more full of love than at any other time during the year. I love all of it. Now that you've read my list, you too see that Christmas is kick ass, but what is the one thing that makes Christmas even better? Excited kids. And now I've got one.

So, when Carter gets excited at the Christmas displays, it makes me even more excited for Christmas this year. I know that with every year, he will just get more and more excited for the awesomeness that is Christmas and will be more involved in things like helping with the baking, tree decorating and decorating the gingerbread house, etc. I've waited my whole life for a Christmas with my own excited kid(s) and, though he won't get all of the fun stuff there is to get about Christmas, I know that this year will be even better than last :)

2. All the major stuff is done on and in the house and we are technically ready for baby's arrival, but we both still have a list of things we would like to get done before I go into labour. We continue, slowly now, to get those little things done around the house before the baby comes and every one we cross off the list makes me feel good. We both agreed that we would be happy if he stayed on the inside for the duration this week and then came next weekend (his due date is Saturday). If he waits until his due date, or really close to it, I think we would both feel more ready in the house. Emotionally and mentally though, we're ready to meet this little guy, bring him home, and introduce him to the people who comprise our world :)

3. Once we got our handsome lad to bed, Jeff and I ended the evening by watching a movie together in the theatre room. We haven't done this in a very, very long time. I feel like we've both been too busy crossing things off our respective to-do-before-baby lists to spend any time with each other in the evenings. And then by the time we're done checking things off the list, I'm usually too tired to make it through even a television show.

We are going to attempt a date night one night this week, where my cousin, Nicole, will either come over and put him to bed, or he will sleep at her house for the night and Jeff and I will go out for supper and to a movie. I have no idea when I'll have the opportunity to go to a movie again once the baby comes, so I want to try to squeeze in one more date night whole doing so is still "easy."

And that was my Saturday!