Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Eve to all our friends and family!

We are having a beautiful, white Christmas here in Seattle. Later this afternoon we will go to an open house at our friends the Watson's house, come home for a quite Christmas Eve at home with Jasper, read the Christmas story from the Bible, and open up one present each (Rampton tradition).

Tomorrow we plan to do a family Christmas morning of opening gifts and then heading over to the Durhams for a Christmas brunch.

Today is my due date. No baby yet. We had an appointment with our midwife this morning. I am dilated to a 3 and the baby is at 0 station. My body has been doing a lot of work the past couple weeks with the braxton hicks contractions I feel all night and day. With Jasper, I labored all night and when I arrived at the hospital I was only dilated to a 3, so I can see that this labor will be different already. Helen, the midwife we saw today (one of our favorites- she shares a garden plot at the same community garden as us and she's a real positive, earthy woman) said she suspects the baby will come in the next few days. I am feeling ready, mentally and physically. I've had a shift in my attitude the past few weeks and I don't feel as scared and fearful as I did. I feel more open to the unexpected and not having control over this labor and I feel like I just need to let it happen as it happens. I so excited to meet this little baby! Rob and I love to lie in bed and talk about what he's going to be like. We feel so blessed that our family is growing. Jasper has brought us so much joy. We can't imagine life without him and now we get to bring another child into our home.

Hope everyone is happy and having a wonderful Christmas Eve!