Due Date

April 20, 2009, one year ago today, was my due date. This was me from the week of April 20-27th.


Our little baby was due to come into the world today. I remember being so excited to go to my doctor's appointment. Looking back, I was incredibly naive. I think I was half-expecting my doctor to be like, you're in labor, let's go. I remember being so nervous-excited-happy in the waiting room - all huge and smiley - just rubbing my big, big, dancing belly. During my appointment, even my doctor was disappointed I wasn't dilated more than I was. But, she told me, and I remember, "you could go at anytime." That was it, that was all I needed to hear. I was on alert! I asked her if there was anything I could do and she said, that I could walk, do my positions to help the baby get ready and in position for delivery and just rest. My doctor was on call all weekend but she told me to pick a date the following week to induce. The baby was getting too big for my little frame. Doug and I had already discussed this and we chose Tuesday, April 28th. My doctor is on call Tuesdays so we knew if it were that day, then my doctor would be delivering our child.

If nothing else, we knew in 8 days Baby Sennott would be here. Over the next 8 days, I hoped, prayed and really thought that each day the baby would come and that our son or daughter would enter into our lives and we would be parents. Every morning and afternoon, I would waddle past the doorman - Marshall in the morning and Earl in the afternoon - cross the street into the park to do laps around the block. They just smiled and asked how I was feeling. Now, thinking back, it makes me smile because today, a year later, they are people James sees everyday and people with whom James shares his waves, smiles, chatters and hellos.

That last weekend, Doug and I just rested, went out to dinner, and hung out just the two of us on the couch and talked about this little being that was about to enter into our lives. I remember us having the stop watch timing contractions all weekend and our hands on my belly feeling our little one saying hello. Today, the three of us started our day together. Mom and Dad watched James play on his playmat while we drank our coffee before Dad had to leave for work. Today, the three of us ended our day together with Mom holding James in the rocking chair while Dad was making him laugh right before we said our prayers and put our little guy to bed. What a difference a year makes. We are the luckiest people in the world to have James as our son.