Days. That’s where we are at with our baby countdown. Just days until Matt and I get to hold our sweet little girl. Days until my body performs the incredible feat of pushing something the size of a watermelon out of a place much smaller than that. Days until the incredible highs and lows of the past nine months culminate with what I’m sure will be one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. I am simultaneously excited, incredulous and, admittedly, a little nervous.

Matt and I frequently discuss how our lives will change and what our little girl will be like. Will she inherit her daddy’s corny humor? Will she be a planner like her mommy? Will she throw us for a complete loop and be wildly different from either of us? Our life is a constant stream of unknowns, but this, by far, is the biggest and scariest.

We had our final doctor’s appointment this past Wednesday and discussed our plans for induction. The doctor is trying to squeeze us in on the 4^th of July (baby girl’s due date), but they already have four inductions scheduled that day. Unless he can convince one of the mothers to switch dates so the American’s can have their baby on their national holiday (I really think he’s even more amused by the date than we are), we’ll be going in on the 6^th. That is If baby girl doesn’t decide to come on her own before then (come on my baby, you can do it!!!).

As mentioned in my last post, I’ve been doing what I can to help her out including walking at least 10,000 steps a day and bouncing like a maniac on my yoga ball. This week I stepped it up a notch by making these “labor-inducing” lemon cupcakes. Not that I really need an excuse to eat cupcakes, but if that’s what baby girl needs for encouragement, who am I to object? Her daddy has certainly been enjoying the little treats as well.

The good news is things seem to be progressing the way they should be. The doctor said baby girl is down low and it looks like labor could really start at any time. My body is in the joking mood it seems as it has been throwing false labor contractions my way since last Saturday. It even got to the point where Matt and I were timing them as we strolled around Toulouse Saturday afternoon, but once we got home and in the cooler air they stopped.

Tuesday, baby girl decided to change up her usual routine (moving constantly all day). She was strangely quiet in the morning—even after I ate breakfast and we prodded my belly a bit (usually this is enough to at least get an annoyed punch back). We called the doctor and midwife and almost went in, but after trying some deep breathing (as suggested by the midwife), baby girl began moving around again.

She obviously wasn’t amused that we woke her from her slumber, though. That night, starting at 9:00 and lasting until about 3:00 in the morning she was moving, kicking and prodding so much that we had to sit up in bed and watch a movie because there was no way I was sleeping through that storm.

The doctor did a scan and checked her heartbeat at our appointment the next day and she was doing just fine. She didn’t even try to punch the ultrasound wand this time. I guess she’s just trying to show mommy and daddy who’s really the boss before she arrives. Either that or she’s just so excited to come out and play she just can’t contain herself. She decided to stay up until 3:00 a.m. again last night.

This weekend, Matt and I are going to try to soak up our last few hours as just the two of us. We’re going to go for some walks, eat some spicy Indian food and maybe even take a nap or two. With any luck, this will be my last post for at least a couple of weeks. If so, happy 4^th of July to all of my American readers!