Baby Watch!

I suppose I have probably been on baby watch longer than I am aware (though I have been watching for him to arrive for the past couple of weeks), but today it all rushed to the forefront in sharp relief! 

You know you are on baby watch when...

1. ...you send a text message to some people and when it doesn't go through, you get a series of frantic phone calls to make sure all is well.  :-)  Background: this morning, I was driving to work on Monarch Road.  For those of you unfamiliar with Highlands Ranch/Castle Pines (which I am pretty sure is most of you), Monarch Road is a rather beautiful stretch on pavement that winds through some backcountry and neighborhoods as an alternative to I-25.  There is quite a bit of open space and on other mornings I have seen a huge bull elk, the occasional deer and some hawks.  This morning, however, I saw an enormous herd of around 30 elk gathered by the side of the road getting ready to cross!  It was incredibly majestic and a great way to start my day.  I was so in awe that I had to send a text message to Andy, Zach, my mother-in-law and my dad.  Apparently, though, when I send a text-message to multiple people my phone changes the format to a multi-media format.  Now, for those of us who have joined the next century and own phones that can receive a picture (ahem, NOT my dad!), this is not a big deal.  For everyone else...red alert!  I had no idea anything was wrong until I left work this afternoon and checked my phone...missed calls, text messages, voicemails, etc. all with the same message: "Are you okay?  Is everything alright?"  After I finally got a hold of him, I discovered that my dad had called Andy, Darcy and my brother to check and see if there was any news.  Poor guy!  I reassured him that we would make sure he knows when things are actually happening - and not through text message!  :-)
2. ...people covertly peek into your room in the morning to see if you have even made it to work. :-)  They then pretend that they really came by to say, "Hi."  {{Snicker!}} Little do they know that I know the real reason why!
3. ...people become extra worried when it takes you seemingly forever to get up from a chair.  Or they see you on the floor.  Or they see you "stuck" in a bent over position.  Yeah...no.  It just takes me around 5 minutes to stand up from a seated position anymore because if I jump right up (which is not possible with a watermelon in my belly), I will topple right over due to cramped up muscles.  And, maybe, I am on the floor because I can't write on my chart paper from my chair.  Leaning forward at 38 weeks from a seated position = not possible.  And, though I try not to bend over,  I still can.  It just takes me about 10 minutes to stand back up!  
4. ...you call someone and they answer with, "Is there a baby yet?" Ha!  (By the way, I am now nervous to call anyone!  I think I may have to text them first to just reassure that I am calling to see if they can bring me candy canes.  He he he!)
5. ...people size you up from far away to see if the baby is "lower."
6. ...you seem to have "disappeared" at work for just a couple of minutes and people start to organize a search team!  :-)  Background: as any of you who have been pregnant know, your bladder shrinks to the size of a grain of sand.  ;-)  Well, I had to use the restroom this afternoon and just couldn't wait.  I stepped out of my room for 2 minutes (leaving my kids unattended...I know, I know - not good!) to run, er, waddle up to the bathroom.  When I came back, my assistant principal was pacing back and forth outside of my classroom thoroughly frantic that I had gone missing!  She thought I was off somewhere having contractions or in labor.  I felt so bad for a couple of reasons: 1) because we aren't supposed to leave our students unattended and 2) because she was so worried about me!  I had to reassure her that I was actually okay, just suffering from pregnancy discomforts, and that I would make sure they knew if it happened at work!

I think that if I find myself checking to make sure no one is around before I bend over or sit down or  stand up OR if people start following me around with catcher's mitts, I will call my doctor to get this baby out!  :-)