No, I’ve not had the baby.  No, I’m not in labor.

I realize that silence on this end, normally not noticed or not considered a big deal, is, now that I’m a watched pot that’s been on the stove top for a long time, a possible indication that I’m laboring.  Nope.  Just cleaning the house gradually – not exactly an exciting thing to blog about – and, up until yesterday, obsessing over my lack of a washing machine. 

{The laundromat has enormous washers that fit 2 big loads in one.  They cost SIX BUCKS.  But they take less than 40 minutes.  And if you forget your detergent (forgive me, it’s been over 14 years since I’ve used a laundromat, so I don’t have a routine down), a single package costs 75 cents.  Ouch.}

I know that every baby, every labor and delivery, is different.  But I have never ever ever gone early – not even when I fibbed about my cycle and used a date a week or more later than it actually was. 

At a store recently, a young clerk, a little bitty thing, said that the best way to bring on labor was to walk.  She walked a whole mile and that got things going.

Sheesh.  If that’s all it took…

I have tried just about everything.  Walking (miles and miles and miles), spicy food, a whole bag of peanut butter cup candies, castor oil, sex.  Some of these are obviously more enjoyable than others, so I tried them more often.  If one takes castor oil once, and has no result, there’s little motivation to try try again.

Babies come when babies come.

Again, each pregnancy is different, but six babies all coming late lends statistical credence to the notion that this one, too, will not be here before the due date, which is Monday the 25th.  In fact, based on previous experience, my guess is not before July 1st or 2nd. 

My goal is to have the deep cleaning of the house done by the end of Saturday.  I could push and get it done today – there’s not that much left – but I’ve been taking my time and putting my feet up in between.  No point in killing myself, right?  After that, my calendar is clear.  I’ll start walking and eating peanut butter cups and Mexican food.  Or not.  It won’t make a difference.

Change of Command is in TWO DAYS.  Incoming commander got into town this last weekend, so we’re good to go.  It seemed like this week would never come, but like a watched pot, despite dire predictions, does too eventually boil.