Found out that the Cedar Rapids library has a digital archive of ALL Cedar Rapids newspapers from 1857-1977, plus all of the city directories through 1995, plus more resources up to date through 1998 and it’s all FREE and all available ONLINE! WITH a search engine! For anyone doing any family history research, what a goldmine! I’ve been finding obituaries and articles about a lot of my family - many of whom live in Cedar County, NOT Linn County (where Cedar Rapids is). So, for anyone interested, be sure you check this out Cedar Rapids Digital Archive

On a similar note, I’ve been making great progress lately, thanks to actually having a plan and using a research map.  Have made a ton of connections and found lost people through the census records, because I actually started keeping track of where I was looking and for who.  Spent one whole day in May researching cemeteries in IA and another in July researching cemeteries in IL.  Too much fun! Have found people that I didn’t know had migrated where and when they did, which has led to more census and newspaper research.  Can’t wait to take the new baby to his/her first cemetery expedition!

I’m so glad I didn’t feel like this longer than I already have.  I don’t know hwo people do this.  I’m so uncomfortable all of the time.  I hate it. No sleep. Live in the bathroom. Can’t get comfortable. Contractions. But that’s all. No baby.

Today’s doctor’s visit was quicker than usual- which was good.  1 - 1.5cm dilated. 80% effaced for anyone who cares about that kind of thing.  That’s all.

And we still wait.

Washington (Elway Poll) - Obama 47%, McCain 35%……. Obama +12
Florida (PPP (D)) - McCain 47%, Obama 44%……. McCain +3
New York (Quinnipiac) - Obama 57%, McCain 36%……. Obama +21
Oregon (SurveyUSA) - Obama 48%, McCain 45%……. Obama +3
Wisconsin (WPRI) - Obama 44%, McCain 38%……. Obama +6
New Jersey (Rasmussen) - Obama 52%, McCain 42%……. Obama +10
New York (Rasmussen) - Obama 55%, McCain 36%……. Obama +19
Alabama (AEA/Capital Survey) - McCain 47%, Obama 34%……. McCain +13
Massachusetts (Rasmussen) - Obama 54%, McCain 38%……. Obama +16
Wisconsin (Rasmussen) - Obama 51%, McCain 44%……. Obama +7
Washington (Rasmussen) - Obama 54%, McCain 42%……. Obama +12
Missouri (Rasmussen) - McCain 50%, Obama 44%……. McCain +6
Michigan (Rasmussen) - Obama 49%, McCain 45%……. Obama +4
Colorado (PPP (D)) - Obama 48%, McCain 44%……. Obama +4
Oregon (Rasmussen) - Obama 52%, McCain 42.%…… Obama +10
Iowa (Rasmussen) - Obama 49%, McCain 44%……. Obama +5
Virginia (SurveyUSA) - Obama 47,% McCain 48.%…… McCain +1
Kentucky (SurveyUSA) - McCain 55,% Obama 37%……. McCain +18

The title says it all. My analysis this week is very simple: nothing’s changed. Virginia is still a true battle ground state showing a near tie in the most recent round of polls. All the other states haven’t changed much at all.

OK, I’m a dork and I know it. But I cannot wait for this next installment.

I like this doctor (my main one) more and more every time I see her. She has a great sense of humor.  Still no drastic change, but it could still be any time or not for another few weeks.  My mom says the baby should be smart enough to either come now or wait until she’s back from vacation (Labor Day)!  We’ll see, I guess. Have had some contractions, but nothing serious and nothing for longer than an hour.

Jason and I got our new Pack n’ Play out of the box, so that we knew how to set it up and take it down without too much difficulty.  (I will be using it the first time when I travel home for a baby shower in September after the baby is born. And I’ll be by myself!)  Neither of which were difficult, but the hardest part was putting the silly thing in its carrying case.  The bassinette piece caused the most problems and because that’s the piece I need right now, we had to include it.  I’ll be glad when we can leave that out.

Got online and looked at where we can get the car seat installation checked. So, Jason will do that sometime this week. We still need another base for the seat for our 2nd car. But that can wait a little while any way. Otherwise, I think we’re set. We went out and bought a few other “necessities” we thought we should have before the baby comes.

OK, normally I hate sports. All sports. Why have sports? But I LOVE the Olympics!  From the opening to the closing ceremonies, I love the Olympics.  This Olympics’ opening ceremonies were really beautiful this year.  And so far I’ve been able to watch Mike Phelps win one gold, plus a bunch of other qualifying heats for gymnastics, swimming, basketball, sculls, fencing, etc etc. I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!

That’s what I get from the doctors. “Could be the next few days, or it could be several more weeks.” I don’t like that. Either say, “I don’t know.” or give me something more concrete. I’m so frustrated, I’m tempted to do little to no doctors next time. What does it matter if they don’t know?

I’m ready to have this baby born. I’ve really become physically uncomfortable the last few weeks and no one cares, because “everyone always feels that way.” Jason has relagated me to “couch potato status”, even though that now at 36 weeks, it doesn’t matter if the baby comes now or not, it would be ok.  And sitting is uncomfortable, even. It’s just hard to even breathe. But I keep getting the “stop whining” vibe from anyone I say anything to, so I try to not say too much. People ask and “I’m fine. Feeling good.”  I just wish the baby would come already.  I feel huge.

Out PhotoGalleries are BACK!! It’s not perfect, but it’ll work for now. I hope to have it integrated with the blog as time permits me to work on it.

Virginia (PPP (D)) - Obama 46%, McCain 44%……. +2.0
Colorado (Rasmussen ) - Obama 50%, McCain 47%……. Obama +3.0
Florida (Rasmussen) - McCain 47%, Obama 49%……. Obama +2.0
Colorado (Quinnipiac/WSJ/WP) - Obama 44%, McCain 46%……. McCain +2.0
Michigan (Quinnipiac/WSJ/WP) - Obama 46%, McCain 42%……. Obama +4.0
Wisconsin (Quinnipiac/WSJ/WP) - Obama 50%, McCain 39%……. Obama +11.0
Minnesota (Quinnipiac/WSJ/WP) - Obama 46%, McCain 44%……. Obama +2.0
Minnesota (Rasmussen) - Obama 52%, McCain 39%……. Obama +13.0
New Jersey (Monmouth Univ.) - Obama 48%, McCain 34%……. Obama +14.0
South Carolina (Research 2000) - McCain 53%, Obama 40%……. McCain +13.0
New Hampshire (Rasmussen) - Obama 49%, McCain 45%……. Obama +4.0
Pennsylvania (Rasmussen) - Obama 51%, McCain 45%……. Obama +6.0
New Mexico (Rasmussen) - Obama 49%, McCain 43%……. Obama +6.0
California (Rasmussen) - Obama 52%, McCain 42%……. Obama +10.0
Mississippi (Research 2000) - McCain 51%, Obama 42%……. McCain +9.0
North Dakota (Research 2000) - McCain 45%, Obama 42%……. McCain +3.0
North Carolina (PPP (D)) - McCain 47%, Obama 44%…….McCain +3.0

Penn is an interesing survey. The Rasmussen poll shows Obama +6 and the Strategic Vision poll shows Obama +9. In 2004, Rasmusseen polls tended to lean in favor of democrats compared to final results and Strategic Vision tended to lean in favor of republicans compared to final results. So, what does this say? Both polls show a strong favor towards Obama. PA might be a lock for Obama.

I am throwing the “Quinnipiac/WSJ/WP” polls out for the time being. 2 of them were way off compared to past polling and other polls conducted at the same time. Note Minnesota where one polls says Obama is up 13, but the Quinnipiac/WSJ/WP poll says he’s only up 2. And, the Colorado poll is also a little off. No poll in recent months has shown McCain AHEAD in Colorado, so I have doubts about that one.