The beginning of the end

I had contractions all night--well, starting around 3:00 or 4:00 AM--that were powerful enough to keep me up during them, but I think I must have dosed off in between. I'm not sure how far apart they were, probably 10-20 minutes, most leaning toward the latter, but I've decided on my own will to be up at 7:00 in the stinkin' morning on a Saturday since they're too uncomfortable to sleep through. We'll see if they continue. They start off feeling like the practice ones have been, but peak into a moderate-to-severe type menstrual cramp accompanied with the same lower back pain I get with my period too.

Edit: It looks like they're closer to 5-ish minutes apart as I rock on my exercise-disguised-as-a-birthing ball. I guess we'll see if they pick up in intensity then!

Edit 2: Alright, by noon they're back to about 15-20 minutes apart, but still just as uncomfortable. Hmph. I don't know if I should try to encourage it or discourage it, haha.

Edit 3: So now as we round in on 6:00 tonight they've gone back to closer to 10 minutes apart, but they're a bit weaker. Ah, well...Time will tell! Or this could just be sucky prodromal labor. Fun!