38 Weeks and Counting - Month 9

38 weeks

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. (babycenter.com)

Holy smokers! I'm 38 weeks.

When we saw the fill-in doctor this week (a female), she said that most women deliver the week before or the week after their due date!! I have this feeling it will be next week, but my feelings have been off too - maybe it's more wishful thinking than anything. I have decided baby will come out when baby is ready. I don't really want to be induced. Plus, I had a coworker tell me I'm way too small yet. But I'm measuring 37 centimeters now. So it's not like I'm uber small or anything. I think it's the height that's throwing everyone off. Anyway, here's the latest....

Car seat has been installed and approved by an Eagan Police Officer/Car Seat Specialist

My health...and all those pains and aches
I know I shouldn't complain. I've been very lucky. I feel great, but I have noticed more aches and pains if I do too much. Even when I go on a 40-minute walk, it's not long before my back and neck are killing me and even my feet. Can't say that normally happens. But I love the way the fresh air makes me feel and it's nice to get my heart rate up. So I push through. Plus, I'm up about 35 pounds - I really don't want to add on anymore pounds. But the scale showed no weight gain this week...even after making those Better Than Sex Nutella Chocolate Cupcakes... I will post the recipe for those soon.

My massage lady is a genius. I've been drinking about 6 ounces of milk before bed and NO leg cramps. I am getting up every hour to use the bathroom though, which makes me pretty tired throughout the day, but thankfully on the weekends I've been able to take a couple naps. And I have no idea how I'm so focused at work, but I am. I'm cruising through projects. I'm on a mission not to leave anyone hanging and to get as much done as I can.

I can really feel baby move. I swear yesterday he/she physically grabbed one of my ovaries in his/her hand and squeezed! Ouch. It's just so crazy to see parts of his/her body move across my stomach. As of now, no stretch marks....fingers are crossed they don't decide to show up anytime soon.

I see cellulite. Like...even when I'm standing. I'm not even pressing my skin against anything - the cellulite is just there, staring at me in the mirror. That's tough for me, but I know after baby is out, I can fix that. I'm not used to it though, and it's a hard pill to swallow.

I'm now down to working out hardcore only one day a week, as in sweating up a storm on the stair climber and the rest of the week I'm walking. I kind of feel that the sweat fest helps keep the bloat away. And I was hoping working out would make labor go faster, but the doctor said it mainly will help me get in shape faster after delivery and I'll heal a lot faster too.

Me! 38 weeks. Getting pretty ready these days!

Nesting
Oh, man, I've been nesting. I spent all day Saturday doing laundry and dishes, cleaning the kitchen, cleaning out the fridge, washing the edging around all our windows, baking...washing the strollers. You name it. Boy, was I sore after all that though. I think I have one more weekend of intense cleaning in me and then I'm done. I still have to hit up the freezer and our bedroom. Why is it every other room is clean but our bedroom? Anyone else have this problem?

Car Seat Installed
I met with a super cool police officer/car safety check lady in Eagan over my lunch break on Monday. Since car accidents are the number one reason for children's deaths, I wanted to ensure I had our car seat installed properly. I need that peace of mind. Plus, it's free! I got a major high-five from her when she saw we had the Chicco Keyfit 30 (which I didn't realize is pronounced 'See-Co'). She said that is the number one car seat out there for safety and installation!!!! YEAH!!! Trust me, I've done a lot of homework and research on every piece of product we registered for and have brought into our house. Yes, it's more expensive. Always seems to work that way, doesn't it?

Anyway, we spent about an hour going over all the specifics and she walked me through everything. I feel really good about that.

But I will say as I was filling up with gas, I looked through the window and stared at the empty car seat, realizing quickly that a body will be in there...soon. Oh, how life is about to change is so many ways. I also thought this as I was getting ready the other morning. I have my routine down to about 20 minutes... And my husband sleeps as long as he can. But soon we'll have to factor in a baby. How will that change it all? Will the hubby start springing out of bed all of a sudden? Hmmmm. Change is so good though. Scary. But good.

Thoughts/Feelings up to this point
I met a great friend in college while at UW-Whitewater. We played volleyball together. She texted me as soon as she found out I was pregnant to tell me she was due just a week and a half before me. Well, the minute she was induced on Monday night, she was texting me play by play. Karl couldn't believe she was doing this, but I could and I loved it!!! Over 30 hours of texts and I received her final one that she had a 8 pound 7 ounce boy. I loved every second of it. I thought all those updates and texts would make me nervous or more fearful...even when she said that volleyball conditioning didn't hold a candle to pushing a baby out. It was just a really cool moment. I've accepted the fact this is going to be painful and it could be quite long. But I know I can do this. I'm probably not going to like it, but something wonderful is going to come from all the hard work.

That's about it. Our next appointment is next Wednesday and who knows what that'll bring. Every day I wake up wondering if today will be it, but then I kind of go into work mode and forget that I'm ready to go any day. My life always seems to be so crazy, busy that it's hard to focus on baby and when his/her shining moment will be. I'm more worried about getting everything done on time so I can be that devoted parent. It's kind of fun. I feel like we're on the brink of something big... Just a matter of time.