38 Weeks...

Because I've been writing about this pregnancy in almost every post recently, there's not as much to say in this "official" weekly update. :)

The big news is that at my appointment this morning at SWHC, I saw Marty...and when she checked me, she announced that I'm 3 centimeters dilated and 50% effaced. Yippee! 3 down, 7 more to go! :) Never mind the fact that the first 3 are the easiest by far, I'm still encouraged by this sign of progress. Of course, it doesn't give much of a clue about WHEN the baby will actually be born since women can hang out at 3 centimeters for days without anything else happening. My dad, however, predicts that I won't make it another week; and Jeff keeps looking at me and saying that he thinks I'll deliver "soon." With "soon" being such a non-specific word, I'm inclined to agree with him...but whether that means tomorrow will be the big day or Baby stays inside until my due date remains to be seen!

Everything else at the appointment was normal and fine--my weight was 176, blood pressure was 118 over 70 (I think), the baby's heart rate was 133, his/her head is down. I'm continually grateful for this largely uneventful pregnancy. And isn't "largely" an appropriate word to be using often these days? :)

Sometimes when I walk across the floor, I think, "Oh dear, I sound like an elephant!" So then I try to step more lightly which isn't an easy task. The other silly thing about walking these days is that when I take a step with my right foot, I hear an audible "clunk" or "thunk" or "thwack" or something in my head. It doesn't happen when I step with my left foot, just with the right. Quite a strange sensation!

As far as moving around, another movement that's increasingly difficult these days is the infamous rolling-over-in-bed routine or, even worse, getting-out-of-bed-to-go-to-the-bathroom-six-times-a-night ordeal. I've been very conscious to not give in to the urge to audibly groan when I heave myself over in bed or up out of bed; I keep my mouth shut and just do what I have to do to make it happen, no matter how long it takes and how ungraceful I look. This lack of moaning provides a small measure of comfort to me as I pretend that "this isn't so hard after all!" :)

My favorite food these days, besides fresh fruit which is always my favorite, is Peanut M&Ms. With a tall glass of cold milk and a handful of Peanut M&Ms, I am all set! I wonder how many food groups that officially covers?

When I talked to my sister last night, her first question was, "Are you on your way to the hospital???" With the full moon, she thought surely that would be the case. :) With Tobin's birth, she was two days off, predicting January 10 when in reality, he was born on the 12th, so if her pattern continues, the baby will be born tomorrow!

With this contest, we obviously don't have a winner yet, but we do have a loser. Tim and Michelle guessed July 7; and as much as I would have loved to make them the winner, it just didn't work out that way. :)

The pace of life for me is actually really laid-back at this point in time, and I'm enjoying the lazy days of summer and waiting. Each day before the birth gives me a little more time to get something or other done: make sure my toenails are painted (Jeff did the honors this time), update the playlist of music on my blog, begin to pack away maternity clothes and get out my regular clothes, run some errands and stock up on non-essentials (like packing tape for the packages we send through Ebay), charge the camera battery, charge it again a few days later, completely sort through and eliminate my infamous pile of paperwork by the telephone, stay caught up on laundry, etc. All the important stuff, right? :) Every day is a win-win situation--either I get to go to the hospital and HAVE A BABY or I get to stay home and putter around, accomplishing a few things in between caring for the boys (especially Tobin who continues to be clingier than normal, but that's a whole other blog post). Jeff asked me late last night if I was ready to have this baby; and remarkably, I could peacefully say "yes" without mentally going down the checklist of five more projects I was really hoping to have finished by the birth! It was a good feeling. :)

Most of all, I feel so much anticipation these days...

SO MUCH ANTICIPATION!!! :)