38 week photo

Is it possible to get any bigger? Yes! How fun :)

I really don't mind it though. The incredible movements happening inside that gigantic belly make it all worth it, as does the thought of meeting her soon!

Practice makes perfect...eventually

Damn contractions that don't mean a thing. I know it isn't labor, it's painless, and just a total tease, but these contractions that I've had, oh, like 20 of since around 4:30 this afternoon, are starting to get old. Either do something or stop already, body!

Counting down

I'm starting to get really excited for labor and delivery. We've found a doula that we get along with well (midwives cutting back hours > not able to offer as much labor support as previously thought > desiring a natural birth > find and hire a doula!). I'm feeling really--surprisingly--prepared. I'm not very nervous, just very anxious for the day to finally arrive! Of course the outcome of it all has me most excited: meeting our daughter. But otherwise I'm really interested to see how it all goes, practice what I've learned so much about, and get on with this already!

36 week photo

I think this is that "big as a house" feeling I was worried about in early pregnancy :)

Plaster, preparation, and pictures

We made a belly cast last night. While slathering yourself in petroleum jelly and sitting around the living room naked while your husband coats you in plaster gauze might sound like an odd way to spend an evening, it was fun and turned out great. We'll need to add a few more layers now that it's dry and stable and then we'll get to decorate it.

Everything is really coming together as far as baby preparations go. In fact, I'm hard pressed to think of anything more that needs to be done. We have all the clothes washed. We received pre-paid diaper service as a gift from my co-workers. The swing, bouncer, and co-sleeper are all assembled and in their respective places. I have the hospital bag packed (though I have to add Art's swim trunks in case he wants to join me in the labor tub!) and the baby's diaper bag is packed as well. The pediatrician is picked out, we know what medical things to deny at the hospital, and all of the pregnancy/labor/baby books have been read. And even though I tell everyone that "we're not deciding on a name until we meet her," we totally know our favorite and think of her as that, though we don't speak to her or of her using it just yet.

Our maternity photo session is scheduled for this Sunday and I feel like once we're done with that she can come whenever she'd like! I mean, I'm only 35 weeks and some change right now, so she's still got a bit more baking to do, but everything we've wanted to do during this pregnancy will be complete after Sunday. I like being so prepared, but at the same time I'm worried that these last few weeks are going to drag without anything else to tool around with!