Two Words

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Full term. 37 weeks. However, you want to say it, it's music to my ears.

I had my 37 week appointment yesterday, a day early. I didn't have to suffer through another internal, which was actually a relief. I really don't miss the cramping and slight spotting from the one just last week. So, I can deal with the suspense of waiting another week to see if I've dilated or effaced more. I did find out my GBS swab was negative so no IV antibiotics for me. Woot! Sunshine is still being a good boy and seems comfortable in his head down position. The OB estimated his birth weight to be in the "high 7's". DH was 6 lbs. 5 oz. at birth and I was 7 lbs. 5 oz. so it appears he is following in Mommy's footsteps. I realize this is an arbitrary number but he seems to be average all over. Perfectly average - and I couldn't ask for or possibly want more.

Physically, I'm noticing even more changes than my super swelling belly. I've been growing skin tags all over my belly and boobs. A new one seems to sprout up everyday. They are tiny and flesh-colored but so annoying. They itch and sometimes, it is hard to tell them apart from a clogged pore. I find myself scratching them and they bleed. I'm hoping they go away after birth but we'll see. I might just have to put up with these new, uninvited moochers.

The first trimester fatigue is now resurging again. I'm napping more after work and going to bed earlier. I'm sure it has to do with the fact that my sleep each night is interrupted between urinating 200 times, hip or back pain and heartburn. Again, nature's way of preparing me for waking up with a newborn to feed every hour or two. My body seems to have its own internal alarm clock now. I have the waddling down pat and I know I stick out like a sore thumb, being penguins don't live in 90 degree habitats. But, I'm taking it all in stride. It won't be too much longer and all of these changes are necessary to make it to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

As for material progress, the hospital bag is 95% packed (just need chargers for the electronics and an extra outfit for DH, which seems to be very difficult for him to choose. C'mon! It's not Sex and the City for pete's sake!). The diaper bag is also packed and ready to go. The only things left on the to-do list are:

Get the car seat base inspected
Pick up nursery end table from Ikea
Purchase final registry items (swing, PNP sheets and other random things)
Write out thank you cards for most recent shower
Clean the apartment as much as my nesting instinct and body will allow

To think that he could literally come at any moment now is just...undescribable. We've purchased all the essentials so if he does decide to join us early, we are prepared. I'm so ready to meet him. And yet I'm not. I always feel there is more to be done that could make things just a little bit more perfect. I guess I will feel that way for the rest of my life. Nothing will ever be clean enough or organized enough. But 'tis life. I'm actually relaxing a bit from the nesting urge. My body is quickly reaching its limitations. I can't bend over like I used to and I can't just keep going like the Energizer bunny as I used to. I have to slow down and just do what I can do. The rest will have to wait. Interesting how nature takes care of this mental vs. physical debate for you.

I look at the bags waiting by the door in bewilderment. A symbol of change to come. Someday soon, we will be grabbing them and rushing to put them in the car. We will be driving off to the hospital to meet our son. And when we come back to the apartment, we will be different people. With a tiny addition.

I stare at the Pack 'n Play that is now set up in our bedroom, imagining what it will be like to fill the bassinet with a baby. Our baby.

I hold up his little newborn diapers in amazement. Quite possibly the cutest pair of underwear I've ever seen. So small. And yet one day soon my son will poop or pee in them. And even that is undeniably cute.

I do a lot of daydreaming recently, as you can see. Even at work, I find myself drifting off. August 1st is my tentative last day of work and it can't come soon enough. I have a sneaky suspicion this little guy will come on August 2nd, just because I'm not cut out for R&R.