It’s a long way down to the floor from up here. Haven’t seen my feet in months.
37 week photo… how many more of these shots do you think we’ll get to take?
At our prenatal appointment today I measured REALLY big. Evidently our baby has long legs like Dad.
Cradle by the bed, ready for baby
As we get closer and closer to our due date, I find myself fantasizing about all the ordinary things we’ll be able to do again soon. Here’s a little list of things I am looking forward to.
I can’t wait to eat sushi. I’ve craved it throughout my whole pregnancy and instead have settled for smoked and cooked fish (so not the same!). I am eager to enjoy a tiger tail roll (yummy mango, avocado, tuna and salmon) and probably some sort of spicy tuna thing as well. I wouldn’t mind having a couple sips of hot sake too.
I am starting to get really excited about getting back into shape. We went for a (very short) walk yesterday at the park and the thought that we’ll be back there soon as a family made me giddy. I am so ready to resume my runs! (Plus, I love having a solid hour set aside to spend and chat with David!) I know that it will probably take a while to get back to my pre-pregnancy workout routine, that I need to work my way back up to walking the 5 miles first (darn bedrest!) before I can even begin to focus on running them, but I am so looking forward to it. Last night I even dreamed about running in the park. Can’t wait.
I miss my yoga classes! Love that social time in addition to how important it is for my physical health and emotional wellbeing. David and I have been reading several books about doing yoga with babies, so it will be extra fun to combine two loves and do yoga together as a family. In the meantime, I’ve started to introduce a few yoga poses into my daily home routine now that I can move around again. Everything feels so different and I can’t tell if it’s because the baby is just so much bigger or if it’s because s/he is in position in my pelvis or if I have just forgotten what the poses feel like having taken a month break. My balance is also completely different now that there is all this extra weight in the front! I think the baby has grown a lot recently.
I want to eat soft cheeses again. I think a splurge of baked brie something is required for the week after I give birth and I can’t wait to have some raw cheeses too. (Hey, I need to increase my calorie intake while breastfeeding… I might as well be eating the good stuff!)
And, of course, all of the ordinary things that are about to change drastically with the addition of a little one. I think it’s going to be those in-between moments, those “just us” alone times, that will be the most wonderful. The moments together as a family before we go to sleep or just after we wake up or when we cuddle on the couch or read a book together or dance around the house. When I greet David at the door after a yoga class or when he gets home from work, he won’t be kissing just me and my belly, he’ll be kissing me and our little one. We’ll be rushing to the door to welcome Daddy home. Totally chokes me up. And feels me with excitement. All these everyday and ordinary, yet extraordinary, moments filled with love. I imagine that it will be these times together that will be extra special with our plus one.
Photos taken with a Canon Digital Rebel
This is what a very relieved and happy pregnant woman looks like at 36 weeks.
Yesterday I sat up for the first time since early December and it felt so good! The things I took for granted before.
The baby appears to be on the big side,* so now it’s really okay for me to go into labor. Of course, we keep sending vibes to the baby to stay in there a few more weeks, little one! We are excited about meeting you, but can totally wait!
And while I could be moving around the house a little bit more now, I seem to have come down with a cold. So, I’m still on the couch. And lying down. Go figure.
* Now when the baby hiccups, my whole belly bounces. Totally charms me.
28 (left) vs 36 weeks (right)
Let’s just say these past three weeks on bedrest have been interesting. I’ve gone through periods of extreme grouchiness and discomfort (being idle really doesn’t suit me), coupled with constant exhaustion; however, this weekend I am feeling better since we can now give birth safely at home.
Hooray! We’ve made it to 36 weeks and the baby is still cooking! And active! (Oh, the acid reflux!) And hiccuping! (Oh, the lack of sleep!) And constantly trying to bounce its head on mama’s cervix! (Very sensitive. Ouch!) Thank goodness for the most awesome prize ever waiting for me at the end of this pregnancy adventure. Despite my complaining about bedrest and the aches and pains of pregnancy, it’s all so worth it.
The freshly laundered pile of diapers, towels, wipes, clothes, blankets, and sheets to be put away.
David has been a complete saint and has taken awesome care of me. I’ve eaten better these last three weeks than over the course of the entire pregnancy. He’s done everything: the laundry, the dishes, the cleaning, the cooking. He’s gotten all the birth equipment and baby stuff washed and ready. He has even helped me in the shower! All this plus continuing to work full time. Luckily, he’s been telecommuting for three weeks, so he’s been home with me. Wow, we are lucky that David has such an awesome situation at work.
So, we’re now in the home stretch. It will be interesting to see exactly when I go into labor once I go off the herbs currently keeping me from going into labor. Could be a day, could be a month. It all depends on how quickly the herbs leave my system and the pace at which my body decides it’s time!
In the meantime, I’ve finally perfected my left-handed mouse action and am getting pretty good at typing with one hand while lying on my side, so I’m online a bit more now. We… (who am I kidding?!)… David has completed nearly everything on our pre-baby checklist, so I believe we’re as ready as we can be to welcome our little baby into the world!
Some recent flickr favorites
p.s. It’s such a relief having contractions and not flipping out!
