week 40. "Our baby is probably around the size of a small pumpkin. The average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and is about 20 inches long." -babycenter.com I put up the picture of the sesame seed because that is how big he was when I found out that I was pregnant and now just 35 weeks later he's the size of a pumpkin and ready for the world. Hopefully this will be my last weekly pregnancy post. Babycenter.com doesn't provide anymore pictures with size comparisons to a quarter after 40 weeks, maybe because it would scare too many women!
Tomorrow is the day that I have been counting down to for so long...my due date. I cannot believe I'm here already; that very idea scares me as well as thrills me! Ryan and I will be going to my appointment tomorrow at 1:30 and hopefully she will tell us that progress has been made. I will also be asking her to strip my membranes to help encourage labor. Basically this is a procedure that consists of her sweeping my cervix to separate my bag of waters from the uterine wall. When she does this it usually releases hormones that often start contractions. Women have had many different levels of success with this...some have gone to the hospital 2 hours later, some not for a couple days and some did not have any success with it. I'm preparing the house and myself as if it is happening tomorrow though! I even spent about 20 minutes opening up individual animal cracker packages and consolidating them into a large ziplock bag as if this was one of those most important chores to get done before we bring the baby home! Silly! Nervous and excited energy I guess. The labor and delivery as well as meeting my baby and finally holding him seems so unreal to me it is very hard to fully wrap my mind around it! We have been getting phone calls this weekend inquiring if we're at the hospital or just asking how we're doing. It is so nice of everyone to think of us and showing us that they are so excited as well! Ryan has been very protective and doesn't believe that I should be going anywhere alone so he drove me around to do errands this morning. It was very nice to have a chauffeur! He is very excited and anxious to meet his son!! Hopefully soon...we'll keep you update! Stay tuned!

2 days shy of 40 weeks.

week 39. "He already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.)" -babycenter.com At last weeks appointment (Friday) I was dilated to 3cm and 50% effaced. I also experienced my first real contraction while I was in the doctors office but have not had another one since. My doctor said that she thinks I will go early if not on my due date. I am still working full time however I am getting more and more tempted to go down to part time and/or stop all together. I have another appointment on Wednesday so we'll see what the doctor says about my progress. There are many things I would like to be "more ready" for and that extra time would be nice to help me prepare. I am looking forward to moving forward and not to play this waiting game anymore. I have read/heard and feared for the labor and delivery part of this for too long I am ready to just experience it and I am so excited to just hold the baby I've been carrying for the past 39 weeks! He has dropped a little, I notice in the shape of my belly as well as that it is much easier to take deeper breaths and I seem to be a lot more hungry! He's on his way! I cannot wait to meet this little man!

week 38. "Your baby, now as long as a leek, weighs nearly 7 pounds. (Length: more than 19 1/2 inches, head to heel.)" -babycenter.com He's so big!!!! Amazing! Babycenter.com only lists 2 more pictures with the quarter, I can't believe I'm almost at the end of those pictures! I remember looking through them at the very beginning thinking there are soooooo many pictures/weeks but it's has gone by so quickly! Well the car seat is installed, I picked out an outfit for him to come home in and Ryan and I have chosen 4 names to go to the hospital with. I feel very relieved that we have come to 4 names that we actually both like! We won't be sharing those 4 until we name him though...sorry! I have been experiencing a lot of braxton hicks contractions but haven't had a real one yet though. At last weeks appointment I was almost dilated to 2cm. We'll see Friday if I've made any more progress. I also tested positive for Group B Strep which means that I need to be started on antibiotics when I arrive at the hospital to prevent passing it on to the baby. I guess this is very common and usually by starting on antibiotics right away it takes away most of the risk.
*What I can't wait for: for him to snuggle up and fall asleep on my chest!

week 37. "Your baby is as lofty as a stalk of Swiss chard and weighs 6 1/3 pounds. (Length: a bit over 19 inches, head to heel.)" -babycenter.com He is now considered full term! So no chance of having a preemie! His lungs should be fully developed! I have said goodbye to heartburn! Prilosec is working it's magic and I'm finally able to keep meals down! (here comes all the weight gain!) However I have now started retaining water. I am no longer able to wear my rings or watches and when I take my socks off there is a huge indentation of where it used to be and it will remain purple or red for the rest of the night. So I've been elevating my legs more and trying to stand less but luckily I only have a few weeks to go. Yesterday Ryan treated me to a pregnancy massage for Christmas it was amazing!! I am packed for the hospital and everything is set for him in his room. The car seat still needs to be installed but we have played with it so we're familiar with how to work/adjust it. Hopefully that will be installed later today! Ryan set up the baby swing in the livingroom so it's constant reminder there's going to be a baby joining our family SOON, as if my kankles and enormous belly isn't enough of reminder!

week 36. "Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long." -babycenter.com At the end of this week he will be considered full term so basically I need to be ready for whenever he decides to come! I still have yet to pack for the hospital and install the car seat but I will hopefully make lots of progress this week seeing as how I only work 2 days this week. Simple tasks such as tying shoes, rolling over in bed and getting out of the car is getting more and more difficult and uncomfortable. However my heartburn/acid reflex problem hopefully has been curbed by prilosec. That in and of itself is a great Christmas gift!

week 35. "Your baby, now as hefty as a honeydew melon at 5 1/4 pounds, doesn't have much room to maneuver in your belly. (Length: more than 18 inches, head
to heel.)" -Babycenter.com He has been having a lot of hiccups lately, at least once a day, if not 3 times a day. Usually ice water gets him going. He feels so big inside! I had my 35 week appointment and still all seems well. He is measuring right where he should be. I discussed my struggle with heartburn (throwing up 3x/day) and she suggested I give up on Tums and go to Prilosec. Hopefully this will give me some relief! I also found out that I am already dilated to 1cm, which I could stay at for a few weeks. I have been extremely emotional this week, mostly while I'm driving home. I have had some dreams that left me feeling a lot of guilt and doubt that I won't know how to care for him. On a lighter note, Ryan and I are beginning to compromise on a name so hopefully we will be able to feel more prepared in that department! I cannot believe how soon we'll be holding him!