37 weeks!

Holy moly, we're at the point now where the boy could be born at any time. EEEEP!

Well, we had an interesting midwife appointment last week wherein I was told I had gained ANOTHER 6 lbs in the past two weeks (so we're up to 35 lbs total), but she thinks it's probably mostly water weight. I have been told to drink even MORE water, which means I get a lot more exercise going up and down the stairs to our 1 bathroom in the house. So it's double duty really - either it's water weight and this will help, or I've been eating too many cheetos and the extra exercise can't hurt. ;)

She was also semi-concerned because baby was WAY over on the right side, above my hip and she said was in danger of becoming stuck in a posterior (=back labor!!) position, so I was told to scrub the floors. Ha ha, ok, not really, but to be on my hands and knees as much as possible and to only lie on my left side. Since I was having some hip pain anyway on that side I moved up my chiropractor appointment and after being adjusted felt MUCH better. Much better. Like, I could get out of bed without doubling over. Then after a day of being in funny positions (thank god we don't have pictures of those) and taking a nice long 2 mile walk, I am happy to report that I felt the boy having hiccups in the perfect spot - on the left side, mostly in front. Yay! So hopefully he will make this new spot his permanent home until he decides it's time join us on the outside. Chad was so worried. Now he commands him to have hiccups all the time so I can tell him if he's still in a good spot. He doesn't really listen so well about getting hiccups on demand, but he's had the hiccups several times since then, and he's still in the good spot. Good baby!

To make sure everything stays all nice and lined up, I'm seeing the chiropractor twice a week until delivery. Thank goodness for good insurance!!!

I don't think he's fully "dropped" yet, but he is getting lower. And I know this because I don't want to die from heartburn anymore. On with the show!

37 weeks of water weight gain!

Is that the full moon? Oh no, it's just my GIANT BELLY.

A non-maternity shirt. Hilarious!!!

35 weeks!

Oh yes, I am feeling the bigness of 35 weeks. What is very, very strange to us is the idea that I could go into labor in two weeks and the baby would be considered full term. What?!? We're not ready yet!!!

The boy is very active despite his lack of room to maneuver. Guess he missed that memo. He makes all kinds of bizarre contortions out of my belly, it is pretty entertaining. I can already tell he's taking after his mom in the foot department (who had GIGANTIC feet when born), they feel huge and hilarious as they poke out of my belly, making it super pointy at times. He is head down on the right side, which is just perfect, and he better stay that way! The midwife estimates that he is on the high side of 5 lbs, which is great although totally mind-boggling to us. She said he feels long and skinny, but that he'll start packing on the fat in the next few weeks (I was kind of hoping that he already had, since I could then blame my 6 lb-in-three-weeks weight gain on him...). But I've gained 29 lbs overall, which the midwife says is right on schedule. So, hooray! Onto the photographic evidence!

35 Weeks of Buddha Baby Belly

It's getting very serious...
Chad has informed me that it is no longer a "basketball belly..."Rather, it's a "medicine-ball belly."