36 Weeks

I have lots of updates from the weekend (including many pcitures).  But I'll save that post for later.

Today, I'm 36 weeks pregnant.  I had a check-up this morning, and the group B strep test done.  Check-up went well - blood pressure and weight are both good.  In total so far, I've gained 20 lbs.  I'm sure I'll gain a few more before baby girl makes her debut.  Baby girl is measuring a week ahead, and is guestimated to be about 6 lbs 4 ounces at the moment.  She also is extremely low, head down, and ready to rock and roll.  My midwife kind of insinuated that she doesn't think I'll make it to 40 weeks - we shall see.  I'm not banking on anything at this point.  I am 50% effaced, my cervix is extremely soft, and I am dilated slightly, but not enough to even say 1cm.  We shall see when this little one decides to make an appearance!

Speaking of when she'll make her appearance, I would love to get a little guessing game going.  Whoever guesses closest to when our love arrives, we'll send a little something to you.  Just leave a comment with your guess as to the date and time of delivery.  Also, please leave in your comment how big you think she'll be, and her height at birth (I'll use those two factors in case there's a tie)  I'll close the guessing game Friday, July 2nd at 11:59pm.

People keep asking if I feel ready.  I'm getting her stuff ready, and we finished buying the necessities this past weekend.  Once we get all of those things set up, I think we'll feel "ready" in a logistical sense.  But ready emotionally?  I'm not sure anything we do can really prepare us for when we greet our daughter for the first time.  I don't think anything anyone says or does can prepare us for what it's going to be like those first few weeks at home, or what it's truly like to become a parent.  I am thrilled that we'll be meeting lovey in a few weeks.  I am ecstatic.  I am nesting like a maniac.  But emotionally, I have moments of excitement, moments of anxiety, and moments of holy shit, we're having a BABY!  I hear that all of these feelings are completely normal. 

Am I ready for labor?  Yes and no.  I am ready in that I think I can do this.  I know my body is busy preparing.  I have very little fear about the labor and delivery in general.  In fact, there's a part of me that is excited for it!  But I think about what I'd do if my membranes released (otherwise known as the water breaking) today, and I think I might freak out for just a moment.  I just can't believe we're that close to going through it!  But I'm hoping that in that moment when I realize that I am in labor, that my instincts will kick in and I will go into automatic.  I just need to finish writing up our birth plan and then I'll be more ready.

We need to pack our hospital bags.  We need to write up a plan for Tessa while we stay in the hospital (someone will be staying at our house with her while we're in the hospital).

So, we still have quite a few things to do.  But once those few necessities are finished, we are totally ready for baby girl to make her debut.  We can't wait.

*I just reread this post and am realizing that I'm having a major case of pregnancy brain - so sorry it's so jumbled!