31.5 weeks along...8.5 weeks until our due date...5.5 weeks until baby is considered "full term." I absolutely can't believe that we're going to meet our baby so soon. Granted, first babies often come a bit later than 40 weeks, so I'm gearing up to go to 42 weeks if that's what it takes for Munchkin to be ready to meet the world. Even counting those extra weeks, it seems like it's just around the corner.
Recently, Mom was in town for a visit before she attended a conference nearby. She (very generously) wanted to get us the crib, so we went furniture shopping. I really enjoyed having my mom in town. I always miss her (and the rest of my family), and it was nice to have someone to gab about all-things-baby-related for a few days.
Ed/Alex put together the crib and dresser last weekend, and the rocking chair and nursing stool arrived this week. It's so strange to think that we have a crib in our house. And soon we'll have a baby in the house. It's absolutely blowing my mind.
Physically, I'm starting to feel somewhat uncomfortable at times. A good night's sleep is harder and harder to come by, and I can tell that I'm becoming fatigued more easily. Munchkin seems determined to burrow up under my sternum or to wedge his/her bottom deep into my liver...so I have random bouts of shortness of breath. On the flip side, I haven't had a problem with a lot of the other issues that tend to plague pregnant women. I've been relatively free of heartburn and I've yet to experience constipation, swelling, or incontinence (sorry). I'm still trying to stay as active as possible. I haven't had to slow down at work, and I'm still exercising regularly. All in all, not a lot to complain about. I've been very fortunate during this pregnancy. And, as odd as it feels to have the baby trying to climb into my chest cavity, I love that I feel him/her moving around so often. At this piont, it's usually easy to identify a pattern of sleep/wake cycles. Munchkin, however, does not seem to sleep. Ever. We may be in for it!
Emotionally, I'm feeling a bit more anxious about our impending initation into parenthood. I'm hoping for a birth involving as few interventions as possible, and terrified of a c-section. While I know Ed/Alex and I will do the best we can and have a lot of love and support to help us along, I also know that suddenly becoming parents will be quite an adjustment. I'm already worried about how I feel the first day I go back to work and have to leave Munchkin at daycare. I worry about how fast he/she will grow up (the teenage years terrify me). You get the picture (if not, imagine a snowball rolling down a mountain...at the end it's a very large snow boulder).
Lastly, we had another ultrasound to look at the baby's kidneys today. The tech was showing me the baby's profile and he/she was making little suckling movements with it's mouth. It was something so simple, but it was such a typically baby thing to do, and it really moved me to see it. I think I'm in love!
Meredith--you look absolutely gorgeous! It sounds like things are going well and that's wonderful. This is such a special time for you and for Ed, too. I can't believe that time has passed so quickly and it's almost time for Munchkin to join us! Keep doing what you're doing and try not to worry about everything at once. You'll just wear yourself out to no avail. You're going to do great! Love you guys!
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