36 Weeks. I'm Next!

Thirty six weeks. Thir.ty.Six.We.ek.s.

In the letters of seventeen year old girls everywhere... O.M.G.

We're getting there, we're really getting there. I thought for a day or two last week that time stopped, but then it picked back up again, thank goodness. Sometimes shorter weeks make everything feel longer, but we made it through the week, and here we are starting 36! Thirty six weeks also means I am starting the 9th month. I'm 9 months pregnant, holy crap. If I didn't waddle, eat, and sweat like some sort of freak I might not believe it. But thankfully, I do all three of those things at the same time - so I'm convinced that I am indeed nine months pregnant. Yes! We made it! For those of you just catching on, pregnancy does not end at nine months, you have to make it through the 9th month, so it's actually 10. But regardless, we are in the last month and so close to meeting the little bug.

All I can think about is labor. I thought I was bad before, but it is all consuming. It's not so much being in labor and the pain and all that, it's more the constant daydreaming about just where I'll (we'll) be when it starts. Will it be me jumping up from a sound sleep at 2am? Will my water flood the isles of Target? Will we just be watching tv? Will Kyle be at a softball game? Will he be at work? What will I say if I have to call him? I'm not one for surprises. I don't like surprise parties, I don't like surprise trips, I don't like surprise visitors. And this is the surprise of a lifetime, so you can imagine the obsessing I've been doing over it. But I've only got a month left to obsess over it - I wonder what kind of frenzy I'll work myself into? I can't wait until I can write the blog on it.

Here's the exciting news, though. My friend Vicki had her beautiful baby girl last week. And I am so excited for her. We've been waiting to see little Mia Kate for a long time now. She is the third in the Zoey, Ali, Mia, and Leah best friends circle. Do you know who the fourth is?! You guessed it. Or maybe I told you. But either way... I'm next! It all started with my sister having Ali earlier this year. Since then I have watched what seems like a million people have babies, all the while waiting patiently for my turn. And I am happy to say, there is officially no one left that will have a baby before me! It's our turn, Leah! We don't have to go through the torture anymore!

Well, at 36 weeks what is Leah doing? Getting fat. That's all she does. She rolls, eats, and gets fat. Her height should be around 20-21 inches, and she is a six pounder. As far as all of her systems go, she is ready to meet us. I guess she will decide when she is actually ready. I'm hanging on to my theory that she will be early. But I'm sure everyone thinks that of their babies. She's still so dang active! When does the slowing down I've been reading about happen? Not this one, I guess she's not reading the same emails I am. I can't wait to see the little face that has been bruising my insides for so long. I've started to get pretty weirded out by her. Not in a bad way. But now that I can see her limbs, and back, and butt, and elbows, and fists, and feet... I realize how real she is. There is a real freaking baby in there, excuse my french. I mean, the kid is as real as they come. Just hanging out, living in my stomach. I watch her distort my stomach for the better part of every day, and it's just plain weird. Not only does she move, but she has a brain and reflexes and she understands some things. I poke her and she kicks back. I push her out from under my ribs and she rolls right back in there. I push on her rump and she moves it. She hears her dad talk and she starts dancing. I eat something sweet and she gets so excited she almost always gives herself the hiccups. This little girl is real. And someday soon she is just going to come out a fully formed baby like it's no big deal. Like she didn't used to be the size of an apple seed. Like she didn't used to have a tail. Like she didn't used to be transparent. And like she didn't grow cell by cell, organ by organ, limb by limb, inch by inch, and pound by pound until she was complete. Are you with me? Crazy.

And at 36 weeks what are her parents doing? Getting fat. Ha, okay... just me. (Ugh, when does that stop)? Kyle's still got his rockin' body. Her car seat is locked and loaded - ready for her little body. The mirror has been installed above it, and I look into it constantly like I'm actually going to see her face in there.  Her coming home from the hospital outfit has been chosen and packed. Everything is as clean as can be, but I'm sure I will continue to find things to clean until we go to the hospital. Speaking of which, rest easy, I found time to dust each individual DVD and organize the laundry room. Our birth plan is signed, copied, and packed. My feet and ankles are still in good condition, despite the outrageous heat. Kyle now answers his phone whenever I call! Yay! It's kind of a fun power to have, but I will try not to abuse it. We are both anxiously waiting for June 17th. Why? That is the date of Kyle's big test. Leah cannot come out before then, so I will be nervous until he takes it and passes. And he just wants to take it and pass. 11 days. Then we can all relax and focus solely on getting this baby out of my belly and into our arms. I've been having some braxton hicks contractions. Kinda freaky, but it's another sign that we're close so I'll take them. Kyle even saw one (they make my entire belly roll into a knotted ball) and made a fantastic face. It made me really excited to see all of the faces he'll make when I'm actually in labor. And last but not least, I had a meltdown in my closet Saturday. Nothing fits, and it just got to me. Obviously, there is a very large reason - but it didn't seem to matter as I was standing in my closet picking out shirt after shirt that didn't cover my belly. After having enough, I put on Kyle's clothes and took myself to Target. I really am sick of buying maternity clothes, but I can't spend the last month naked, so it was a necessity. I felt much better afterwards, and everything I got was on sale... glad that's over.

The doctors appointments keep on coming! They are getting more exciting now, however. She tells me things other than, "things look great, you're both healthy." Today we got to talk about labor, and contractions, and all kinds of fun things. Leah was up to her usual games, running from the doppler. And I was absolutely in shock at just how low she is. Her heartbeat might as well have been in one of my legs. This little girl is slowly pushing her way out. But it was as strong and fast as ever... 153. Drum roll please, I have gained 28lbs. Man, that's a lot. And at this point, I'm kinda over it. And the doctor says I'm fine. I will still eat healthy, avoid sodium, chug water, and limit my treats... but I could care less what the scale says. 28, what's a few more? I only have to get on that thing three more times!

And last but not least, I watched a bird build a nest the other day. And it's funny what will make a pregnant girl cry. Not that I haven't seen a bird make a nest before, but this time it was different. Maybe it's the fact that Leah's room has birds in it, or that I am nesting like a maniac - but that little mama bird got to me. Coming back and forth for stick after stick, flying back, and putting each stick in the proper place. Getting everything ready, and making a perfect home for her babies. I could totally relate to that bird, and I think it's funny that no matter the mama, the instincts are the same. That bird hasn't read What to Expect When You're Expecting, and she doesn't get the emails I do telling her when to do what. But she just knows when to get ready for her babies, and how to make them the best home she can. What a clever God we've got, wouldn't you say? I sure hope her nest holds up and she has perfect little babies.

Next week is the big week. Full Term. Leah will officially be expected any day. I'll say it again, O.M.G.