Full term - 37 weeks

How Far Along: 37 weeks today. If E2 is gaining an ounce per day as things I read say he should be, he's likely over 8 pounds now, and the length of a full-sized baby.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: My weight gain finally slowed down, signaling I'm closer to delivery. Woohoo! I only gained a pound over last week.

Maternity Clothes: Yes.

Movement: Moving and shaking a lot every day. His knobby bits (elbows? heels? knees?) are sometimes causing discomfort when he really pushes them out, and his little butt gets shoved up and out all the time. He's been practice breathing a lot. Last night we got to watch him breathe for probably five minutes or more, my belly making tiny rhythmic movements over his back. It was awesome!

Sleep: A little better lately, although I awoke hungry really early this morning. I was able to go back to sleep for about an hour and a half, which was nice.

Gender: A baby brother for Aliya and Bennett.

Symptoms: More Braxton Hicks, uncomfortable movements from baby, significant pubic bone and hip pain (making getting up from a seated position really tricky and cumbersome), walking REALLY slow now, lower back pain (center of gravity changing much?!). I'm back on Zofran, but I know the end is near for that particular drug in my life.

Cravings: None, really.

Belly Button In or Out: Outie. It still looks like a nose to me. :)

Freak-out of the Week: Nesting gone awry. Our property is a full time job at just shy of 3 acres, most of it pasture grass (which likes to seed everywhere we don't want it to), vegetable garden and a perennial garden all along the front of the house (something I'd always wanted, but now that I have it, not so much). We do pretty well when we both can participate in upkeep, but when I've been unable to give it my all since September, it's all gone to hell. Family has come two weekends to paint, and that's a  huge help, but the outside has been stressing me out...something about bad first impressions, you know? Today a friend and former co-worker came and spent 3 hours power weeding - in the rain, no less! She's amazing and looking outside, I feel so much better. There's still so much to do, but what I see gives me hope. Another friend will be coming over one evening this week to paint the nursery, which isn't done yet. The carpet for both rooms should reach the store later this week and be installed next week, and then we can put our house back together and move furniture back where it belongs. The crib should arrive early next week, we have baby's dresser (can't wait to put all his clothes and things away!), and one of these days we'll choose a nursery chair. We need to buy blinds, light fixtures and door knobs for both rooms still, but that won't be bad. I can't wait to have these things all finished. Unfinished projects have caused me so much stress over the last couple of months!

Looking Forward To: Learning I'm progressing toward labor...whenever that happens (not yet so much!). Also, attending the 2013 Western Washington Rock & Walk event for The TEARS Foundation on Saturday (hopefully, provided I can manage it) in honor of our twins. It was so meaningful last year. We're both really looking forward to it.

Next Appointment: Thursday morning at St. Pete's for another NST, then back to Dr. M.'s Monday for NST and a fluid scan.

Miscellaneous: I had yet another good NST at Dr. M.'s yesterday. Everything continues to go well. I do have increased swelling (he demonstrated his ability to leave dents in the tops of my feet with his thumbs, and called my edema "1+"), but my BP was acceptable at 132/67. Not stellar, but not bad by any means. Baby rocked his NST, and I only had a few little Braxton Hicks. Dr. M. swabbed me for the Group B Strep test to determine whether I'll need IV antibiotics during labor (I predict yes, based on previous history, but we'll see), and Sierra made him check my cervix, because "inquiring minds want to know"! He said, "Well, normally I wouldn't, but since I'm already down here..." Ha ha! My cervix felt long and mostly closed still, not too thin but very soft, and baby's head is at a -2 station (meaning not yet engaged...he has 2 cm to go). He mentioned again delivering before my due date based on Dr. E's recommendation. I asked for clarity...are we talking AT 39 weeks, or DURING my 39th week, or BY my 39th week? He said baby will certainly come in June (my 39th week starts June 25th), and if anything indicates a problem, like reduced fluid levels, poor NST response by E2, or increased edema or higher BP for me, then he'll deliver me earlier. So...still pretty vague, but within the next 2+ weeks, E2 should be here. Wow. Not only is that hard to believe, but it's even more mind-blowing that Paul and I both feel ready, at least emotionally...and, at least, right now.

The belly at 37 weeks.