39 Weeks!

Oh dear!  We are really getting close now!  Every day I seem to get a little rounder and a bit more uncomfortable if that is possible.  I sometimes get anxious about how things are going to go with the labor and bringing Baby A home and parenting.  But a lot of times I just feel ambivalent...and uncomfortable physically...and hoping that the big day would just get here already!!

Bodily changes: (Because I know you're all dying to know ;)
I lost a pound this last time at the doctor.  I had gained 3lbs in the week prior, so this was ok to hear.  I was retaining A LOT of water for a while, so the nurse says it was b/c of that. 

As of Wednesday I'm dilated 3cm and 75% effaced.  I've learned not to get excited about this.  But it is still progress in the right direction! 

I've been really tired this week and I think that has helped me sleep through the majority of the nights.  But not last night my friends...I was up for 4 hours for no reason.  Wow. 

In other news, I'm losing my mucus plug.  It's really not that gross.  I've also learned not to be excited about this change, as it could mean labor is just around the corner OR in the next 2 weeks...that is quite the spread. 

I've also been struggling with sinus/allergy problems the past week or so.  This has caused some sleep disturbances...for Ryan.  Apparently with the weight of the baby on my lungs and the drainage, I'm quite the snorer now!  Ha. I think its funny.  He does not.

Other preparations:
The nursery is much more organized.  I still have to put up his wall art that my aunt made that matches his "Little Builder" bedding.  I also need to hang some pictures.  We don't have our rocking chair yet, which is concerning b/c it takes 7-10 days to get here once you order it.  Not sure if we have that kind of time before he gets here!

I've been "nesting" more.  The house is much more put together.  I had a cleaning lady come on Wednesday, so that is always motivation to get my act together before she comes and makes it all sparkly. 

Work has been pretty good.  I'm just so big and slow now that everyone makes comments.  Boooo. It is nice to not sit around and wallow in my discomfort at home, but the commentary from staff and clients gets old.  There are many different departments at my work and I oftentimes have to walk through the admissions hallway to get to the administrative portion of our main building. So as I walk down the hallway, there are always 5 to 20 people sitting there waiting to get processed.  As I walk by I hear people commenting to each other, "Aww, that poor girl." or "She's ready to pop." or they just ask all the normal annoying questions, "How far along?..Oh girl, you need to get out of here!" My favorite was the man waiting with his loved one to get admitted...he had quite the beer gut...he said, "You and me could be twins! ha ha!" as he patted his belly.  Oh dear Lord help me. 

Then when I finally get to my mailbox/copy room, etc. there's an employee from another department who hasn't seen me in a few weeks and makes some fun comment about my growth.  "You haven't had that baby YET?"  I'm currently searching for new routes and ways to minimize my time in these places.  ;)

It has been kinda funny at work each day as I leave b/c I have to complete my work and leave my files, clients, desk, etc. in such a way that if I went into labor that night then my intern could figure out what the heck to do (and I wouldn't be leaving her w/an enormous mess).  I'm so blessed to have my job though, and it has been a great way to continue to stay active and distracted!

I finally got Duke's bag packed!  Our neighbors, who are our age, have a dalmatian and we dog-sit for each other occasionally.  Fortunately for us they are from Richardson, therefore not leaving for the holidays and available to help with our first born (canine) son.  I'm very very thankful that they are right next door and we don't have to worry about a thing.

I do have minimum Christmas decor up.  Making sure the tree was up and decorated was a priority above the nursery for some reason.  In my head I can hear myself saying, "My child will NOT come into this world without a nice Christmas tree!"  Never mind that he doesn't have a changing pad cover or mattress pad to sleep on...the Christmas tree will make it all ok! (I'm going to Babies R Us today to buy these things by the way!)

Ryan is done with his Christmas light contract work for now and so it has been nice having him back in the house at a reasonable hour each night.  And its been nice b/c he was so exhausted before (and of course I'm exhausted almost always) so now instead of us both crashing, we can catch up a little and he can take care of me as I slowly slip into an exhausted uncomfortable oblivion.

Well, I think this post is long enough.  I'll keep you updated!  We just got iPhones yesterday b/c our phones were flaking out and about to die...so now we have easier access to posting pics and news online.  I think I can even figure out how to do a blog posting as a text msg.  No promises about the quality of blog posting, but perhaps at least a brief announcement.  Keep checking FB too I guess!