36-37 Weeks - Full Term

Hello sleepness nights. Hello insatiable thirst. Hello nesting. Hello anxiousness. Hello babyicantwaittomeetyou! Hello to the last few weeks of my pregnancy.

Hello.

Per the usual, time is flying and I feel like baby is going to be here before we know it. Being over 37 weeks pregnant, I am considered "full term", which means if our little chica were born today, she'd make her entrance with little to no complication... opposed to the preterm babies who sometimes have to rely on intervention to get their little bodies up to "real world" speed.

Its crazy to consider the fact that there is a 6.5-7 lb little being in my belly. A real live person! Not that she let's me forget it! She's been doing her usual belly dancing and keeping me entirely intrigued with each passing jab, kick, roll, bump, flutter... or hiccup! Hiccups are new to me - I've heard that many babies experience hiccups throughout their time in the womb but I've never been able to pinpoint our baby going through that... until this past week. One night around 3am, I felt this rhythmic pulse in my belly. It was a little jolt every 10-15 seconds and it carried on for quite a few minutes... I eventually fell back to sleep but I realized that it must be hiccups. Since that episode, I've experienced it 3 more times and while I feel so bad for her (I can't stand having the hiccups), it humanizes her and gives me sort of an "aww, my little baby" sensation that I love.

The hub and I have finished 95% of the chores that we wanted to accomplish before the baby's arrival and we're now really focused on spending these next 2-3 (or 4... but I hope not!) weeks relaxing a bit and hanging out with each other. With the due date looming about 2.5 weeks out, life as we have known it is very close to changing (in the most beautiful way possible) forever.

I've been in a bit of reflection this past week - looking at my life from the outside in, assessing this whole pregnancy journey. I'll spare you the gory, sappy details and just say that seriously, I could be the poster child for pregnancy. I have loved nearly every minute of this ride. I've coasted through the past 37 weeks with little to no pain or interference with my "normal" life. As I've said all along, I am 100% grateful because I know it is not as easy for other moms-to-be and chances are, my next go-round won't be as easy. But - I've found it somewhat bazaar that I experienced such little impact from the pregnancy (aside from the ginormo belly and weight gain and incessant peeing and sleeplessness). I have not had one ravenous craving... granted, I've had my share of treats and indulging... but there has never been a 3am moment that I've sent the hub out to Stop & Shop because "I MUST HAVE XYZ NOW!". I was strangely looking forward to that. I also have not experienced any food aversions, like so many preggos go through. I've pretty much maintained the same diet that I have in regular life... with a little extra cushion here and there (I'm talking to you, mocha milkshake!). The other thing that I haven't experienced is the increased sense of smell... NOT that I am complaining because sharing a house with a wonderfully healthy man and dog, I'd rather NOT smell anything stronger than I already do.

The little woman is due on July 8th. My prediction is July 5th (perhaps wishful thinking that she is not late!) weighing in at 8 lbs 3 oz. After such a beautiful and perfect pregnancy, what I can only hope for now is a healthy and wonderful birth experience. (I'd say painless but something tells me I am in for a dose of pain... though, I am opting for the epidural!)

I am on the edge of my seat, carefully assessing every contraction, every gas bubble, and every movement the baby makes. Its all very exciting. And, believe it or not, we are ready.

Stay tuned...