38 weeks

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38 weeks! Almost there!

I'm for sure in the last few weeks' stretch, where I am kind of ready to be done.  Anytime would be good.  I'm impatient to meet Cakes, to find out if Cakes is a girl or a boy.  (Don't forget to make a guess in the game! You don't have to register to play!) I'm not necessarily outrageously uncomfortable, but it's hard to sleep (and stay asleep), it's hard to tie my shoes, and I'm definitely waddling, especially when I'm tired.

I  need to give a shout out to my photographer, lo, these many weeks: Elizabeth! She's done a pretty good job working with the "big" camera.

I've been surprised to see my weight level off over the past few weeks, and even, just maybe, drop a bit.  I've read that's not uncommon in the last 4 weeks, but it sure seems counter intuitive.  It's also not consistent with my previous two pregnancies. But whatever.  So, as it stands, I've gained somewhere between 29 and 32 pounds.  That's really a pretty good place to be.  And know what else?  I have ZERO new stretch marks thus far, in distinct contrast to the last two babes, where I had them around 36 weeks. I might be crediting the Earth Mama Angel Baby Stretch Oil with that.  I used other products the previous two pregnancies, and they didn't help then.

Back to the arrival of Cakes. Although I say anytime would be good, really, Cakes needs to wait until at least Friday night, when Jude will be home for Baby Watch 2011. Even though my house is NOT clean, and my projects are NOT done, that's just how it goes. We'll manage, if Cakes arrives before everything is as perfect as I want it to be.

The infant seat is in the car, the diapers are washed and ready to go.  Baby clothes are in the dresser, birth supplies are readily available.  I'm charging my phone regularly, and keeping it nearer the bedroom in case it's needed in the middle of the night. (Usually we keep all electronics, excepting the digital clock, downstairs and out of the bedrooms.) I have downloaded a contraction timer app on Jude's ipad so we don't have to mess with watching a clock or writing it down.

Some things I kind of wish I had at this point, but don't really matter:

A cute nursing pajamas set.  I haven't found one that totally grabs me, but something like this:
   or this:        

A stylish diaper bag that doesn't scream diaper bag.  Something not too big and bulky, but that can contain enough cloth diapers for a day out, nursing supplies, and a change of clothes for the kids. Something that has a shoulder strap, or is messenger style, rather than tote/handle style.

And probably a few other things, but I can't really think of them at the moment.

It's funny to think we've gone from this:

To this in just 9 months.  How did it go so fast?

How did it GROW so fast?  Here's a little (poorly done) slide show demonstrating the degree of change from week 12 to week 38.  I look almost skinny (comparatively!) in the 12 week photo. The hair is now longer, the skirt appears to be shorter... Oh, how bodies can change.

My kids being goofy is one thing that has remained the same. E is playing the drums.  Nathanael? is wearing a hat. He likes hats, as long as he can take them off shortly after putting them on.  Hats are funny, don't you know? And, of course, E getting some just "her" time dancing.

One of our last portraits of just Mama with only two birthed babes..

I think they're pretty cute!