37...closing in on 38 weeks!

Mike and I at exactly 37 weeks!

Dad's new Harley in the background!
Me at 37 weeks, Mom's Harley in the back ground!

Your Pregnancy:

Week 37

Your baby is officially baked this week! That means you could literally give birth at any given moment. A terrifying, exciting and overwhelming concept, all rolled into one. Your partner is undoubtedly having the same emotional roller-coaster ride, so be sure to share your feelings and enjoy these last weeks (days?! hours?!) together. Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...

What You're Thinking:

"I can't eat, I can't sleep, but I can do a great imitation of a beached whale. Seriously, are we almost done with this?"

Your Body

You made it! Your baby is considered full term at the end of this week. So kick your swollen feet up and swig back a glass of lemonade. All that hard work has finally paid off!At your checkup this week, your doctor or midwife may do an internal exam to see how things are progressing. We're not gonna lie to you, an "internal" can hurt like hooey. But hey, it ain't labor! While she's in there, your practitioner will check three things: dilation (how open your cervix is), ripeness (how soft your cervix is) and effacement (how thin your cervix is). For baby to come on out, the cervix must be open to 10 centimeters, as soft as the skin on the inside of your mouth and 100 percent effaced.

Your Baby

Huge news this week: You're carrying a full-term baby! If you were to go into labor today, all systems would be a go. Woohoo! Even though you can't wait for the little bambino to quite literally rear his head, keep in mind that your bun benefits from every day in the oven.

Other ticker-tape-worthy developments: Baby's growth slows down dramatically this week, which is great news for your birth canal. His bones are still soft and pliable and will solidify after he's born. More great news for your birth canal. So if he's all cooked and ready to go, what the heck is he still doing in there?! He's busy practicing for "life on the outside," working on his breathing, sucking, sleeping, gazing and peeing abilities. The only thing he can't practice yet is his ability to scream at the top of his lungs when he's hungry—but he'll do plenty of that in a few weeks.

At this point babies vary in size, but the average length is between 19 and 20 inches and most babies weigh approximately 6 pounds. About the size of an average largemouth bass caught in Minnesota by your cousin Sara.

Your Life

If you can't stop Windexing everything in sight or you have a sudden desire to rearrange your linen closet again, then you're officially nesting. Nesting is the phenomena where exhausted and very pregnant women suddenly find the energy and the drive to clean like their life depends on it.Though many women think "nesting" is a wives' tale, it's actually not the stuff of urban legend, and many women get the powerful urge to ready their home for the impending arrival in the final weeks of pregnancy. (Kind of makes you wish nature had the forethought to send that urge to your partner every now and then, doesn't it?) Now's a good time to make sure your nursery is clean and ready for baby to spit and poop all over it. Spend some of that extra nesting energy stocking up on baby needs like diapers and wipes. You really don't need to be polishing the silver right now.Even if you're feeling super-energetic, make sure to get enough rest. You'll need your strength for labor and beyond.

From the mind of the Mommy-

Ok my pregnancy has been text book so far...I had my check up last week and we were not dilated but every thing else "looked" good! My OB is officially on vacation starting Saturday until the 16th so were crossing our legs! Ok I am crossing my legs! Other news...baby is head down! No breech baby here! Now lets hope he's face down...we do not want a naughty back labor baby! Lets also hope he plans on staying in until Dr. Ortiz gets back!

What I don't like is that he has very little room to move. It was so fun for a long time watching and feeling him do somersaults! Mike was having fun playing little games with him, he would poke him and then get poked back! Mostly I know this kid is still here because he gets the hiccups about 3 times a day! That can get annoying! It is a constant reminder that he is ok.

We had some major development in baby's room this weekend! He has texture! He has a blue ceiling! He has green walls! He even has a ceiling fan! Now...lets get his furniture in there! Scratch that...lets get his furniture to Readlyn at least! Our room also has texture and paint and lights! It still needs another coat of paint and new carpet so were trying to track down a CHEAP remnant! :) And fast! haha! We also have this crazy blue/teal bathroom that I am not sure about! The rest of my house is falling apart and is a huge mess! So I am for sure NOT nesting as is cleaning...I am however nesting as in: His diaper bag is already packed and ready to go! I went to a neighbors special Carrie preview garage sale and got him another laundry basket full of clothes and shoes! Mikes pool table has new felt, I like to call it Walmart and target bags full of baby gear motif!

I am constantly looking at his car seat and pack and play wondering when they wont be empty anymore. I cleaned out my car from top to bottom last night and we are ready to install the car seat. Mike was willing to do it at 10:00 last night when I felt it needed to be done but I decided to let him go to bed instead. :) I'm a nice wife sometimes! Plus I figured if I asked him after a nice dinner there may be less cussing involved when it wouldn't go in right :).

Ya know so if anyone wants to show up with a dust buster and get under my couches you are welcome anytime! :) haha! Now if others could only figure out what the heck I am supposed to do about clutter! This house doesn't really have closets to shove stuff in...but right now I wish it did!