38 Weeks

38 Weeks

{February 6-12, 2012}

My sweet baby guy, you are now officially 39 weeks old! Your 38th week was a big one... literally, your mama feels like she swallowed a basketball. My stomach is h-u-g-e, and this week I got a lot of "any day now!" and "you look like you're going to pop!"

Your sweet dad continues to be the kind of guy I hope you will grow up to be when, one day, you have a wife who is tired, emotional, feeling very large and having trouble bending over because she's going to have your baby. He won't let me pick up anything from the floor or get anything from lower cabinets if he sees me trying to do it. I'm so thankful for how well he loves me, and you, too.

You continue to measure respective to your "week," and I don't really have an idea about how big you will be when you are born. Your dad was over nine pounds, though, which has me a little worried... a lot of people (including the guy at Chipotle) are guessing you're going to be a big little guy! I have been dreaming a lot about your little face. I wonder often what you look like, what color your eyes will be, if you'll have any hair and if so, what color it will be. I have heard old wives tales about heartburn and hair, and this week was the first time I've really experienced any heartburn. Maybe you will have some hair after all! I don't really know how to tell if you've "dropped," and some days I think you have, and some days I think you haven't. I just want you to be happy and content in there for as long as you need to be.

I'm having a lot of trouble getting in and out of cars, doing things that require one foot at a time, like putting on or taking off shoes, getting dressed and staying comfortable in bed. It's been a painful few days, especially in the mornings when I first wake up. This has been the only reason I have wished for you to hurry up and get here.

It might sound weird, but I love being pregnant with you. I know I will love when you are really here, with us, but it's been wonderful to get to know you and be the only person who does for the past few months. Other people can sometimes see you move and feel you when you kick, but only I can feel it or see it every single time. I know your rhythms, and you know mine. I love this little time that has been just ours. You'll never be so connected to me again, which is neither sad nor happy, it is just different. You have changed my body, my heart and my soul, in ways I expected and in ways I didn't expect. I am so grateful for you, and I am blessed to be your mama.

You are going to be here soon, and I can't believe that. Your dad and I are so overjoyed to meet you. We can't wait for you to join us on our adventures, to meet the family who loves you, to grow and change and become the man God already designed you to be.

Cravings: citrus, citrus, citrus!
38 week appointment: a healthy heartbeat, measuring 38 cm, 60 percent effaced.
Nursery: It's ready for you! We put up frames with cartoon pictures your dad drew when he was a little boy over the changing table this weekend; they are so funny and I think you will like them when you are older.
Baby's name: A lot of people think your name is Samuel! We haven't told anyone, and this is making your Aunt Jillian crazy. She wants to know and can't believe we haven't told her yet.
Etc. We are going to take part in a research study this Friday night (if you don't arrive before then)! We are going to spend the night in the Labor and Delivery unit at TMH for the FSU College of Medicine. Your dad is going to spend the night at the hospital, too... it will be good practice for what's coming soon!

To read more about our journey through our first pregnancy, click here!