36 Weeks

Weighing about 6 pounds and measuring somewhere around 20 inches long, our little baby is almost ready to be in the real world! Right now, most of his systems are just about fully equipped for life outside of the womb. Though his digestive system is ready to roll to, it hasn't really gotten a work out yet since he still receives all of his nutrition from the umbilical cord.
At the doctor this week we learned that the baby is still head down and will unlikely change his position at this point in the game so that is very good news. Unfortunately I am not dilated even the teensiest bit, although I am 50% effaced. Dr. Weber said he pretty much expects to see me weekly for the next month :( This is all fine and dandy I guess if it all means a happy, healthy full term baby, as long as he doesn't wait too long to make his big debut. I am feeling rather large and in charge and refuse to think about how much bigger I might be getting if the little guy really does want to wait another 4 weeks before moving out of his little condo. I am sure it will continue to go by fast, but I have little faith in my ability to go into labor naturally since it seems tricky for the women in my family, but I'm holding out hope.
I've been feeling great and all in all I have been enjoying the great fall weather although I am finding that all my summer maternity clothes need to be accesorized with a cardigan or sweater. I noticed my left ankle was swollen last night and appears to be again today, why just the one? Who knows. I can tell that the baby is getting a little cramped because his movements are occasionally painful to me so if you see me suddenly squirming like I've been shocked it's usually because someone has decided to punch my hip or kick a rib.
As I round the corner toward the end of my pregnancy I can't help but look forward to lifting some of those pregnancy induced restrictions. First off, I will go back to being a mostly normal person! No more being treated like an invalid (although at times I can't complain, it is a little hard for this independent woman!) and I will be able to bend and snap and hop out of bed with ease. I look forward to a glass of wine with dinner and eating sushi until I am sick of it. But most importantly I can't wait to meet our sweet son face to face.