So close, yet so far away.

How far along?: 39 weeks, 0 days.
Total weight gain/loss: +2 this week, +23.5 overall.
How big is baby?: Over 7 lbs and 20 inches long, apparently the size of a small watermelon. Awesome.
Maternity clothes?: Too small.
Sleep: I've determined the couch is just as "comfortable" (again, I use this term loosely) for me as my bed. Good news for the husband, as I wake him up constantly.
Movement: It's a circus in there, I swear.
Labor signs: Not a damn one. The doctor today: "I'm pretty sure this will be an after-Christmas baby." Um, thanks. Apparently this child hasn't even entertained the idea of coming out. And the first person that says to me "Oh, you've just made such a nice warm home for her in there, that's why she doesn't want to come out yet" is going to get slapped.
Food Cravings: I have no appetite.
Gender: We'll find out soon...maybe...
Belly button in or out?: Not totally out, but it pokes out of my shirts a little bit.
What I miss: Orange juice. Haven't had it in months.
What I am looking forward to: Contractions.
Best moment this week: Retiring.
Weekly Wisdom: I love my baby's daddy. That is all.
Milestones: There have been a couple days I haven't cried this week. Trust me, that's huge.

And I'm up....

It's pushing 4 a.m. and here I am. I think I've slept maybe 20 minutes of the last 4 hours. Everyone else is asleep, Baby Reeder included, but not mama. I've moved to the couch because my poor husband doesn't deserve to be woken up every 5 minutes by my shifting or attempts to breathe. I've had an exhausting last 4 days; so much so that you'd expect me to crash & burn right about now. Apparently my inability to turn off my brain is enough to overcome said exhaustion.

Ok, scratch that. Baby Reeder's now awake. Sorry, kiddo, but Mommy needed to eat those 2 chocolate cookies just now. Hope the sugar wasn't the culprit. And I'm still starving, so there may be more to come.

I think I'm in for a long rest of the night (morning? not sure what to call it at this point...) sigh.

I'm retired.

That's really all I have to say.

Oh yeah, and this:

:)

Almost there...

How far along?: 38 weeks, 0 days.
Total weight gain/loss: +0.5 this week, +21.5 overall. I think I might stay under that 25-35 lb range "they" recommend. I might just have to reward myself with something sweet :)
How big is baby?: 6 2/3 lbs and over 19.5 inches long.
Maternity clothes?: Real pants are replaced by sweatpants as much as possible now.
Sleep: So happy to say not bad. It's hit & miss, of course, but I've had quite a few good nights lately. Still only 1 bathroom break a night, probably because she's still too high to be squishing my bladder much.
Movement: She's a crazy child. Must take after her mother. Still dancing around like a madwoman.
Labor signs: I *think* she's dropped a tiny bit. Just a little. Lots of pressure down south and a little less trouble breathing. Still nothing to brag about, as I think she's warm and cozy and wants to stay in here until February. We'll find out tomorrow if I'm right at the doctor.
Food Cravings: Nothing in particular this week. But I've been plowing through gallons of milk, so this kiddo should have some strong bones.
Gender: It's a girl. I promise. Call it mother's intuition if you will. Time to start preparing yourself for this, husband. (p.s. this is one time when I will be more than happy to be wrong...)
Belly button in or out?: The top half is starting to pop out a tiny bit - so strange...
What I miss: As I near the end of all this and realize that I'll soon get to enjoy all the things I've "missed" this pregnancy, I've decided to reflect on what I'll miss about being pregnant: feeling her wiggle around, guilt-free eating, being told I look great (even if it's followed by "for being so pregnant"), elastic-waisted jeans, genuine surprise when I receive a swift little kick, resting my hand on my belly...
What I am looking forward to: Baby! Baby! Baby!
Best moment this week: Preparing my notes for my Exit Interview at work, as Friday is MY LAST DAY! It's about time I get to speak my mind about this place. I'll be going out with guns blazin' (though in a very professional way, I promise.)
Weekly Wisdom: Pregnant bellies are the best insulators. Man, am I hot. It's going to be 20ish degrees outside by the end of the day, and what did I wear to work? A tank top.
Milestones: Last week of work! In fact, as I write this (at work, haha), I have 11 hours left for the week. I'll be a retiree as of lunch time on Friday!

Jingle belly.

Baby Reeder at 37w4d

Oh, the belly. It's big, folks. And it aches. It's grown a little bit in the last few weeks, don't you think? These comparison photos just FASCINATE me. Each week, the husband takes them and I just stare at the little screen on my camera with my jaw hanging down. That's really me? Yowza. So anyway, here you go: Week 28 on the left, Week 37 on the right.

Seriously?!

Remember that discussion we had on tact? That was nothing. This wins.

"Did I pick the 19th as your due date? Where are you going to be on the 19th? (You might not want to reveal that info to me because I might google info on how to induce labor.)"

- In an email from a coworker, in reference to his Baby Reeder Split-the-Pot guess

You can't make this stuff up, folks. Creeper alert.

Full-term.

We're full-term, friends. This kiddo is fully cooked and just needs to work her way south when she wants to meet us :)

How far along?: 37 weeks, 0 days.
Total weight gain/loss: +1.5 this week, +21 overall.
How big is baby?: 6 1/3 lbs and over 19 inches long.
Maternity clothes?: It'll be weird to start shopping in the normal person section as opposed to the maternity section again. I can’t wait.
Sleep: Oddly enough, the bathroom breaks are down to only 1 a night. It's the aching back/belly/hips/etc. that wake me up every hour or so. I'm down to only being able to "comfortably" (I use this term loosely) sleep in one position....my poor left hip....
Movement: Party in my ribs, 24/7. The doctor goes "Oh yeah, that baby's right up in your rib cage, huh?" Um, duh.
Labor signs: Still not a thing, other than BH's. Absolutely no cervical progress at today’s OB appt, which is not at all surprising considering she's so darn high right now. I swear this kid is moving up rather than dropping. Typical.
Food Cravings: There's a piece of a Jersey Mikes club sub in my fridge that's calling my name.
Gender: C'mon, little one, let me give you a name already!
Belly button in or out?: Flat.
What I miss: Emotional stability.
What I am looking forward to: Christmas. Preferably with my baby in my arms and not in this big belly.
Best moment this week: Getting to spend some serious quality time with Baby Reeder’s daddy over the long Thanksgiving break.
Weekly Wisdom: There is definitely such a thing as “doing too much.” It often leads to pain, discomfort, occasional tears, and Tylenol PM.
Milestones: Full-term. Holy cow. It’s so surreal to make it to December. Any time now, baby, any time.