Fourth of July: T minus one week and counting
I’m 39 weeks today. And big. And starting to feel ready. And getting cues from my body that it’s starting to feel ready. The bao has dropped into my pelvis, and at my last doctor’s visit on Thursday I was still 2cm dilated, but had gone up to 80% effacement. I’d been having Braxton-Hicks contractions for a few weeks now, and in the past week or so some general crampiness has been added to the mix.
Here’s a photo from last week:
38 weeks, 3 days
In other news, VICTORY IS MINE: Although the smelly dresser of doom won nearly every single battle, I won the war, with the help of my new best friend Killz. The smell is GONE. Hooray! Plus, the washing machine finally got fixed last week, so all of the bao’s little clothes, burp cloths, and other washables have been washed, folded, and put away. FINALLY. I attached the changing pad to the top of the dresser, finished painting the bookshelf, and spent a lovely evening while Mama Jae was away arranging all of her little books and toys and other paraphernalia in it. I’d been looking forward to doing that for so long, and it was just as fun as I’d anticipated.
Mama Jae is back from her conference (incident-free, hooray!), and yesterday she finished the mural. It looks amazing, and I’m so sad to think that we’ll have to paint over it eventually.
So other than touching up the paint on the crib and assembling it, and getting a rug and installing curtains and finding an end table, the baby’s room is in excellent shape. Yesterday I spent half an hour sitting in there with the dog next to me while Mama Jae finished the mural. It felt so good to relax in there and think about the baby.
The hospital bag is as packed as it can be. I am tying up loose ends at work. Our dogsitting friend is on standby, as are my parents. Now we all wait.
Things I’m looking forward to:
- Sharing the labor and delivery experience with Mama Jae
- Seeing our baby’s little face for the first time
- Seeing Mama Jae hold our daughter
- Watching my parents meet their granddaughter
- Full-frontal hugs with Mama Jae
- Sleeping without the body pillow in the bed so she and I can cuddle
- Wearing something other than the same 5 outfits I’ve been wearing for weeks
- Introducing Oliver and the bao to one another
- Having my parents stay with us after the bao is born and celebrating this new little life together.
Things I’m nervous about:
- Labor and delivery (duh)
- Breastfeeding (also, duh)
- Parenting (yep: duh)
But I think we will be okay. I think we will be great. Mama Jae and I are a good team, I think, and we’re supportive of one another. We have our moments of crabbiness and snapping at one another, but those are few and far between. Generally we approach life as a “we” rather than as two “me”s, and that’s made for a really solid foundation in our relationship.
I hope everyone has a lovely July 4. I’m at work today, and then tonight we are having some friends over to grill as our last little hurrah of entertaining before the baby comes.
Yay! Sounds like you finally got to do your nesting, Mama Jae is back home and the bao is getting ready for her entrance to the world. Enjoy your cook out tonight and I hope that your wait is a short one.
Aw … anticipating seeing your daughter's face, full frontal hugs, non-maternity clothes – can't believe it's all going to happen so soon. You guys will be wonderful parents.
You look great! I'm glad you won the battle with the dresser– Kilz is truly a miracle worker. I love the shelves and the mural is INCREDIBLE. You are going to be great parents.
I've been following your blog for quite awhile now, and I'm de-lurking to wish you well as you prepare for your baby's arrival. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Looking forward to hearing all about the next step!
It is so nice to have things feel ready and done. Even though of course it will all work out, it just feels better. The room looks great! Good luck with everything.
Sounds like youre ready. Will keep an eye on your blog for some good news soon! Sending good thoughts for a speedy delivery!
You will be great – you're ready for this and you'll both be awesome parents. Love the room, it looks amazing! Enjoy your last few days of just you two
Great bookcase, darling belly. I am a big yes on a lot of those things you are looking forward to as well.
You two are ready for that bao to arrive and I can't wait to meet her. How exciting that her little face and hands and toes will be here in just a week or two!
You look fantastic! And I love the bookcase and the mural. Just relax and enjoy these final days…. you'll be a mom soon!
You look amazing – I can’t believe the bao will be here so soon! The room looks great, too – tell Mama Jae what a great job she did. I can’t wait to see the little halvsie!