38 week update

We've made it to 38 weeks = full term!  I thank God for a healthy, stress-free, and easy pregnancy.  The last 4 weeks have been increasingly uncomfortable for me with my enormous belly, but I really can't complain as the first 7 1/2 months or so were a breeze.  Chris and I have been busy nesting in the past 2 weeks- the nursery is pretty much ready and we almost have everything that we need immediately for the baby (still waiting for the car seat + stroller and crib bedding to arrive).  We have our hospital bags packed and ready to go (I hope I have everything I need in there!).  The waiting game has begun.

Christmas came and went and we enjoyed spending time with our families.  We had a total of 3 baby showers for Jake: family, friends, and my Psy.D. cohort.  We feel extremely blessed to have so many generous and loving people in our lives and it seems like the gifts keep on coming even though the baby showers have passed!  My uncle and aunt, Frank and Tiffany, kindly loaned us a ton of baby items that their now 4-year old used when she was a baby.  Chris' co-worker donated huge bins of baby clothing, from 0-6 months so we are covered in that area (or rather the baby will be covered!).  It is overwhelming how blessed I feel and I have made a promise to pay it forward.

These days I have not been sleeping as well because of my aching back/rib cage and a few bathroom breaks at night (about 1-3 at the most).  It has become more difficult to sleep comfortably at night no matter what position I lie in.  I seem to have an insatiable sweet tooth also and my will power has become more lax!  I still try to eat healthy and nutritious foods when I can but I won't lie, sometimes I will make myself eat a good meal just so I can have a little dessert after!  No wonder I feel like I have put on so much weight in the last 3 weeks!  I am a lot more hungry lately but still no weird or consistent cravings.  Mentally and psychologically, and I guess even physically, I feel relatively good.  I feel optimistic and ready for the baby to come.  I have some pains in my pelvic area and I've been having very mild cramps but not to the point where I can't move.  Just the other day I was able to go on a 2 mile walk with my dog, so I am still doing ok.   

The biggest update is that yesterday I had my weekly check up and the doctor did a vaginal exam.  He said that I am already almost 1 cm dilated and that my cervix has started to efface!  Even though I haven't felt much (no contractions, some Braxton Hicks and mild cramps) it looks like there is some progress down there, which I hope that means Baby Jake will soon be on his way!  I am 75% excited and 25% nervous/scared of the pain.  I can't wait to meet the little guy that has been moving around inside of me and am so thankful for the life that Chris and I have created and the family we are about to start.  Now all we have to do is wait...