Week 36

In due time, photos will come, but I am literally just too tired to get up and walk over to get my camera to upload pics of my big tummy and of the almost complete nursery. =) All in all, I still feel okay but I am really struggling in the fatigue department. Work has been a bit of insanity lately and Emma seems to have enough energy to power a small city. =) Oliver has earned the nickname of being my little "starfish". He is in constant motion these days with arms and legs spread wide in all different directions. He doesn't have those painful kicks like Emma did but he pretty much constantly digs his little heels into my ribs. I know, pleasant, right?

I'm feeling ready to meet him soon, but not QUITE yet. My water never broke with Emma so I don't know what to expect in that department. My nether regions leaked through my shorts after a long car ride yesterday making me question if my water had broken or if I was experiencing the greatness of Niagra Falls discharge that is common in late stages of pregnancy oooooorr if I had somehow managed to just pee on myself. Since no more leakage occurred, I settled for option 2 and drank a lot of water to help the gnarly Braxton Hicks contractions subside. We've still been dealing with quite a bit of heat so I'm sure dehydration has contributed to my over-active uterus these days.

I have my 36 week checkup on Thursday. I can't believe I have reached the final month already and will be considered "full term" on Friday. Due to yesterday's little scare, I decided to finally pack a hospital bag, pick a "going home outfit" for Oliver and pack it, devise Plan A/B/and C for when I go into labor, purchase the last needed items for the baby and finish the nursery. I am primarily concerned about keeping things as "normal" for Emma when the time comes to go to the hospital.  I want to labor at home as much as possible, but not if that means she is going to see mommy in pain. The thought of how everything is about to change soooo drastically is both exciting and frightening. I adore my daughter and can't imagine loving someone as much as I love her. She will be the best big sister ever. I have no doubt about that. It's crazy and emotional for me to think that I have less than 30 days with her as my only "baby." I'm ready for the change but of course, change is hard for me and imagining things as being "different" both excites and overwhelms me. I am eager to see if my beefcake looks more "asian" than his sister and if he really has daddy's laid back personality like I imagine. I am ready to leave work because it is seriously kicking my ass right now but I am overly anxious about having "all my ducks in a row" before I go on leave. I know I can't control how everything will pan out, although I wish I could. I am ready to see what my "new family" will be like. Soon enough. Soon enough.