+ 35w1d +
Baby O., you're back into your habit of hanging out on the entire right-hand side of my body. It's very odd. I think you like to see how far you can stick your butt out under my ribs. It's just this hard protrusion. And when I push on it (it doesn't move, either), I feel your head (I presume) on the left-hand side of my pelvis. When I let go, you wiggle your head around. I think I actually wake you up once in a while when I do this. It probably annoys you, but I find it amusing. Just one of those things to get used to, I suppose: Me annoying you for my own amusement. Just wait until I get in dress-up mode with you, posing you in every outfit you have just to take picture of you. Mwah-ha-ha!

Anyway, there are some pictures online of the baby shower they threw for me at work. Keep in mind, dearest daughter (and dear reader) that this was a surprise. I was late yesterday morning, and I have no makeup or anything on. At least you can visualize how I can lose 10+ inches of my hair and still have long hair! So, forgive my baaaaaad appearance, and enjoy! The guy opening presents next to me is the husband of the other Carrie on my team who's expecting a baby. She happened to be sick yesterday (didn't know about the surprise, of course), so her husband got to be her stand-in. I wish you could see how many awesome gifts we got, but the pictures don't really do it justice. Daddy was blown away when I showed him last night. He just kept saying, "Where are we going to put all of this? What about after Saturday? We're not going to have any room!!!" Yes, we will. We planned for room. Poor Daddy.

+ Other stuff +
Oh, and I did finally return your hospital papers. Who knows if they'll get them in time? I've heard it takes 1-2 months for them to process them and make files. That's amazing to me, by the way. I'd like that kind of timeframe in my job. Oh you need reimbursement for that? Yeah, I'll send that down in a month or two. You found a new home? You need an equity loan? Oh, no problem! Hope your closing's 2 months out, 'cause I'm just a little backed up. Thankyouverymuch.

+ Yippee!!! +
We had a surprise shower at my work today, Baby O.! Everyone was so generous, and I have some of the best stuff for you now. We have your Boppy pillow, your bouncy chair (probably my FAVE registry item!), your diaper genie and lots of cute outfits and blankets and socks and everything! You are going to love it all. I have this big bundle of pink balloons at my desk and lots of gifts in my car. How sweet everyone was!

+ 35 weeks +
Acording to American Baby: "You may feel a tingling or numbness in your pelvic region as the extra weight presses on your nerves..." Tingling? Numbness? Try stabbing, gasping flashes of pain. They're instantaneous pinches in my cervix that are usually already over by the time I make a face or gasp my breath. The only numbness is in my hip/thigh sometimes when I lie on my side (not the one I'm lying on, the one that's on top). The hot flash stuff from yesterday went away, so I'm not sure what that was all about. I was really tired last night, and slept really well again (2 nights in a row?). Tonight, I'm going to get my hair completely re-done, so you will never know me in my boring, hippie-straight long hair days. Who knows what I'll look like as you grow up? I hope you don't think I'm a style-less drag! :)

+ Weird +
Hmmmm... I hope I'm okay. I just got a super-duper hot flash, and got a bit shaky. Simultaneously, I became ravenously hungry. Not exactly healthy, but all I had at my disposal was a vending machine. :-( I just ate 2 medium sized bags of Doritos. And I'm still hungry. What on earth is my body doing? I'm going to go much on some crackers and peanut butter I have stashed in my locker. I wish I had some nuts or cheese for some protein so I don't feel so guilty. The hot flash has passed now, but I was actually sweating a little for a few minutes. Ugh.

+ Dearest Daughter +
I know you can't help it, but these hiccups are driving me batty. I only ever feel them really low in my pelvis, and it feels like someone's knocking against my hipbone. I'm really glad they allegedly don't bother you. I wish I could say the same. Grrrrrr.

+ Wednesday +
There's not much new on your front. The cord blood registry people called yesterday, and we told them we'd decided against this. They asked why, and I told them honestly it was simply too much money for us. I'll continue to pray for your health and safety, and God willing, we'll never need to feel guilty about this decision. Your Auntie Ember dropped off some stuff for your shower and told us that 31 people have RSVP'd so far! Oh my goodness! There are so many wonderful family and friends welcoming you, you have no idea. Anyway, I thought about taking a belly picture last night, but I've decided to wait until I get my hair done tomorrow afternoon. I just hope I like it!

+ 34w5d +
Wow, that count is getting high, isn't it? So, the last few days I've noticed that my hands are very swollen when I wake up. I'm going to make a note of it and tell my Dr. I know it's one of those pregnancy "warning signs" for things like preeclampsia. But I don't feel any other symptoms, I don't think. If I worry about it more I'll call him before Monday. Otherwise, I'll wait.

I think you're starting to drop, though maybe it's early. I just feel heavier lower lately. And I'm still not sure what new position you're in. I really hope you didn't turn breech on me. You've been so consistent in your positioning, I don't want you to switch on me now! I'm trying to stay positive and cheerful, but I'm getting more and more uncomfortable. And so glad I'm almost done working. My math the other day was wrong. I now have officially 12.5 days left. So close, and yet so far.

+ A life of Sundays +
Only 2 more Mondays! It was a crazy weekend, and you were crazier. I had wild dreams about you Friday night, and I think it's because you decided to change positions again. You've been at it fairly regularly since and I have no idea what position you're laying in now. I'm getting more uncomfortable all the time, between my size, my my achiness when trying to do anything, your feet (or something?) practically in my throat, etc. I'm still trying to stay positive and I tell anyone who asks that I'm doing great, just slowing down a little. Having said that, Daddy and I were sooooo busy this weekend, I thought I'd fall right over and collapse. Saturday I had my breastfeeding class, which was really good. I'm glad I decided to take that one. If nothing else, I know what's normal and what's not and when to get help. Those are important things to know. The rest you and I will have to figure out together.