Tuesday, August 31, 2010

38 weeks!


38 Weeks! Alright, folks-- Warning: TMI Ahead.

I lost my mucus plug yesterday! After feeling disappointed about Monday's appointment, I was so happy to make a little progress-- not that this is any indication of when I will actually begin active labor, but it's still a reassuring sign that things are headed in the right direction.

As I come to realize exactly how close this pregnancy is to being over, I've been thinking a lot about the things I will miss once my little guy is on the outside. I won't miss the heartburn, the leg cramps, the backaches... but I will miss having him all to myself. While so many people have looked at my ultrasound photos or touched my belly, there are some parts of pregnancy that only I have experienced-- private moments. Every move that he's made, I've known it. Every hiccup he's had, I've felt it. There is nothing that he's done that I haven't been there for-- and all of that is about to change. Soon I'll be sharing him with the world & I won't be with him every second. It's mostly exciting, but a little sad, too. We never know what the future holds and I'm really trying to cherish every moment of this pregnancy in case it's the only one I ever have... (That's certainly not the plan!) I know that the milestones we've had over the past 9 1/2 months will be far surpassed by the ones that we will experience over the next year.

This week, baby is the size of a duffel bag (Really?):

And looks like this (hopefully):

Baking Baby Blakely

"Your baby's intestines have accumulated a considerable amount of meconium (the code name for black, tar-like baby poop), which is usually eliminated shortly after birth and gives you your first experience with the 100-wipe diaper change.

Here's what else is up:

Your baby might just scratch himself in the womb as the fingernails have grown over the fingertips now. Baby's lungs continue to mature and his brain and nerve function are working better every day. The latter two will continue to mature until Junior is a teenager, at which point he'll know it all (or at least she'll think she does).

Your baby weighs about 6½ pounds and is around 19 or 20 inches long—as long as a duffle bag (in case you needed an excuse to go shopping for a new bag for your labor gear)."

38 Week Belly Pic

It still feels unbelievable that we will be holding Liam in our arms in two weeks (three weeks max)! We talk almost every day about how no matter how many things we've purchased, how many classes we've taken, and how we've tried to plan, nothing will actually prepare us for the moment we meet our son. I see my growing belly and feel him move inside me, but it just seems hard to believe that there's an actual person, a baby, growing there. I can't wait to see his sweet face!!

9 comments:

  1. OMG I saw the title of this post and MY heart stopped a bit! It seems like just last month you were telling us you were pregnant and now you're telling us Liam will be here in three weeks. I cannot wait to see pictures of him.

    I know what you mean about "missing" things about being pregnant - I'm just getting into all of this and I already know I'll miss hogging our baby all to myself, knowing I have a little life growing inside me - that everything I do affects our baby too. I love it.

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  2. Wow. So incredible that he will be here in a few short weeks. He is a lucky little boy. I can't wait till we "meet" him.

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  3. I thought I would miss being pregnant but trust me they are way cuter on the outside of the womb! :) You won't even remember ever being pregnant and you realllly won't believe he was ever in your belly! Enjoy the last week(s) but don't get over emotional thinking about missing it!!

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  4. Time fliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiies Stef!!!!

    You are so close! And all of your boxes are checked! SO VERY HAPPY FOR YOU! Can't wait to meet cutie Liam. xo

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  5. Good-bye plug! Not too much longer now...

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  6. Such sweet reflections on the last 8 or so months. Time has definitely flown by and you will be holding your precious little bundle of joy soon enough. Enjoy the time you have left in your pregnancy because its going to get so much better once he is here. xxxx

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  7. This was seriously such a sweet post!!!

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  8. I remember that feeling with Champ (wanting to keep him all to myself and being shocked that soon I would have to share him). Don't worry, you will still be his favorite person for YEARS. At times you will even *want* to pass him over to someone else (just for an hour or so!). Good luck with the next few hours/days/weeks before actual labour.

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