35/35!

As I read about other women's pregnancies, whenever someone hits 35 weeks, I always think, "Their baby is almost here!" Today, we hit magical 35/35-- 35 weeks pregnant, 35 days to go.

I know that realistically, there's no way of knowing if this baby will be early, on time or late-- but my mom went into labor almost two weeks early with me and my brother, so if I were to follow her labor pattern, we could be bringing home a baby in 3 weeks (and at the latest, 6 weeks).

3 Weeks???!!!

The idea is more exciting than nerve-wracking-- but it's a little of both, of course. The good news is that we're done with the shopping, we're mostly done with the laundry (The washing machine broke last week & we're hoping to have it repaired this week--thank God, Rob and I have plenty of underwear), we have all of the "essentials," the nursery is done (minus the finishing touches, which are slow, but coming along nicely), and the freezer is stocked for several weeks of meals.

So what's left? Pack my hospital bag. Install the car seat. Stock the diaper bags. Cook some more freezable foods. Clean the house. Rest. I'm doing some work for my uncle from home, which is great since I'm not working anymore, and that project should be done next week. I'm not allowed to travel from now until the baby is here, so I (hopefully) have a few weeks to get everything done. And of he comes a little early? Well, we'll be fine--ecstatic actually.

This week, baby is the size of a sheet cake:

And looks like this:

Baking Baby Blakely

"This week the final touches are being added to your mini-masterpiece and most of his development is going to packing on the pounds. While baby's movements may be becoming less jerky, he may do his final somersault in the womb soon—to put himself into the head-down position for birth.

Other fascinating facts:

Your little Karate Kid can't quite pack the punch he used to due to the limited space inside the womb these days. You're likely to feel more wiggles, stretches and rolls than kicks and jabs. The extra layer of fat your baby is adding will create those cute dimples on your baby's elbows and knees.

His liver has begun processing his waste products, so you know which organ to thank when he has his first blowout up the back of his onesie. Baby's nails are growing so long they may curl over the tips of his tiny fingers and toes before he sees a pair of clippers. He'll be in serious need of a mani-pedi once he's born (as will you).

Your baby is now about 5½ pounds and over 18 inches long—about the size of one of those price-club sheet cakes."

(35 week belly picture to come!)