Any Time Now: T-Minus 3 Days and Counting

No Baby Yet! Nope, we're still waiting it out, waiting on her to make her move. Waiting, waiting, waiting...

....And that's about all I'm doing these days. Over the last week or so, my health appears to have plummeted. It hasn't, of course, as all my symptoms are perfectly normal for being nine months pregnant. But I'm suddenly exhausted, uncomfortable, can hardly move, sometimes can hardly walk, and easily tired. I'm reduced to sleeping and watching television most of the time. And for once, that's OK with me, because I'm just not capable of anything else!

House Mostly Ready
Thank God, the E.P. and I accomplished a lot this past weekend. The house is still not clean and not as straight as I'd like, but we could come home with a baby right now and not feel totally overwhelmed. The nursery is By Far the most beautiful space in the house! I will take pics to share, when I have the energy. Gigi finished dressing the bassinet, which is now parked in front of the crib, with the mobile attached to the crib hanging over the bassinet. Initially however, the baby will "sleep" in our room. First, in an antique handmade cradle she might only fit in for a few days, no more than two weeks. Regardless, we love preserving this bit of American heritage with her, and it allows us to keep her Right Next To Us and rock her from our bed during the first days. Then, the bassinet will probably be in our room for a while too, until she starts to sleep more than a couple hours at a time at night (or when it becomes otherwise appropriate.)

I am hopeful that I will experience "nesting instinct" and the energy that comes with it at some point over the next couple days, so that I can clean the carpets. Fortunately I have a few months before I would ever allow my baby to touch the floor directly, but it'd be nice to get that big chore out of the way! (Baby will enjoy lots of floor-tummy-time when she's ready -- buffered from dirty carpet fibers or wood by soft waterproof pads and receiving blankets. =)

Update on Labor-Readiness
I've been having lots of practice contractions, mostly when I stand up or walk up stairs. They don't hurt at all, just contrict my abdomen and make movement increasingly difficult. Walking does not alleviate them, but sitting/laying down does. Given how uncomfortable the contractions can be depending on where little Laurel is riding with them, I spend a lot of time laying down right now. I'll know labor has started when I start having contractions while reclining. Because they are so painless, and because Laurel's little back pushing out can feel just like a contraction, I'm concerned I won't know when real labor has begun! (There is a history of painless contractions among some of my female relatives. Not all of my close blood female relatives have them, but several of the closest ones do. For these relatives, significant pain doesn't start until shortly before the baby is born.)

As of last Thursday, the Doc said I had some days to go at least. That seems to be bearing out as here I still am, waiting. Due date in 3 days.

So Sleepy....
She's doing a little dance in my tummy, but her movements ceased to be able to keep me awake ages ago. While she does the Safety Dance, I think I'm going to go take a Safety Nap. yay.