Well I had my last shift at work today.  Good thing too, because I could hardly walk for the last half hour.  I just milled around the counter, leaning over now and then, kneeding my back.

I found woking at the store an interesting 6 weeks.  I enjoyed it and it helped pass the time.  But it was/is definitely time to hang up that hat.  So there you go.

We had our second ante-natal class last night.  My favourite midwife, Glenda, took it.  It was more relaxed than last week, I think due to the fact that we were all a little bit more comfortable with each other and it was also quite entertaining.

We still haven't done any 'sitting on the floor and panting stuff' that you see in movies, and I don't think we are going too!  Strange how I naturally thought that would be a part of the classes...

It's a shame that we won't be able to all meet up again after the birth and check out each other's baby's and hear each other's birth stories.

On Saturday Caleb and I have a breastfeeding class with the Australian Breastfeeding Association.  It goes for 4 hours and is complete with real life demonstration!

It is certainly all things baby round here...

My sister came around with 2 bags today.

1 a red, sports-type, duffle bag.  The other a black, small suitcase on wheels.

Yesterday I selected and purchased:

velour pj pants

a loose fitting, button down the front, pj top

a soft robe

2 x pairs of socks (1 knitted, 1 very soft)

12 pairs of big, comfy knickers

And so......

I am finally, finally, going to pack my hospital bags!  Woohoo!  Oh, and baby's bag too.  :)

Yesterday my stomach kept tightening on and off throughout the day.  It wasn't painful, like braxton hicks have been before, but it was definitely noticeable, somewhat uncomfortable and rather rhythmic.

I have been drinking rasberry leaf tea for about 2 weeks now and have gradually increased the dosage.  It works to tone the uterus and makes for an easier labour.  The very first night I drank it, I had quite painful braxton hicks but since then, they don't really hurt, but seem to be getting more frequent.

In the wee hours of this morning I half-woke to find painful BH's happening right at the front of my uterus, on and off, on and off, on and off.  I would manage to fall asleep in between them only to be gently woken when the next one hit.

I didn't become irrational, jump out of bed, scramble for a bag to pack and wake Caleb.  I just lay there thinking how it is going to be so strange when true labour really does start... and I am in the middle of the moment I have thought about for so long.

Of course I started thinking about the pain. The BH's I was feeling were quite intense and I grappled with the fact that contractions are going to go further and higher than any pain I have ever known.  It is a scary, yet empowering, thought, all at once.

I am up for the challenge but I am also, naturally, a little nervous.  It feels like each day I edge towards the closed door... slowly I am getting nearer and nearer... until the doors will open before me, I will be ushered in and will finally and somewhat suddenly find myself on the other side of the unknown.

It is exciting.  It will be good to finally know.  I just pray that I can remain focused and positive throughout what is going to be the craziest ride of my life.

A strange thing is happening...

I am becoming more and more irritable and at times quite over this pregnancy.  It seems I am getting to that stage where I feel I have been pregnant forever and just want to feel myself again.  I want my body back! 

I know it's not long to go now but I am definitely having times where I feel so overwhelmed by the constant physicality of pregnancy all I want is for this baby to be out and my body to feel normal again.

It has been a long haul.

I know one day I will look back and reflect romantically on this time, when I was young, pregnant for the first time and awaiting the arrival of baby... but for now I am ready for it to be over.

Next stage please.

I don't believe baby will come early though.  My midwife said 90% of first time mums go overdue... so I still believe I have at least 4 weeks to go. That will go fast... without a doubt.