Happy June friends :)

Thought I'd do a little mid-week catchup for fun.
I am now officially full-term-- WOW hey? It feels good. While Baby may hold out for several more weeks, he could technically arrive anytime and be alright. Frankly, I'm not quite ready for him just yet as there's still quite a bit to do, but hopefully I'll have things tied up in the next week or so. (Thanks for the comments and encouragement about waiting and expecting him to be late; that makes sense. For the most part, I'm fine with him being late as I could really use the personal rest/catchup time, just freaked out about him getting too big and my doctor leaving for holidays for July)

What's new?
- My belly has busted out in a freaky itchy burny disturbing rash!! Ewww! It kept me up all night and is driving me a little nuts. Anyone else experience something like this in the end?
- Today I am on a laundry spree. I'm halfway through the diapers and about to tackle the clothes. Yikes.
- Still haven't finished the birth plan or hopsital bag. Really need to get on that.
- Oops, jsut realized that I forgot to preadmit to the hospital on Friday. Need to get on that as well....
- (this one's a little graphic, skip if you need to)
Yesterday I started 'perenial massage'. It was a little bit terrifying to think of a head coming through there when I couldn't even get my thumbs in!! Did anyone else use this prep', and did it make a difference? Here's hoping....
- I'm beginning to dread the nights as my sleep is so disrupted. Around 2:00am or so I just start hoping for the morning so I can get on with things. It would be really good to be able to rest and stuff right now.
- I am craving nuts! Honey roasted peanuts and sesame cashews and trail mix.... Oh man, this baby wants to get big!

I've decided I really quite enjoy being pregnant, I think I've done an alright job of it :) While I wouldn't wish certain challenges on any other expectant mom (Diabetes, massive swelling, FM, etc.) I've found that I've arrived at, overall, a healthier state of mind and body than I've ever experienced. I'm much more responsible with eating. I'm more fit. I'm aware of the challenges others have faced and appreciate their sacrifices so much more. I appreciate my body and its ability to change and adapt with strength and dignity. I've 'sacrificed' indulgences such as wine, sugar, and drugs, and discovered that I really can do quite well without them for the sake of someone else.
Pregnancy is a very special season, an infinitly challenging and stretching and inspiring experience which I have been really blessed to hold. I've realized this year just what a unique privilege it is to carry a baby to fullterm. I am so blessed.... I also continue to be blessed by my core peer group here in town as they support and encourage me. They each have their own stories of waiting or loss or the unknown, yet they have celebrated with me every step of my journey this year. What a testimony of friendship and unselfishness!
Being a woman, being a woman of Faith, being a woman with child...wow. We are each pregnant with possibility, each fertile with creativity and gifts. I can't wait to see more stories unfold around me.

Today was a big day for baby stuff (Late friday night here, soon saturday, long day).

I began with my prenatal appointment which was pretty fun. My doctor walked in and the first thing he said was "You look fantastic! I wish all my moms looked like you at this stage!" It was really encouraging and quite nice :) He went on to say I've been an "ace patient" and I can even think of having some oatmeal pancakes again soon-- wahoo! Here's the rest of the info from the appt:
- My random glucose test from last week came back with flying colors, lower actually than my pre-pregnancy one a year ago. Judging from his comments, I think  maybe he's realizing he has been a bit extreme with the whole thing and that maybe I wasn't in as awful a state as he orginally thought. But, now nearing the end, I guess it's all alright.
- I've become more anemic and it's time to increase the iron supplement, again. Maybe this is why I was inhaling the protein at Carissa's? I literally ate a whole chicken at her place in less than 3 days!
- My ankles and legs have developed some major issues. Doctor was shocked at the change from last week and super concerned. He called ahead to our Calgary ultrasound and had them book in an extra thing to check for a blood clot. It came back clear, though we're really not sure why I'm so extremely swollen. It's incredibly uncomfortable, not to mention terrifying to look at. Further, I'm now out of shoes. So...any suggestions?
- Looks like Baby has dropped :) I think I'll be ready to go anytime later next week, just need to finish packing and cleaning and organizing and....
- Everthing else looks good (weight, blood pressure, etc.)

Following the morning's appt' we went into calgary (crazy crazy place!) for the ultrasound. Baby is measuring right on and is estimated to currently be 6lbs 6oz., which means he could finish off larger than I was hoping-- yikes! He's nice and low and, from what the tech' would tell us, seems to be doing fine. I'll know more next week once our doctor interprets it all for us.

In other news....
- Starting to put away some food for when Baby arrives. I'm quite pleased with my progress.
- My belly is BIG!
- My ankles, in comparison to it all, are even bigger. Ha, seriously the wackiest and most uncomfortable part of this pregnanct. Go figure.
- It's hard to keep this house clean!!!
- It's getting a lot more difficult to be mobile. I'm like a big bloated duck! ;)
- My garden has sprouted! (random...but important!)
- as of Monday he's full-term! (start of 37 weeks)

Question:
- Are the ultrasound estimates usually correct with weight and such? What's being your experience?
- Do you think he'll come early???

And now...I am crazy exhausted!!! It has been a very packed out (but good!) day. We celebrated Jer's b-day early since we don't know what's coming in the next few weeks, so it was pretty fun. Tomorrow we're helping friends move and such, and it feels like the weekend is going to fly. There is much to prepare and complete before our son arrives. I hope I can get it all done and have time to sit and prepare my mind and heart before it all busts open. It's a crazy thing that we've made it this far.... Wow, it's all so close now.

Thanks for reading friends :) Happy weekend.

So...I'm hungry all the time. And I feel like I'm shifting into eating all the time. Oh man. Seriously! 28 days to the due date and I feel like I'm about to lose it in the eating scheme of things. I'm still doing well to avoid the carbs/sugar, but dang, I am INHALING protein like you wouldn't believe. I hope I'm not creating a little sumo in there.

- Prenatal, ultrasound, and pre-admission all coming up on Friday.
- I am losing my mobility as my ankles dissapear-- yikes!
- Baby is still super active. As far as i can tell, he hasn't yet dropped.
- I'm starting to get freaked out by what's coming....

Wow, my due date is a month from yesterday!!! That is so exciting to me-- wahoo!
It's funny, lately a lot of people have been saying, "You must be ready to be done hey? Are you so ready to get 'im out of there?" And the truth is, well, no. I feel like I can finally just enjoy being pregnant and catch up with what's happening in my heart and body. I'm healthy, I'm mobile, I have time to think, I can fold little outfits and diapers, I can do coffee with girls.... These days are my favorite part of the whole pregnancy so far :) Funny hey? I know it's kind of the opposite of what most women experience, but I am LOVING the freedom of being home, the opportunity to 'putter around', and the fact that I have a wee bit more time to prepare myself for what's ahead. I'm sure 2 or 3 weeks from now I'll be freaking out, but for the moment, I'm just going to soak in these very special open days of rest and 'me' :)

Randoms:
- Today we got a playpen and Boppy pillow from a garage sale -- YAY!!! I'm pretty excited as those were two of the major things we had left. Now we just need a few more diapers and some newborn outfits and I think we can make it through the first couple months.
- Tomorrow I'm taking off on a sister-time-away and I can hardly wait. I'm going to Edmonton to spend some days with my prego sis-in-law while my brother's away. It's going to be great! (and the last little trip I take before Babe arrives)
- This Friday we're heading to Calgary for a final biophysical ultrasound to be sure Baby is fine and has dealt alright with the GD issues. Hoping for a good report :)
- Friday also, I'm supposed to check in for the pre-admission thing at the hospital. Whoa hey? Pretty neat that I'm there already.
- My doctor was kinda random yesterday and decided I should be testing sugars again (kinda confusing...). Then he decided to send me for a random on-the-spot glucose test. Hopefully I passed-- yikes!
- baby is growing well; still head down, measuring just one week under, estimated to finish at about 7lbs.
- I gained weight! 2.8 lbs, so I'm getting back on track.

Time for movie and a snack, and hopefully some packing for my little trip. Happy weekend!