Week 37 Update

Welcome to the waiting game! We're now considered full term so Brianna could decide to make her entrance any day now. Here's what baby-gaga.com has to say about this week for her:

It’s the calm before the storm. Changes in your baby's weight have leveled off with only a few ounces of fat added this week. At this point your baby should weigh in at around 7 lbs and 20 inches (with boys somewhat heavier and longer than girls). Happily, as far as internal organs go, they are now developed enough to function in the outside world although the oh-so-important immune system is still developing and will continue to do so after birth. With a large boost of antibodies provided by breast milk when nursing begins. Fighting infection and staying healthy should be well within their physical capacity when your little fighter is born.

As for me, I'm actually doing pretty good, but that fluctuates on a daily basis depending on how much sleep I've gotten the night before. My poor little hands and feet have started swelling no matter what I do but the doctor assured me that's normal at this point and to just keep drinking lots of water and stay as active as I can to keep it to a minimum. My weight gain's at 25 pounds right now, blood pressure's normal, her heart rate was 153 and she's still head down. I haven't started to dilate yet so no sign that labor's imminent. Thankfully, I'll be working from home starting next Monday since my entire office will be in Miami for a sales meeting. Office furniture, no matter how ergonomically correct it may be, doesn't even come close to the comfort of my couch! Plus, if anything (fingers crossed) were to start happening next week, I'd rather be home than at the office anyway!

Justin humored me last night and we had maternity pictures done. I must say the photographer did an amazing job with lighting because I actually didn't look as tired in the pictures as I did in reality. I don't have any to show you here but when the prints come in, I'll scan a few and post them. My parents gave us a beautiful gallery style 11-piece frame set for Christmas so several of these will be displayed there, as well as her newborn pictures. Justin cracked me up at the shoot last night though. I was posing for the "naked belly" pictures and of course, Brianna was moving around. Its been a long time since he's really had the chance to sit and stare at my belly when she's active. He alternated between laughing and being a little freaked out. At one point, he just stepped out of the room because she was making my belly move in so many weird ways! He definately gets the "alien in your tummy" analogy now in a way that he didn't before last night!

That's all for this week ... no belly pictures this time, but I'll make sure I get one for next week.

Love you all ... Lucretia