Getting closer every day

Today we had our 38-week appointment with the midwives (for those of you out of the pregnancy circle, the human gestation period lasts about 40 weeks, so we're getting close...). We ran out of questions for the midwives about three weeks ago, so our appointments are usually brief and to the point: they weigh me (I've gained about 35 lbs. total), take my blood pressure, and we put the Doppler on my belly to listen to Giovanna's heartbeat, which has always been strong and happy.

Today we were given the option of having an exam to see if I am dilating or if anything is going on downstairs, but we opted not to do it. Since centimeters dilated has absolutely no bearing on determining the number of hours/days/weeks until birth, we decided to spare ourselves the emotional rollercoaster of getting excited about a 2, only to wait three more weeks for the 2 to become a 10. We've also got guesses going for when Giovanna will be born, and most of them fall safely a week or so after April 1st, which is her due date. We have been pretty good about setting our sights on a few weeks out, so that we can bypass the anxiety and mental anguish of watching each day pass. The fact that I feel well physically really helps a lot to put the constant hope for labor on the back burner. Recently, I have felt Giovanna putting pressure on areas lower in my pelvic region than ever before as she wiggles down, she has hiccups nearly every day, and I have more heartburn than I had before, but other than that, I am still sleeping well, and I can walk and move around comfortably. Two days ago I cleaned the baseboards in our apartment in my effort to slowly get our home ready for visitors, and being on my hands and knees was actually a nice stretch.

But our having our sights set far out doesn't mean we haven't been working hard to get a lot of things done! I feel like we're constantly working to check off items on our list of things to do before Giovanna arrives. Taxes were completed this week; we found a pediatrician; I finished reading "Mountains Beyond Mountains" for my book club; we've been to IKEA to buy the dresser we needed and little tiny clothes are now washed in Dreft, folded and are waiting in little piles in the drawers; the carpets have been professionally cleaned; the oil in the car was changed; we have had the carseat properly installed at the fire station; the thank yous from the shower are nearly done, and tonight I spent some time doing the initial packing of our hospital bag. Whew!

At this point, I would just love her to wait until at least March 28th to come, because that's the point at which our social calendar has it's first break in over a month. These have been some of the most busy, happy, fun, and social weeks of my entire pregnancy. It's really nice being in such a happy place as we anticipate the birth of our little one...