A new belly picture

Sunday morning after I got dressed for church, I looked down and felt like my belly had grown three sizes overnight. Comparing this 37 week picture with the last one from 32 weeks is enough evidence that the baby has gotten bigger. (Although reviewing this picture, I think some of it was the shirt, too.)


The carseat is here and the base is in the car. The packed diaper bag is sitting near the carseat so we hopefully remember both items when the time comes to head to the hospital. I'm still caught up on thank you notes (hooray!). Last night, I attended a breastfeeding class and watched a few segments of a childbirth class DVD that a friend loaned me. And for 38 weeks along, I think that's a pretty good place to be. (Although I'm telling myself I have 3 weeks of pregnancy left, so that I'm not too disappointed if he doesn't come before his due date.)

Hospital tour

Today I took a tour of the hospital where Baby Ricker will make his appearance. It was nice to get an idea of where to go and what will happen, as well as policies and procedures at the facility. (And to know my paper work is all up to date.) It's been challenging to find a balance in the reading and learning I've done about delivery and child-rearing--nearly all of the authors feels strongly about their methods (which I understand) but also feels the need to put down alternative views (which is frustrating.)

Side note: One of my biggest pet peeves is to be told, either by a person or by a book/Web site/instructional video, that my plan or idea is the worst idea ever, especially when it is coupled with the ominous hints that it will ruin my life or my child. It's also a common phenomenon in the world of diets, where one book will say if you eat item A you will become a fat, lazy slob and another will say if you don't eat item A your hair will fall out and you'll die a slow, painful, lonely death. I am, of course, hyperbolizing in my examples, but I feel that authors and other advice-givers all too often are guilty of the same.

I've struggled with trying to identify my own plans and wishes while at the same time recognizing that labor and delivery is unpredictable and keeping the flexibility that will be necessary for me to have a good experience. That said, post-tour I feel at least a bit more confident in the process.

37 weeks and updates

I don't have a picture ready today, but I feel bigger than I did at 32 weeks. Clint doesn't believe I'll make it to March before the baby's born, but I'm telling myself that I could go to 42 weeks, so that I'm not disappointed if our (still nameless) boy doesn't come before his due date. I've started to slow down the last few weeks, and I'm feeling more ready for his debut, whenever that is.

I do still need to pack bags for the hospital. Been-there-done-that moms--any must haves you recommend packing?

I had a wonderful baby shower earlier this month and enjoyed celebrating our boy with friends and family. As of tonight, I'm caught up on all thank you notes from the shower and other gifts. (Whew!) Hopefully I can stay on top of thank you notes in the upcoming weeks.

On a not-baby note, did you know you can make pesto with spinach? I tried it tonight and found it quite successful. Unfortunately, my attempt to make no bake cookies today was much less successful--for some reason, they ended up really dry and crumbly. The silver lining is that I get to try the recipe again this week or next to try and figure out what I did wrong today. Chocolate ... yum ....