36

Now that seems like a big number :). According to "the books" I am supposed to pack my bag now with essentials for the hospital for myself (and Ron too). However, I'm drawing a blank as to what is needed, other than a few clothing items and toiletries... I'll make a list and start getting that together. I think it's a tad premature to pack (last time I overpacked, bringing things that I definitely did not need!), but I don't want to be unprepared either.

I had a checkup yesterday and everything is fine as usual. I'm up 23 pounds from where I was back in January... so pretty close to the 20 I gained with Lucy, and it should pretty much taper off now. My doctor didn't check for any dilation yet, but I can't help but wonder if that process has started. Odds are it is minimal if anything. I'm feeling a lot of those sharp pains, which are fun little surprises sprinkled throughout the day! In a magazine at the doctor's office I read someone's comment about it being the baby trying its different janitor's keys. That's kind of what it feels like... neat huh? Although a couple aspects of this stage of the pregnancy are unpleasant, I feel relatively great overall. It's just a sign that I'm nearing the end, which I feel is a good thing! The baby's head is down, which it has been for a little while now. I don't think we are having any more ultrasounds this time. With Lucy we had one at just before 37 weeks, but I'm not sure why, since I wasn't measuring "big" or "small"... it was cool to see the baby fully developed, but if everything is going fine I know it's unnecessary and a waste of time and resources (which someone is paying for, even though our insurance covers all those tests). Also, it will eliminate the obsessing over the little baby's face, trying to figure out if it looks more like a boy or a girl!