"you've got HOW long, now??"

i've been hearing that a lot, lately...

huh.

wonder why.

yes, folks, that's about 51" worth of belly.

funny, since my weight gain has been significantly less this time than with the previous two.

and yes, there's only one in there. i even asked at my last appointment what the odds of another one hiding in there was, and since we've had an ultrasound already that showed only one, well, the odds are slim. but i was offered another scan if i wanted. tempting, but not necessary, so insurance probably wouldn't cover it.

and also yes to the fact that i feel as huge as i look... at 33 weeks (tomorrow!), i'm already ready to deliver this little guy. of course, it's too early yet, but if he decides to come a little ahead of schedule (cole was born at 36.5 weeks, healthy and full-term sized), we won't argue with him. then again, if he decides to go longer, i sure hope he stops growing so fast! i have two shirts that are long enough to comfortably cover my girth... one's a sleep shirt and the other is an over-sized fleece. i don't have a problem with bottoms- i'm constantly pulling my jeans back up.

weird.

*

cole went with kelvin to oshkosh for a "boys' day"... actually, only part of a day, but they get to check out hobby town, some atv/snowmobile dealerships, have lunch together, and just hang loose together. cole LOVES it, and his daddy doesn't mind either! actually, it's good for all of us- i get some one-on-one time with madison, not to mention some quiet. i love my little dude, but let me tell you- sometimes the incessant dawn-to-dusk chatter is a little much. and he's just got so much to say (which i also love) he can't contain it; however, my ears and brain do like a siesta every now and again.

*

back to the baby:

all the little clothes he'll need for the first few months are washed and folded, waiting to be put into drawers (as soon as cole's room is done enough to get furniture in, there will be some open space for his things), as are the burp rags and blankets. i've got a few things set aside for our hospital bags, too... and i thought that moment had come early this morning. must've just been my back popping way deep inside, but the snap i felt was scarily similar to breaking water. i laid on the couch, afraid to move for about 10 minutes... i shifted a little here and there, but no leaks, so i stood up and breathed a sigh of relief that my water was still intact. my mind was going at warp-speed, though- like i said, we've still got 4 weeks before the recommended safe mark (37 weeks). i was thinking of all the things i would have to do before heading in, had my water really broken: laundry, packing the kids' bag, finishing packing my bag and the diaper bag for the baby and oops- we still don't have a carseat! that would have been the least of our worries, i think.

anyway, the lil guy is still safely tucked away for now, though i'm even more conscious of every braxton-hicks and every "odd" feeling. but it's a reminder of how close we are to meeting him and how quickly these last weeks will fly. my next appointment is next thursday, so i'm anxious to hear what dr h has to say about my measurements and such then.

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oh, and we do have a name picked out... i have to get permission from my baby-daddy before i share it with the general public, though :)