34 weeks!

How far along? 34 weeks + 1 day. I waited to post until tonight because I had an ultrasound appointment today. Unfortunately, I have no adorable pictures to show you. Henry is stubborn! He just doesn't want to reveal his cuteness until after he arrives. I did learn the following things: He is head-down, which is great! He has a bunch of hair. He has one foot up near his mouth and the other one wedged under my ribs (not that I needed an ultrasound to tell me that). And he has a chin dimple just like Mommy! :)

Total weight gain/loss: +28 1/2 pounds. I haven't gained much weight in the last couple of weeks, but my belly is still getting bigger all the time. I'm carrying quite low now - I feel like he's going to drop out!

Maternity clothes? I am really appreciating extra big tank tops and sweatpants :) I only have one more day of work left (hooray!), and then I may forgo clothing that fits altogether. I am all about being as comfortable as possible these days. I feel so sorry for my pregnant friends that are working closer to their due dates. Hang in there guys!

Stretch marks? I haven't noticed any new ones this week, but my belly has been very itchy, so new ones are surely on the way!

Sleep: It is either getting a bit better, or I am finally starting to adjust to the interrupted schedule. I haven't felt nearly as wiped out at the end of the day this week. Not going to work for the rest of the pregnancy is sure to help with this too.

Best moment this week: My parents threw us an adorable shower over the weekend. I loved how everything was decorated. Ben and I both had a really good time seeing our friends, both at the shower and later in the weekend. It made me realize how strange it will be to not be able to just pop down to a friends house for the weekend anymore - now we'll have a kid in tow!

Movement: He's still squirming and kicking around in there like a champ. Things are starting to get sore! He hasn't shown off for Daddy in awhile though - how about some better timing Mr. Henry?

Food cravings: Oatmeal! I made oatmeal for breakfast several times, I made granola, and I plan to make baked oatmeal for Saturday brunch. I just can't seem to get enough!

Nursery: After our showers and a quick trip to Babies R Us, I think we have everything we need to make our final preparations! Ben even managed to get the car seat hooked up in the car. Now I just need to pack a bag and we'll be all set to welcome Henry (sans furniture of course, but that will be soon!)

Labor Signs: I have been having contractions this week, but nothing time-able, so not truly labor of course. They're pretty uncomfortable though!

Belly Button in or out? The lower my belly drops, the safer I feel my innie becomes!

What do we want to teach Henry about? I'm looking forward to watching him learn to roll over, and sit up, and crawl, and walk. Those things will be so exciting!

What I miss: Being able to reach things in the cabinets without bumping my bump into the counter tops. I feel so clumsy these days!

What I am looking forward to: My last day of work! Then it's just baby growing for the last few weeks. :)

Weekly Wisdom: When I first think that I might need to pee soon, I might as well get a move on. That tiny bladder waits for no one!

Milestones: Today was our last ultrasound - and my doctor started to begin our discussion about labor. This is really happening - soon!

Daddy's Thoughts:

I've been putting songs aside as I make my ever expanding collection of music that I call the Volumes.  These songs that I've been putting back I plan to put on the Volume for when Henry is finally born, as they make me think about having kids.  This will probably be volume 154 or so, I would guess.  There's on by The Lovin' Spoonful that I just loved called "Younger Generation".

Why must every generation think they're folks are square?
And no matter where their heads are, they know mom's ain't there.
Cause' I swore when I was small, that I'd remember when,
I knew what's wrong with them, that I was smaller than.

Determined to remember all the cardinal rules.
Like, sunshowers are legal grounds, for cutting school.
I know I have forgotten maybe one or two.
And I hope that I recall them all before the baby's due.
And I'll know he'll have a question or two.

Like, hey pop. Can I go ride my zoom?
It goes two hundred miles an hour, suspended on balloons.
And can I put a droplet of this new stuff on my tongue?
And imagine frothing dragons, while you sit and wreck your lungs.
And I must me permissive, understanding of the younger generation.

And then I'll know that all I've learned, my kid assumes.
And all my deepest worries must be his cartoons.
And still I'll try to tell him all the things I've done,
relating to what he can do when he becomes a man.
And still he'll stick his fingers in the fan.

And hey pop, my girlfriend's only three.
She's got her own video phone,
and she's taking LSD.
And now that were best friends, she wants to give a bit to me.
But whats the matter, daddy?
How come you're turning green?
Can it be that you can't live up to your dreams?

I think about that sometimes, that I won't be able to tell him or explain to him the things that he''ll be better off avoiding.  Because then I'll just be a dumb old dad who's out of touch and doesn't get his need to find out for himself.  And then he'll just have bruised fingertips from the fan.

Other songs I've got are "Love For a Child" by Jason Mraz, "Believe In Life" by Eric Clapton, and quite a few others.  I think it will turn out to be a good Volume.

Tell you what, kid, just go for it.

Also, I don't want Henry to do nearly the volume of drugs that this song implies.

Signing off until next week,

    Daddy