Here's me belly at 36 weeks! I hope this picture actually shows up, for crying out loud! Not having good luck with posting pictures here lately.

It seemed SO real.
Today I took a nap for about an hour. Right before I woke up, I was dreaming that my baby was sleeping next to me and I had my hand on her perfect little round head. And I was smiling hugely when I woke up. For all the world, I thought she really was right next to me!
I must have dreamed that because of how very, very much I long to finally hold her. I can feel parts of her in my belly when I rub it, but I can't tell if I'm feeling her knee, her head, her back, her buns...I just can't wait til I can hold her in my arms!! It won't be long.

Nursing bras make me giggle. You unsnap the flap and PEEK - there's your boob!

It's Saturday. I planned to take a shower right after breakfast and maybe get a few little things done this morning.
But instead, I plopped down in the recliner after breakfast and picked up the book I was halfway through - "The Stork Reality" by Malena Lott. Four hours later, I've finished the book. It's about a lady who gets pregnant while she's on the Pill (oops). She and her husband are rather terrified at first. But during those nine crazy months, they both slowly morph into Mommy and Daddy and, because of the beautiful way the author writes about it, I could not put that darn book down! A couple times it even brought me to tears.
Taylor, the main character, decides to keep a journal of letters to her baby. I love this part of this particular entry:
"Wow! Next week I'll learn if you're a boy or a girl. My prediction? A boy. Must be all the meat I'm eating. But I don't have a preference, really. I think if you are a boy it might be easier for Jake to bond with you, but you know what they say about daddy's girls, too. I know. I was one. I can't wait to meet you. I hope you're doing okay in there. Cozy? I skipped the coffee so as not to give you the jitters on our flight home. Let's sleep now, shall we?
Mom"

One of the best parts of reading this wonderful book for four hours this morning: My girl was kicking and rolling and punching like crazy almost the whole time. It's like she knew I was reading about babies. I think she's getting really excited to be born and finally be with us as our baby daughter. My anticipation increases with every passing moment. She's almost here! Here's a picture of my 34-weeks roooound belly! (Is the pic showing up for you? It's not for me! Grrrrr!!!)

WOW! This baby girl's movements are getting stronger and "bigger" these last few days!! This morning she kicked (or elbowed) six times in a row - lol! I loooooove her stronger kicks and punches!!! They assure me that she's getting big and getting ready to come into the world!
All this growing has also made it somewhat difficult for me to eat much. I have to eat smaller bits at a time rather than whole meals most of the time. So often I can feel part of her (probably her head or her little butt) up real high, inbetween my ribs....and it's when she's way up there that I can't fit much food in my tummy!
I absolutely cannot believe that I'm 33 weeks along and that she will be here so soon!!! Between DYING to SEE and HOLD her, and being very tired of being pregnant - I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!
I would like to say a special "BEST WISHES" to my friend, Bambi today. Her baby boy, Xander, is due literally any minute now and I'm sooooooo excited for her!!!! Praying for you, Bambi girl!!

So over this past weekend, I noticed that I wasn't feeling as much fetal movement as usual. Was definitely feeling some, but not as much and not as strong as usual. So I called the doc and they told me to do a "kick count test": eat something sugary, then lay on my left side for one hour and count the kicks. If there were less than six, it may be cause for concern. So I ate a big piece of rhubarb pie with a little scoop of ice cream and laid on the couch. By twenty minutes, she had already given me six good wallops....and by the time the hour was over, I had counted thirteen. That made me feel much better!
Had a doc checkup yesterday, and since she passed the "kick test" with flying colors Monday night and moved a lot yesterday morning, doc didn't seem worried at all. We heard the heartbeat and she took a belly measurement, and both were great. She said I probably have nothing to worry about but that if I ever do a kick test and there are less than six kicks, to let them know. Also told me that as babies get bigger there is less room to kick and punch in there, which I knew (and it makes sense!).
So my next appt is in two weeks and OH my gosh I can't believe how close it's getting to her due date!!!!

Steph came over with boxes and boxes of Kenzie's old baby clothes today! LOTS of really cute stuff. So now I have my work cut out for me with laundry - gotta wash all that clothes, as well as her onesies and jammies. She is gonna be one well-dressed little girl! : D (Here's a pic of what the family room looks like right now with all those boxes of clothes in it!)