She's here!

Bowen Naomi Barratt arrived on November 11th at 10:59 am. Weighing in at 6.7lbs and 51 centimeters tall, she's absolute perfection in a teeny little package. I couldn't be happier with how things went and how things are going. I'll post all about the birth in the next few days, while it's still fresh in my mind.

Thirty Eight Weeks!

I'm sorry to report that week 38 is not much more exciting than week 37. Baby has basically grown everything she's going to grow and done everything she's going to do in utero, so there's not much left to do for us but wait. She probably weighs about six to eight pounds at this point, and is about the same height as last week. All her growth from this point forward is only in a little fat layer, rather than in new organ mass or height.

Last week I was having all sorts of pre labour pains and feelings, but things have been pretty quiet on the uterus front this week. Now that I'm rested and de-stressed from actually getting things accomplished, baby seems to be enjoying her time in there more. I think both of us are getting a bit bored and very much looking forward to meeting our little girl. This afternoon a six month old baby girl spent some time here while Toby and a friend moved around furniture, and Sandwiches quietly sat beside her and let her pet his head and pull his ears. I think he too is absolutely ready for his little sister to arrive!

Good things are coming!

It seems as if we passed our home visit with flying colours this week. When the midwife arrived, it didn't really seem like she was looking in corners for dust bunnies, but Toby is convinced that she was doing so - just discreetly. The actual appointment was just like any other, except with Sandwiches begging to come inside to smell the midwife's bag, and us sitting comfortably on our own couch. The baby is truly making her way down now, and we're told that she's pretty much "engaged" in my pelvis at this point. We also finalized some of the last remaining details of the birth plan and decided to keep the placenta (much to someone's chagrin.) We're all on the same page regarding medication during pregnancy and I think Toby's finally decided on his choice of footwear for the event.

All in all? I think we're pretty much ready. Also? There's really no going back now.

I'm sitting here all surprised that a whole entire week of maternity leave has flown by already. I've had the opportunity to get some important things done - many freezer meals, some thank-you cards, important lists. Also, I've done things to simply make me feel pretty and better - nails, toes, wax, haircut. I think it's important to get the physical aspect of things complete, along with all the actual nitty gritty logistics.

Not too interesting, these days. Still, I really want to document that this pregnant time was such a good thing and that despite it all, I'm really going to miss it!

37 week tummy

Getting rather large over here...

37 weeks!

Here we are, baby - full term! The baby has grown from a poppy seed to a watermelon, and is now fully capable of living on her own. Not that she wants to yet, but at least we know that she can. Right now she's weighing in at 6 pounds and is about twenty inches tall. Her head is surrounded by my pelvic bones, and this has given her a bit more room to grow her legs as well as giving me more room to actually eat food again. Her hair could be possibly as long as an inch, but that varies widely with each baby. Also, she should technically be shedding her lanugo body hair (hopefully, but monkey children aren't unheard of in my family...) and also shedding the white "vernix" stuff that covers her body. She will then swallow the hair and exterior coating, and this is what will form her very first tar-like poo. Amazing, this baby stuff! I've been actually managing to get things done, now that I'm off work, but unfortunately I'm finding myself having a hard time falling asleep and thus being tired during the day. Still, I'm plodding along and confident that I'll be ready for the arrival of baby.