38 & 39 weeks.

i look: well, that's hard to say ~ i have gotten "WOAH, you're huge!" along with "you're about to pop" over the past week or so. but i've also gotten, "you're having a baby in 9 days? you don't look big enough!" i've been thankful to avoid looking so huge that people question whether i'm having twins...i know some women get that comment and it's discouraging. i like to think that i look just the way a 9.5+ prego should :)

last week i got my mommy badge - STRETCHMARKS!!!!!!!!! i literally woke up to two pinkish magically appearing stretchmarks on my lower belly. i've gotten a couple more over the past week. i was kinda shocked that they appeared over the course of one night!

i feel: fantastic!! in some ways it's hard to believe that we'll have a baby in the next week or so, because i still feel really good ~ almost like i could just keep carrying our little guy.

feeling more consistent, regular contractions. have been experiencing braxton-hicks contractions for weeks but am beginning to experience some of the "real" labor contractions that come at regular intervals. the first night that i had 10 minute apart contractions i got really excited. matt kept me from getting too crazy and reminded me that contractions can happen for days and even weeks before labor. {i'm so thankful for a level-headed supportive hubby!}

having more difficulty sleeping. {but am still getting plenty of rest! thank God!} my belly is really big and heavy to move. i often feel like i need to physically pick it up to roll from side to side. lol.

i crave: i've been super thirsty and more hungry than usual, but nothing in particular that i'm craving. trying to drink lots of water and continue to eat healthily.

i think: i think paisley and toffee suspect something big is about to happen. they are super needy right now. i'm praying they'll adjust well to having a new center of attention in our home!!

i also think i have the greatest family ever. just have to say that i love our family ~ both sides. i was super blessed to see everyone over the past week.

i hope: baby j comes sooner rather than later. we are becoming anxious to meet and hold and love on him :)

i'm hoping that our appointment on wednesday will be the last appointment we have to attend!!! {our due date based on LMP is this weds (1/5/11)...they changed it to a week later after our first ultrasound. kinda crazy!}

i also hope baby j isn't TOO big. one: because natural labor will be painful enough as it is and two: because we have some stinkin' adorable newborn size clothes for him!

docs say: everything is still looking good for baby j and i. i haven't been checked for dilation yet {we've chosen to refuse the checks} but my belly is measuring right on track. we've agreed to let our doc check this week for progress...i'll update on that later this week.

when discussing the contractions i've been having, my doc made a fantastic point. she compared labor to a marathon and said that it's alot better to run a few miles for 26 days than to run all 26 miles in one day. so i'm laboring over several days, let's hope my delivery day will be less intense laboring ;)

no predictions from the docs yet as to whether we will be holding our baby this week, next week or the following week.