week 36 and getting ready

36 weeks and a few days
Its weird to think I could potentially have this baby any day now, although I would like to wait until after January 1st so I can have it at the Birth Center as planned.  I have been having some cramps lower in my pelvic area the past few days, which I read is a sign my body is getting ready.  I have been researching ways to induce labor naturally and plan to use them when the time comes.  I have started taking Evening Primrose, its doesn't induce labor but it helps soften your cervix which I like to sound of.  This past weeks it has become more of a realization what I need to do to get this baby out.  The thought isn't scary yet, I am mostly just curious as to when it'll happen, how it'll feel, how long etc... All the unknown is pretty cool.  I keep dreaming about out first car ride home as a family and it makes me so happy, I CAN NOT WAIT!!!
baby center:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

some clothes and blankets

I am sure I have entered full on nesting, the past few days I have gained some energy back and have been busing myself with washing the clothes and blankets that I currently have.  Today I am going to see what I have and don't have regarding the essentials.  Then make a list of what I still need and then obviously go get it.  I installed the car-seat in my car today as well.  I was just going to practice putting the car-seat in the car and taking it out.  Once I got it installed I figured I'd just leave it in there.  It was pretty simple putting it in, I used to latch and anchor system!  I'll have to show Dan how to do it sometime this weekend.  I am just going to have to drive around with a car-seat in my car until this little baby decides to come out.  (crossing my fingers its sooner than later)

the car-seat

Yesterday I went and got Dan a coffee maker.  He has been asking me for one for a long time and I finally gave in and bought him one.  The reason I haven't wanted to get one is because we don't have much counter space and I like Dan to come get coffee from me at work in the morning.  Since I wont be working for much longer I decided it was the time to get him one!  He was pretty happy when he got home yesterday and opened it up!  I told him he isn't allowed to make himself coffee in the morning until I am no longer working.