Check, check, check!

A few more things done today to check off of my to-do list. We went to the mall and I stopped and got my hair cut, several inches so it's more manageable when the baby gets here (check!). We also stopped at Toys'R'Us and got our neice's birthday gift, who will be 2 next week (check!) and my nephew's Christmas gift (check!). I ordered both neice's Christmas gifts online the other day, and picked up the same puzzle I got for our neice for Abby for Christmas. I also wrapped the gifts we have for Abby so far, bought the baby's stocking and an ornament for Abby for this year. We have one gift left to get for Abby, which is a plush rocking chair, but the store that we'd like to get it from is waiting on a shipment of them. Everyone else is now bought for, although I'm considering getting DH something small for Christmas, even though we agreed not to exchange gifts. Another few things to add to the "done" list, I sewed and hung up the curtains for the baby's room and washed and put the covers back on the bouncer, swing and carseat. I also finished both the tandem nursing and natural childbirth books I was reading, and started packing my bag to bring with us when I go into labor. We'll put the carseat in the car next week, just before 38 weeks, and set up the pack'n'play and cosleeper the following weekend, along with decorating the house and putting up the tree (the weekend after Thanksgiving). As much as I would like to go early, I am hoping to go shortly after 39 weeks so I can have those things done. Not that it would be a big deal, but I'm overly organized sometimes and that would make me feel better to have them done.

My 36 week appointment went well. I did have my GBS test and my results should be in. I will find out at my next appointment. Clarice also had some slight doubts on her position at my appointment. She's definitely posterior (face up) which isn't favorable for labor, but just because it can make it a little more diffult and very painful. I pray she turns and if not, I have faith she may need a few good contractions and some persuasion to turn the way she needs to be. I may even consider seeing a chiropractor to hopefully get her to turn. Just to avoid that dreaded back labor would be nice. So I got off on a rant, but the question with her position: is she head down? Clarice wasn't sure if she was feeling a head at the top, or not. Although many signs point to her being head down, there's a shadow of a doubt, which is just enough. She wants to see what she thinks at the next appointment and if she is still in slight doubt, we'll have an ultrasound to check her position. That's okay with me, I would rather be sure before going into labor than to wonder "Maybe, just maybe..." I'm anxious for my appointment on Tuesday for those 2 reasons, plus the remainder of my diaper order was dropped off (Zinnia bumGenius 3.0s and the hemp doubler to use at night with Abby). I'm excited to get those and wash them and to see if the doubler will work for overnight diapering. The days seem to be ticking away slowly, although I know they are going just as fast as always. Tuesday will be here before I know it, let alone my due date!

And...I'll be officially full term on Monday! Yikes! Not that I expect or hope this baby comes anytime sooner than 39-40 weeks, but it's a scary thought. It seems like early babies are the topic lately. We must have well over 15 babies in the due date club already, all but one 37 weeks and before. My neice born in March was a 36-37 weeker and then again today, the woman cutting my hair mentioned her daughter had a baby recently, at 37 weeks. Why do these babies come so early? I can't say I'm prepared emotionally for the baby to be here yet, although I may not ever be. I'm starting to get excited for this pregnancy to come to an end. The discomforts are getting to me. I have tried to keep a good attitude. I see it this way, my chances of going to 40 weeks or even over, are still pretty good, and I shouldn't complain and make my last few weeks too miserable. It seems like things have intensified over the past week, making me more ready to have the discomfort and pains gone. Nursing Abigial is torture anymore. It hurts and it feels like my girls are just ultra-sensitive anymore. She latches on and I want to just scream. I am SO ready for that to be over with, because nursing just isn't enjoyable. It's emotionally hard, because she still wants to nurse and gets so upset when I tell her I need her to stop. It is a horrible mental and emotional struggle for me. I just keep thinking, I wish I had someone to talk to who would understand this! I need so badly to cry to someone about what I'm feeling, and yet no one can understand without having at least nursed a child themselves. I just want nursing my daughter to go back to normal again so I can enjoy it!