38...Feeling great?!

At the end of 37 weeks--Full Term

I cannot believe that we are quickly approaching our due date! I always thought Pea D would be born at the end of May, but I hope that she stays put until her expected June arrival so that she can be as big and as healthy as possible. We have reached the Full Term mark, and our suitcase is packed and everything is assembled and ready to go. I have been experiencing a lot of Braxton-Hicks contractions and was 1 cm dilated at my last appointment. They said I could go into labor any day now, but I hope we have some more time.

Our neighbor had a small, informal baby shower for us this past Thursday with all the neighbors who live at the end of our street. It was extremely kind of her to throw us one, and we had a great time. We loved the adorable ladybug cupcake cake she bought, and the food was delicious. I hope to post some pics of both of the NC baby showers once our friends send them to us. I am overwhelmed by the generosity and thoughtfulness of everyone we know. We were grateful to have even one shower with our relatives, and it has been a great surprise to have the other showers here in NC. We are truly fortunate to have such amazing friends and family, and Pea D is loved so much by everyone already.

There have not really been any new changes these past few weeks. Shereif completed a Daddy Boot Camp last weekend and received a certificate. He learned a lot and keeps restating bits of info he retained. I am waking up more at night to use the bathroom and cannot stop sweating when asleep. Shereif always tries to put the sheets on me at night (since he feels cold), but I always take them off since I feel hot. My feet and hands continue to swell at times; and my belly button is still an innie, but protrudes somehow through my clothing. I call him Fred and he is out there for everyone to see :) I have received more sympathetic looks when out in public, and random people ask me questions about the pregnancy all the time. It is kind of them to take notice, but I feel like I am on display. For example, Shereif and I were in a store today and he told me that a lady was staring at me the whole time we were in line. Are pregnant ladies a rare commodity or something? I think it's funny, especially when we see people in our development whom we have not seen since last summer. They are shocked by my belly, but we just joke that "this is what happens in the winter."

With the summer quickly approaching, our life is about to change dramatically. We are both excited and nervous. This blog has served and will continue to be a resource for me to stay connected with our family and friends and to keep everyone updated on our life and Pea D's development. I hope everyone enjoys reading it, and we love reading your comments. Please keep us in your prayers as the due date approaches.