Baby Bump - Week 37

Week 37

Katy's Birthday at the Handfelt Hacienda

Well, well, well...I've been M.I.A. for some time now (um, since Week 32!) and Ben's been holding down the hacienda fort for me. As he said, the countdown is officially on 'til D-day. Our last milestone of Thanksgiving is long gone! Next week is my last week of work and I'll be starting maternity leave the week of Christmas (3 months, yay!...I haven't gone this long without working since I was 14!). I've contacted my clients. My fall semester class is done. The holiday decorations are up (note: I'm standing in front of the baby's monogrammed stocking above...the name is still under wraps). Carm has thoroughly investigated the baby's room (and found a new hiding spot in with the baby blankets). The car seat is in (thanks to Cory and Gretchen). We're all set.

Maybe it's because I'm now another year older, but it is finally hitting me and I'm becoming a weepy-eyed preggy lady. I've been cool as a cucumber the last nine months, but it's GAME ON now - and I'm getting emotional! Seriously, the Kay Jewelry commercial makes me cry, Ben's sweet blog post about me makes me tear up, even just taking a bath and trying to relax is a time for some tears! All in a good way though...much to my chagrin, maybe I'm becoming a sentimental old ma after all.

Then again, I'm only ten years away from when I turned 21 and we had a big party at our house on Olive Street. I'm not so old yet, right? I've still got it in me. Oh yeah, I'll be a hot mama. The other night I felt like dancing and was home alone...so in my PJs, and with my big tummy, Carmella watching me like I was nuts, I cranked up the iPod and danced around to some LL Cool J. Three times. Then I was out of breath and went to bed.

As I told my coworkers, we're ready anytime for this little one to make her appearance (although I wouldn't complain if she sits tight for another week or two). We've stockpiled all the baby necessities, completed every single one of our parenting classes (and we signed up for the entire catalog of courses!), and my winter coat only buttons at the top button! It's just so hard to believe that our lives are going to change forever and that very, very soon we will be responsible for a little person of our own. We'll be a family. I can't comprehend it. I mean, lots of people do this everyday and don't put much thought into it. Like seriously, that "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant" show on the Discovery Channel...that Duggar family...the crazy people I see on the bus? We've waited this long and thought things through. We're ready. Bring it on. I told Ben, it feels like we're almost at the very top of a roller coaster...chuggin' up that first hill...we're almost going over the edge and there's no looking back. I'm just trying to decide whether to hold on tight or throw my hands up in the air! I'm going with option #2. I just hope I don't toss my cookies along the way.