37.5 weeks and counting.  We are now technically “full term” and ready to go when baby is ready.  We had another OB appointment today, of which we are up to a frequency of once per week.  Just a routine check-up, but at this point anything can happen.. freaky to think that you could walk into your doctor’s office thinking you’ll just get a heart rate checked… and be sent straight to the hospital (do not pass go!) – of course, this is an extreme, usually in the case of complications or if they “find something”.

They did not find anything except for a healthy HAPPY baby who had no designs on going anywhere, anytime soon.

Anthony could not make the appointment with me today as he has had a ton of meetings and work for a big project that they’re in the middle of, so I can imagine that he’s trying to squeeze as many things into the shrinking time frame he has before baby arrives. That hard-workin’ man o’ mine.  But that being said, I can’t deny that I sat there in the big leather easy chair getting another Fetal Non-Stress Test (NST) thinking, “hmmm I hope he has his phone on… ya know, just in case.”   That would be my luck.

The NST showed that he has a strong steady heartbeat which jumps like it’s supposed to when he squirms, and falls back down to baseline afterward.  The midwife gave it an A+ 🙂 No signs of contractions…measuring right on target as far as the size of my belly.  He’s very VERY active – he’s always moving and squirming around.  According to last week’s ultrasound, and the average ½ lb weight gain per week, he’s estimated to already be about 7 ½ lbs.  Nice healthy chunka baby!

He’s still in position and ready to go, but one thing I did learn is that the ‘thumping’ I’m always feeling in the right side of my ribs – that needling and digging at inopportune times, like when I’m trying to read the sports report in the morning – that’s not ‘kicking’ – that’s not his foot or knee.  That’s his BUTT.  Yes, baby’s butt is kicking my butt, er, ribs.  And I wouldn’t expect anything less from any son of mine.

So until next week’s appointment, and unless baby changes his mind in the meantime, we’re just in a holding pattern.  Expect to keep hearing me during the morning and midday as usual…and if his butt thumps me in the ribs again like it just did (ouch!), don’t mind the gasping/shrieking I might uncontrollably utter.