cankles, among other things

Today we're supposed to hit a record high of 106 degrees. According to my swollen feet, I think we made it. The other day (also in the 100s), some friends came over to help me paint some nursery furniture. And since they are such good friends and didn't want the baby breathing any bad fumes, they pretty much made me just stand there. In the heat I could feel the fluid draining to my legs. So I looked down and couldn't believe the sausages that used to be my toes. And then I looked at my ankles, and for the first time in this pregnancy, I officially had cankles.

Don't worry, as any good pregnant lady would do, I took it as a sign that I should immediately "put my feet up".

So I took a nap.

So what else has been going on since my last post nearly 3 weeks ago?

Well, first I've been feeling extremely guilty that it's been 3 weeks. I've been imagining up some exotic excuse as to why my life has been too busy to blog. But I've come up with nothing. And I knew that ruse would be up since many of you have probably caught me stalking your blogs in the meantime. So laziness wins the day and here I am eating humble pie... again.

I've also been feeling overwhelmed a bit by the fact that in 2 1/2 weeks I'm supposed to bring a kid into the world. The other morning as he was doing headstands in my uterus, I was picturing this cute kid and what it would come out looking like. And then I pictured ten centimeters. And then I kinda panicked. So I picked up my hospital labor book and started reading.

And last week Jim and I went to our first Birthing Class. When they turned out the lights for the video, I took your advice, and promptly told Jim that I wasn't watching it. I might have peeked once, though. Which I immediately regretted. Did you know that ten centimeters is only a starting off point? The head alone is bigger than that! Not to mention shoulders. My eyes got really big.

I've also decided on this little speech immediately upon being admitted...

"Hi, my name is Karen Grube and I'm here to have a baby. I don't want an epidural, but I reserve the right to change my mind at any time. I don't want a mirror to watch anything that goes on during the delivery of this baby. I don't want to have any part of pulling the baby out of me. And please feel free to clean off the baby before putting him on my chest. Thank you."

I know some of you think I'm crazy for the epidural thing. And the other half think I'm a bad mom for not wanting to be the first to hold my bloody baby. But I want to enjoy those first moments, so I'd rather wait until the nurses are done scrubbing and yanking. That way I can soak it all in peacefully.

Also... On this Army post, the prize of every pregnant woman is receiving the coveted Parking Pass that allows her to park in the first row of the commissary and hospital. So far I've gotten to use it not just once, but twice! I was so excited that I've taken a picture each time, but I'll only bore you with the one.

And last but not least.... a picture. My vanity almost kept me from posting this, but at 37 1/2 weeks (not to mention that 3 of those I've been MIA), I know I owe you. I'm definitely feeling big all over. I've got the pregnancy waddle down. And often I feel like I've been punched between the legs. Those are all good signs, my midwife tells me. She also says I've "dropped". Meaning we're that much closer to little Grublet's big day!

I promise to be better at posting. There's so much I want to share with you all. And I promise it'll be before the baby comes...