"Shield your eyes... She's gonna pop!"

Yes, someone at work actually said this as she passed me in the hall last week (why people think that comments like that are appropriate is still a mystery to me). Unfortunately, as much as I look like it, I am not about to pop (as far as I know). I still have 28 days left until my due date. I have not had any contractions (besides the fake braxton hicks kind), and I have not been to the doctor in a couple weeks so I don't know whether I'm even starting to show any signs of labor yet. I mean, anything could happen, but I'm certainly not banking on her coming early.

Without further ado, here is my 36 week + 1 day picture (not 42 weeks, despite the appearance of this belly).

I must say, for the most part I feel pretty good. Besides getting up to pee a lot, I am still sleeping well, which I am extremely thankful for. Also, the puking has mostly stopped; it only comes randomly about once a week for some reason, but I can definitely handle that.

I would have to say that currently the most uncomfortable thing about being pregnant is the swelling. I am convinced that I have the worst case of pitting edema in history. Okay, I'm sure that's not true, but it certainly feels like it and I think it's gross. I mean, you can literally push a little on my shins and it just sticks like that for like 10 seconds. Schub bought me a maternity massage for my birthday, and I'm almost too embarrassed to use it b/c I don't want someone to massage my legs and watch my skin just stick in place. I am just trying to figure out the right combination of keeping my feet up and walking around for circulation, and I have figured out that wearing tennis shoes instead of flip flops/dress shoes is a HUGE help (it's just difficult to wear tennis shoes with my work clothes). Also, I am trying to drink TONS of water. The nurse that taught our child care class the other day said I should be drinking 4 liters of water a day!! It seems like a ton to me when I picture a two-liter of coke and when I imagine how much I already have to pee. But I have been working on it and today I can proudly say that I have had 4 liters of water, and I'm trying to cut down on my sodium intake.  Hopefully all that will make a little difference after a few days.

I told my boss last week that I won't be returning to work after my maternity leave. It was such a huge relief, and she was extremely supportive and understanding. That's the wonderful thing about working with mostly women. Everyone in the office totally understood and said I was making the right the decision, so I'm really happy about that. I'll have to work right up until she comes, but after that I am home free :-)

I was supposed to have my dr.'s appointment this week where they check me out and make sure she's head down and tell me if I'm starting to show any signs of labor, but I had to reschedule it for next Monday b/c of stuff at work.  After that I will be going every week! Hopefully I'll begin to see some progress and it will give me a better idea of when Adelaide will want to make her grand appearance. But if the crazy dancing in my belly is any indication of how happy she is in there, she will not be coming out for a while!