Nearing the end...

Today I hit 36 weeks- it's official, I can legally deliver with my midwife now and baby is likely to be in good shape to meet the outside world. Usually at least 39 weeks is ideal, but apparently women in my families bake babies quickly.
This pregnancy has been SO different from my last one. Well, I've still had the weird preterm contractions and all that, but we've been much more laid back about it and in general it just feels like a healthier, happier pregnancy.
For where I am in pregnancy, I feel good! Sure, there are the typical complaints- I'd love to be able to bend over, this whole getting up to pee every 4 minutes at night isn't cool- all in all, I still love being pregnant, I don't feel like a cow, I'm happy to not have any problems with swelling or blood pressure or any of that. It's been an easy pregnancy.

I'm dilated to about a 3 and 80% effaced, but nothing seems to be happening very quickly, and that's a good thing. Last pregnancy at this point I was 5-6 cm, so, things are going slower. My own feeling is that I have at least a week left if not 2.

I'm definitely bigger this time than last time, too. A lady in the area was building her portfolio and offered me a free maternity photo session, so we have some photos to shares:








More up at smugmug. Apparently I become a bit of an exhibitionist while pregnant- lots of bare bellies in there, but I think the pregnant body is beautiful, it's one of the few times in my life I'm not ashamed of my body at all, and you can show off some skin without it being sexual at all. Anyways...

We've got pretty much everything all ready for this little girl, and we feel so loved by everyone who has sent gifts, hand-me-downs, or well wishes. Thank you all.
I'm working up until next Tuesday, it would seem- hopefully I won't accept any last-minute projects (I was supposed to done by tomorrow, but...). Then come early February or so I'll go back to work, and keep working until I simply can't take it any longer.
We'll definitely keep y'all posted as things move along and the baby shows signs of wanting to come out. We're so excited to meet her.