pregnancy: week 34

Things are getting really real now, peeps.  The carseat has been unleashed from it’s box and is patiently waiting for me to clean out the car & take it somewhere (fire station?) to learn how to install it.  The highchair is put together (premature, I know, but I’m determined to get the cardboard boxes out of my house).  The nursery is taking shape.

Baby seems determined to break out of my belly Alien-style any moment.  I can tell things (bones, I hope) are getting harder in there, and muscles are certainly getting stronger, at least, the strange bump out my side that I assume to be a karate-chopping foot suggests that they are.  Baby hiccups are ridiculous, as the entire belly jiggles whenever Rico’s got them.  It’s strange to think about another creature hanging out inside me, especially one that has hiccups.  (And also is peeing.  INSIDE MY BELLY.)  Sometimes I try to picture what Rico looks like floating around in there, but I still can’t wrap my head around it.

I have at least three pregnancy super powers: a) the ability to get up & pee in the middle of the night while barely awake, b) super-sniffing powers (makes me want to bathe the dogs nightly), and c) ultra-powerful-room-clearing flatulence.  The third super power isn’t something that occurs often (thank goodness), and isn’t really something I’d normally discuss on the blog, but I’ve managed to use this super-power to impress (and clear the room of) two brothers & a husband, so bragging rights are deserved.

Also, baby dreams have been gradually increasing over the last few weeks, typically involving me with a baby that I either a) break or b) have no clue what to do with.  Like the dream where we had a baby girl and I kept calling it Rico because I couldn’t remember it’s name (note that we’ve had our baby’s name picked out for about 2 years now, so it’s not like I’m picking out of a hat here).  Or last week’s dream, in which I gave birth to a cupie doll, and it’s arms and legs fell off as I was changing it’s diaper.  Hmm.  Wonder what Freud would say about that?

Had yet another doctor’s visit this week: I’m up a pound (28 total), Rico’s heartrate is 153, and he’s still rocking the same position he was in last week – head down, butt towards the left side of my midline, feet kicking my right rib & side.  Things are still looking good, the belly is measuring right where it should be, and we are so, so thankful for that!

And, finally, Jason’s coworkers threw us a little shower, complete with delish cake & ice cream, secret security clearance for yours truly, and more Rico-spoiling gifts.  We’re so thankful that Jason is finally in a job that he actually likes, and to be surrounded by such thoughtful people is definitely a perk!  Even if they took bets on when Rico would arrive & no one suggested he’d be here until July…