Today I Feel...

We have a "Today I Feel..." magnet on our fridge that I picked up at some point in college, and today I was looking at it trying to figure out which emotion best described me.  I changed it three times before deciding there really just needed to be an "all of the above" face. 

This was my first official week on maternity leave, and while it has been wonderful to be able to relax and have time to get some last minute things done before she arrives, I find that I am now just waiting.  All three of my friends who were due in the month before me have now had their babies (one of them just this morning...congratulations, KR and RR!), so now I'm next in line and I feel like it should happen right now. 

I'm having a few symptoms, but nothing that screams "I'm having a baby tomorrow!"  First, I am getting more and more uncomfortable by the day. Sleep is elusive - it's totally hit or miss whether or not I will get a good night's sleep on any given night.  I try to sleep on my left side, which is suggested, but usually turn over to my right side at least a few times, and usually find myself on my back at least once a night. I've also been waking up to find myself drooling, which is, I'm sure, incredibly attractive.  Second, I am having more and more Braxton Hicks contractions.  I started having these maybe a month or so ago, but they were few and far between, and as long as I changed positions, they stopped right away.  Now whenever I do anything "strenuous" (which is, at this point, walking up and down the stairs multiple times within a few minutes, carrying anything remotely heavy, or sometimes just being on my feet for awhile), I have one or more.  I wouldn't say that they're painful, but there is a definite sense of tightening and I have to waddle around for a few minutes because it feels like the baby is very heavy and low.  Finally, I'm much more emotional than normal.  I suspect my hormones are on the fast track to crazy, and I'm just along for the ride.

Nonetheless, I feel very blessed to have these complaints, and know that what's to come is going to be an even more exhausting and trying process...but, I am ready to hold this baby in my arms instead of like a bowling ball duct taped around my middle.  (And her daddy is, too!)