35 weeks going to 36

We have 29 days to go...29...Crazy!!!!

and we are soooo unprepared...Our blueberry has nothing but some old clothes that Claude's sister has sent us. He doesn't have a bed, baby bottles, a stroller, car seat, nothing...I'm hoping all will change in a week. I stopped working and now shopping for blueberry and getting ready for the birth will be my priorities. The past weeks went by kind of fast but here's what we have done:

The last ultrasound: I had my final ultrasound to confirm that he was in the right position, and yes he was, head down, his weight was about 2.7 kg (I think he is about 3 now), and all was fine. The doctor said that he was a little lower than where he was supposed to be but also said not to worry. I'm not worried, in fact, on the contrary, I'm thinking that the birth might be easier if he is already low. The next time I'll see him will be in person. Crazy!

Maternity visit: Last Tuesday, claude and I went to visit Clinique St Elisabeth in Brussels, where I will be giving birth. On tuesdays, a midwife gives the tour of the maternity ward, explain what they do, show the rooms, give practical info about where to go and what to do during labor. It was really funny to walk around with all the preggo ladies. This visit took the pressure off a little, at least we now know what the rooms look like. It was also very funny to see claude all stressed, raising hands, asking questions, taking notes. Somehow, at least for now, I'm calmer than him about labor.

Second hynobirthing class: I was not sure what Claude would think, but at the end, he said that he liked his experience and understood why I chose to work with midwives. He learned some massage techniques to relax me during labor. But the weirdest of all was when my midwife put me in a stage of relaxation. And she pressured my thighs. When I was in my beach (that's where I imagine I go under hypnosis), I was feeling that she was touching me but I just felt a gentle touch. After we finished the session, she showed me how strongly she was squeezing my thighs and I couldn't believe it. And claude confirmed that she was really pressuring. I didn't feel anything. So then I was convinced that this hynobirth thing could work.

Maternity leave: My fake post-doc glamorously ended today after I did a mind-blowing presentation :) I felt good and appreciated and I know that my research group is really hoping that I'll come back, which is nice.

The move: Finally, finally, we're moving to our new apartment this Sunday. We won't have anything there yet because our stuff from Strasbourg will only come on the 5th but still, we'll be in our new beautiful apartment. So I can finally and completely give in to my nesting instinct that I have been trying to fight back these past weeks.

The belly update: The photo is on its way. I'm huge, really, really big. Nobody passes by me without a gesture or a word. They either smile, open their eyes really big, throw me a sympathy gaze, yell things like good luck or hang in there, which is cute. I love Brussels for that. Plus spring has sprung...It's so pretty around here!

Will update you with new pix and if I can, before and after pix of the baby room. 

29 days....Oh my god!

nb1