10 Days to Go!

Until my due date, that is.  The good ol' doctors tell me to not be surprised if I go a week over, as that's pretty normal for first-time moms.  However, pretty much everyone tells me these things called "babies" come whenever they want.  So there's that.  When Mr. Owen will get here is anybody's guess!

I've successfully gone from "Oh this isn't bad!  I could be pregnant forever and love it!" to "Please give me my insides back..." within a few weeks.  There wasn't much of a transition, I just went from comfortable to... uncomfortable.  I do consider myself lucky that I made it so long without becoming miserable, and honestly the misery isn't constant.  I can tell he's dropping because I've gone from peeing a million times a day to a billion times a day.  It doesn't matter how early I stop drinking fluids, I'm still up four or five times a night.  I won't miss that part.

Things I will miss about this pregnancy:
- Feeling his constant movements.  They're like little hugs, unless they threaten to break a rib.
- Random bursts of energy that allow me to get things done.
- Getting out of changing the litter box.
- Being doted on by dad-to-be.
- Wearing tight clothes that show off my belly in a way that doesn't seem to gross people out.

That's all I can think of right now.  Obviously I'm lacking in the optimism department right now.  All I know is that come Saturday, my last day of work, it's time to beging Operation Owen-Be-Born!  Our very close friends had their little baby boy on the 4th.  He's amazing and perfect and makes me so eager to meet our little guy. 

Things I'm nervous/anxious/stressed about:
- Breastfeeding.  This is pretty much the one thing I'm determined to make work, so if it proves a difficult task I'll be upset.  Please, if you're going to talk to me about nursing, use encouraging words.  I don't want to hear about you "pumping straight blood" for months at a time (which would kill you, so please, let's also stay away from ridiculous exaggerations.)
- Getting to know Owen.  His cues, his routine, his eating and sleeping patterns. 
- Going back to work.  I won't go back until early May, but already the idea of not being able to stay home with him hurts my heart a little bit.  I still feel blessed to work in the environment I do, though, and to have such flexibility.  It'll be the next best thing to staying home with him.
- Andrew and I having less time for each other.  For 8 years it's been just us.  We haven't had to share each other with anyone else.  This will be a big adjustment. 

On another note, my birthday is Friday!  I'll be 24.  And no, at this point in time, I do not want to spend my birthday in the hospital having a baby.  Call me selfish, I don't care.  But the moment I have a baby on my birthday it stops being my birthday.  Yup.  That's that.

Things I'm excited/curious about:
- How much hair does he have?  (This has been the biggest question in my mind since I found out I was pregnant.  I love babies with hair.)
- How big is he?  He doesn't feel very big, but he definitely has time to pack it on.
- Seeing Andrew hold him and interact with him.  I can NOT wait to see how great of a father he'll be.
- Seeing our parents hold him for the first time.  I'm sure I'll be an emotional mess. 
- The epidural.  Definitely excited about that. :)
- Bringing him home to his sparkly clean bedroom and cozy bassinett.
- Spending 5-6 weeks with him in the comfort of our home.

If he isn't born by 40 weeks I'll try to update again.  By that point I might be pretty negative and grumpy, so don't expect anything too chipper!