Multiple updates!

I have many updates!

1) I have finally found, washed, and worn the ultimate pajamas. I know this sounds silly, but I've been on a quest since before christmas for what seemed like an easy pj purchase. Unfortunately, it is the wrong season for the fabric I wanted and they are not terribly "stylish," so it became a big goose chase to find exactly the right set. Now, I am in pj heaven. Yeah! I hereby would like to thank my mom for the gift certificate, and LLBean for their excellent customer service and selection, and the people of Peru for making perfect pj's. On sale, no less.

2) My car seat got inspected today. I installed it right on the first try, although in the wrong spot because of a weird feature in my car. Reading the instructions was helpful, but the nice car seat specialist at the hospital was super. Hurray for free services like car seat inspectors!

3) The baby is sloooowly sinking although not quite engaged. At my weekly checkup I learned that I am continuing to dilate (between 1 and 2 cm now), efface (roughly 60-70%), and that I am "quite ripe and squishy." Like a fruit ready to be plucked. Yum! My alternate certified nurse midwife (who I rate about a 80% on the "I really like her" scale, as opposed to 90% for the other CNM, and 95% for my doula) said that I really could go into labor any time between now and five weeks from now. Well, I suppose that is better than nothing and rather honest of her, but geeeez that seems like a big window. Probably good to keep that in perspective, because you never know. She kindly reminded me of the two best things to get this show on the road... sex and exercise. Gotcha.

4) I've been having these stabbing pains in my very lower groin. These are startling and unpleasant, but rumor has it (and the CNM confirmed) that they are usually associated with dilating. So I'm pleased that I have them even though they are painful. Not bad, but ouchy.

5) Baby is still a very vigorous little buddy. Kicking is limited now because of space constraints, but twisting, stretching and squirming is still strong enough to wake me up at night and distort my belly in alarming ways. Hiccups continue to plague the both of us. My latest amusement is to soak in the bathtub with my two rubber duckies perched tenuously on my belly and see if the baby knocks one off. It took a while, but baby scored the big duck last night. It is relaxing yet funny to watch the rubber duckies surf the baby belly waves. If it wasn't both in the tub, and kinda embarassing, I'd video this process.