As of today, at exactly 37 weeks, Baby Highsmith is considered full term! That basically means that his lungs should be matured now and he should be able to live in the outside world without any problems.

I've definitely been feeling changes in the past few days. His movements are different and stronger, and he feels even lower which I didn't think was possible! I still feel like he's not quite ready yet and will be born in the middle of December, sometime between the 10th and the 19th. We shall see!

The three of us have had a busy extended holiday weekend...

On Thursday, we enjoyed a sunset on the beach after a scrumptious Thanksgiving meal prepared by Grandmother D.

Friday and Saturday was spent preparing Baby Highsmith's nursery corner and washing all of his clothes. Domestic Doozer (who has an abnormal interest in cooking and laundry work) quit on me before the sorted piles were even washed.

Today, Jeff and I (well, mainly Jeff!) made this ribbon board for BH's corner. We'll add cards, photos, and such as he receives them.

Baby Highsmith is due one month from today! It's hard to believe I'll be "just me" and not "we" soon. I'm still not quite to the point where I'm fed up with being pregnant and just want it to be over. I hope I won't feel that way! There are some bad days and I'm definitely looking forward to sleeping on my back again instead of my side and being able to pick up all the cat toys off the floor, but overall I can't complain. I still have ankles and can wear my normal shoes, enjoy the comfy elastic waistband jeans, and he doesn't wake me up at night or kick me in places that hurt. He mostly just wiggles his little bum around like he's doing right now!

We had another checkup on Friday. Do I even need to mention how it went at this point? :) Again, my tummy measured exactly where it should (35 cm at 35 weeks), Baby's heartbeat was 150-160, I tacked on another pound for 25 total since this all began, and all tests were perfectly normal. Our next appointment is Friday the 30th and then once a week until the end.

I've had a couple people tell me it looks like I've "dropped" in the past week. He's been low all along, though, but I definitely notice a change in the shape of my belly. It's looking more and more like I swallowed a beach ball and my maternity shirts all seem to be getting too short already. By December 1st, I'll be 37 weeks which is considered full term so he's free to come anytime after that!

Blog posts are most interesting with photos, so here's one of the excited dad-to-be taken by Nanci at the shower.

 There are many messy boy adventures ahead for Jeff and Baby, no doubt!

Wow, I've gotten so far behind with blogging! I'll start with another thankfully boring checkup report. Our latest checkup was last Friday (as in 8 days ago). I probably didn't report on it because there was nothing to really say again! Baby's heartbeat was the same, he measured exactly on schedule, and we're both doing just fine.

Last Saturday, Jeff and I went to a childbirth class at the hospital all day. We basically learned what to expect from the first labor pain to Junior's arrival into the world and toured the hospital. The rooms all have jacuzzi tubs - ooh! Jeff took copious notes - my favorite is "bring her whatever she wants!" ;). He's been making me practice the breathing we learned during television commercial breaks just like our instructor told us. The instructor also said that I can't get an epidural without talking to the anesthesiologist beforehand because I have scoliosis. I was planning on doing without one anyway, but wanted to keep my options open so it looks like I may have to add that meeting to my still-too-long to-do list!

On Sunday, the "long distance grandma who just wants to pat the baby bump" arrived! Mommy finally got to feel the baby bump but, unfortunately, we forgot to take any pictures. It turns out she wasn't just here for a visit, but to attend our surprise baby shower! Nanci Barton organized the cutest rubber ducky-themed shower with my handbell family and Junior's family right after handbell practice at church on Wednesday evening. I'm so clueless - I had no idea what was coming even as everyone was walking to the fellowship hall! We ate lots of good food and cake, and Junior received so many cute clothes and fun toys. Thanks to everyone!

The cute cake made by Nanci

Jeff kept himself (and maybe a few of the guests) entertained during gift opening by making hats for the guests out of the wrapping material and trying on bibs.

Auntie Beth was the only person within the weight limit to test drive Junior's new wagon.

Mommy headed back to Tar Heel Land on Thursday morning and then I had a "meet and greet" with a pediatrician on Friday. We're supposed to interview several pediatricians but it's so difficult to do when we're both still working full time and they only offer interviews during weekdays. If we don't get around to interviewing anymore, I was comfortable this office and the doctor (there are three in the practice) so this one should be fine. This pediatrician, like my midwife, said that fast labors can be hereditary so I'm hoping my mom's quick labor gene (just 4 hours or so with both of us Ziller girls) got passed on to me!

I'm getting closer to being able to work from home now and have a brand new laptop to test out this weekend. The only problem so far is that it has a really bad virus called "Windows Vista" on it - he he! I expect to be able to continue working from the office down in north Naples through the end of the month, but once December arrives I'll probably want to start working from home part-time and eventually full-time until the baby is born to avoid the 45-minute commute each way. I'm very fortunate to have a job that I can easily do from home with the necessary equipment - like this laptop! (I'm a web geek at 4What Interactive)

Well, Baby and I had a productive morning so we're looking forward to yet another Saturday afternoon of rest watching college football. We're hoping the Noles can beat another top-ranked team for the second week in a row. Baby's still excited from last week's win over #2 Boston College ;). I could still feel him tomahawk chopping all week long!