bump news, week 38

Well, here we are at full-term, folks! I hit 38 weeks yesterday and I am feeling large and in charge, lemme tell you: I'm at that fun point in pregnancy where gravity takes on a whole new kind of power -- I struggle a bit to get out of a chair, and I feel all of my internal organs kind of lurching downward while I walk (ok, let's not kid ourselves, waddle). Every morning, when I get out of bed, it feels (and looks) like the bump has dropped a bit, and all non-belly parts of me have taken on a distinct puffiness. My shoes feel too tight. My wedding band will not budge from my ring finger. I vaguely remember having cheekbones, once.

All in all, I feel pretty great though. As you know if you follow me on Twitter, I finally took some time last week to pamper myself a bit, getting my nails done and taking a trip to see my friend Paul at Mudhoney Salon on Kenmare Street for a long-overdue haircut (it had been six months since my last!) and a very fun step into the world of hair color, in the form of ombre highlights, which I've been obsessing over for a while.

My first two babies were born after their estimated due dates, so I'm not really anticipating that this one will come any sooner than 40 weeks, but I definitely feel ready any time. I'm having tons of Braxton Hicks contractions, and I'm totally paying attention to every little twinge I experience, wondering if this will be "it". I am growing more and more excited to give birth and meet this new person, and at the same time I'm savoring the last days of being the mom of just two. I take every chance I can get to snuggle and kiss and be present with my kiddos.

In these pics I'm wearing a dress courtesy of Vanessa Knox, which I absolutely love, Target leggings, and my trusty old Zara boots.

See what I looked like at 38 weeks pregnant last time around, as well how this particular bump has been shaping up over the last several months.