Today is Baby's Due Date

I am officially, exactly, unmistakably 40 weeks pregnant today....

I have never reached this milestone before. All my babies came early, except for my first, who was born ten minutes after midnight on his due date. I labored with him 24 hours, so it was a real question as to whether he'd be born the day before his due date. With this baby, there's little question--I am going overdue for the first time.

I have mixed feelings about that. My curious self is happy for this new "experience." I like to know I've experienced, even savored, much from the things I care about most. Now I'll have some idea of what it's like to pass that due date and be staring into the unknown. I do have one goal in sight, though. As much as I'd like to give birth sooner rather than later, it would be pretty cool to have the baby born in five days, on 8/8/08. :)

I am just now realizing that this pregnancy journey is coming to a close. I love being pregnant. I am fortunate that the morning sickness is never too bad, and that my health seems to bloom during these nine months. I feel more alive, more necessary, more feminine. I take frequent pleasure in baby's movements.

Despite the irritability that comes at this late stage, when it is difficult just to move across the room, and every night at bedtime brings uncertainty as to whether I'll be home the next day or in the birthing center, and everywhere you go people must question and comment on your pregnancy, usually while staring at your landmark of a belly... despite those things and other little annoyances, I do want to embrace these last moments with the mystery of pregnancy. We don't yet know the baby's gender, and are very eager to meet him or her, but as I wait, I can hopefully just enjoy this, not knowing if I will EVER be pregnant again.