So, I am now 36 weeks:

Here’s what is up with me:
I am TIRED and officially ready to be unpregnant.  It took me longer than other moms-to-be to get to this point, but as of this week I’m there.  Matter fact, today I called my doctor’s office in tears because I was experiencing actual pain in my lower abdomen & back.  I was convinced I was starting labor, but after answering a series of questions (all of which I had to answer “no”) it was determined that I needed to take two tylenol, lay down with a heating pad, and chill.  Now, three hours later, I am feeling a little better.  Mo is on her way over to help me with the nursery so we’ll see how I’m feeling shortly.  The craft show at church starts in a hour and we’re going to pop by to see what Jeff’s mom is selling & to get hot dogs for dinner.  After that, we’ll be turning what is now an empty room into a nursery ready (or close to ready) for Ella.  Here is where I am now:

Yep – we have a lot to do tonight. 
I’ve yet to find the little bookshelf I want that will go by the rocking chair that Jeff’s aunt is bringing me tonight.  Now let’s hope that I can get through tonight without the pain starting (or getting worse).

Tomorrow is Baby Class (Confident Childbirth) #1 (of 2).  I’ve heard a lot of “why are you doing that?” from several friends with babies.  Apparently I am now a pregnancy geek for actually doing one of the classes.  Oh well – such is my life.  I go back to the Doctor on Tuesday and she’ll see if Ella has dropped & turned.  Looking at my picture – I’ve definitely dropped.  My tummy is no longer sticking straight out.  I’ve included what Baby Center tells me about Ella at 36 weeks, but one thing is wrong for me.  If Ella is breech or transverse (or not head down in any way), I get a scheduled c-section.  I am too small to try to turn her (called “external cephalic version” below) so instead of hurting me trying, I’ll schedule my c-section and be all good.  As for birthdates, I am actually hoping for November 4 (late enough that I get to vote in the morning).  If I get a scheduled c-section, this is the date I’ll aim for.  Why?  Because I’m so political?  No way!  11/4 is my Great-Aunt Evelyn’s birthday.  So, Miss Ella, if you come naturally, aim for 11/4 (but let’s not get too intense until after mommy votes).

Here is what Baby Center Says:
How your baby’s growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She’s shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she’s in a head-down position. But if she isn’t, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an “external cephalic version,” which is a fancy way of saying she’ll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.