{click for larger view}

on monday
we had
our 36 week
appointment
and
our doctor did
a quick ultrasound
to see how big
wee grub is...
almost 3 kg
(~6.6lbs )!!!
wow.
i can't believe
i am carrying
such a big baby
around-
no wonder
it's so hard
to climb
the hills
these days!

our doctor
couldn't get
a good 3D shot
of wee grub's
face because
she/he
was sucking on
the umbilical cord
(you can kind of
see it in
the ultrasound photos)
our doctor
thought that
was
pretty cute.

. . .

today
our midwife
gave us
a tour of
the birthing rooms
and
post-birth rooms
at the hospital.
check out
the luxury.
i requested
the room shown
below
with the tub.
keep your
fingers crossed
that i get it
when the time
comes.



c'est tout!
xo

the countdown
continues...
8 weeks
to go.

i was just
telling
my colleague
(and
wee grub)
that
she/he is not
allowed
to be early.
or at least
she/he
has to wait
until
my mom arrives
on the
4th of september!

this past week
wee grub
has been
growing fast
and my belly
feels stretched
beyond its limits.
i often have
to rub my belly
because
a foot, butt,
or hand
is pressed
hard against
my belly.
it's uncomfortable
but also
really cool.

it's strange
to think that
i am growing
this baby inside
but when
she/he comes
out i will have
to get to know
her/him
the same way
grub will...
i have no advantage
because i carried
wee grub...
she/he will still
be a stranger to us
at first
with a personality
that slowly unfolds.

i had
a brief ultrasound
on thursday
to check
wee grub's growth:


{click to enlarge}

she/he weighed in
at 2050 grams
or 4.5 lbs!
just average-
not too big,
not too small.

on monday
i went
to
the cute little
town nearby-
Auvernier


{not my photo!
photo from here}

nested
among vineyards
overlooking
the lake
for my
private
yoga class.
i learned
all about
my cervix
and exercises
to try
to open it up
just a bit
so wee grub
can get out
with the least
resistance possible.
my teacher was great
and even had
a reproduction
skeletal pelvis
to show me
different parts
and what i was
trying to move
and stretch.
it reminded me
of when i taught
human evolution
& bipedality.
i will go to her
every week for the next
5 weeks...
grub will join me
the last week
to learn some ways
he can help me
during labor.

this sunday
we will meet
our new midwife.
i had another
midwife
but she was not
right for me
so i decided
to go with someone new.
she works at the hospital
where i will deliver
so if my luck is with me
i may have her
as my midwife for
delivery
(fingers crossed)
because you get
whomever is
on duty.

i am starting
to feel
a little
more prepared.

this weekend
we are off
to ikea
to buy a crib
and some baby stuff
along
with
our bed
and
dining room table
woohoo!

xo

so i went
to the doctor
yesterday.
first thing
i noticed
was the office
and
graphics on her
cards
were super
stylish
and modern
(she had
one of
these couches
in her
waiting room!)...
everything
was in shades
of green
and the office had
a view of the lake.

i filled
out all
the forms
and went through
the preliminary
interview
in french.
after some time
i saw the doctor
who was dressed
smartly
in all white.
we spoke
in english.
she had a strong
german (swiss)
accent and
was very professional
and efficient.
she spent
at least an hour
with me
(unheard of in the US!)
going over
all my options
of pre-birth yoga
& acupuncture,
water exercise,
classes,
etc.
then i had
an ultrasound
even though
i just had
my 20 week one
in the US.

i was
too shy
to ask the doctor
if i could
have a photo
to take home
(you know
i like
to have photos
of all important
events).
so i was thrilled
when she handed
me a strip of photos
after the ultrasound.
i guess swiss moms
are like any moms
and want to take
those photos
home too.



as grub would say,
here's the money shot.



i am sure
all of these
ultrasound photos
look alike.
i make jokes
that
they have
a bank of photos
the give
all pregnant moms.
but i still
stare at it
a lot and
try to convince
myself this
is all for real.

xo

ps wee grub
weighed
600 grams
(1.3 lbs).
she said
that's on
the bigger side.