It’s a very special birthday today because I think about how this time 34 years ago, my mom was doing the very same thing I’m doing now: starting a new adventure with a new baby and dreaming of all that the future holds. It’s a new and strange thing to love this little unborn one, and I cherish the gift that is the love my parents gave and continue to give me…more on this birthday than ever before. Birthdays will never be the same…with much love and many heartbeats of gratefulness…today is a day I celebrate my mom!

Grandma made the most precious crib skirt, pillow, and blanket for the baby. Our “nursery” (ie corner of our 1br) is all ready for a little baby!

Going to see the Lion King on Broadway today!! Happy birthday to me from E! Had a great morning reading, eating yummy pancakes, and listening to Eric learn “That’s what love will make you do.” I don’t know when he’s going to start learning children’s songs, or maybe our children will grow up singing The Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers…

Still no signs of labor. In keeping with tradition, the Dowdells are hoping for a 29th baby, so if that wish comes true, it could be quite the eventful day! I’m not too keen on a 30th baby, though what better birthday present can there be?! Still, I don’t really want to celebrate my bday for the next several years with Dora the Explorer, Thomas the Train, Fancy Nancy, and the Wiggles. So E and I are still holding out hope for a 4th of July baby. We’ll see!

Stress test on Monday; BPP test on Friday. Will keep you updated!

Pic of me and E at Lion King. We clearly chose the wrong guy to take our picture…

Well, the baby apparently doesn’t have much of an incentive to leave the current digs. All are happy and healthy, but no signs of labor for me or baby either one.

If I don’t go into labor beforehand, I have a stress test on Monday, 1 July to see if the baby can handle being in the womb longer. If that’s okay, then we wait another week. If labor still doesn’t happen naturally, then I will be induced at midnight Sunday, and have an 8 July baby.

Keeping focused on what’s most important: the baby and I are both really healthy!! Baby is moving all around all the time. And unlike most pregnant women, I don’t mind being pregnant even at this point. It gives me more time to play before the sleepless nights begin!

Speaking of playing, we are trying to cram in as many hoorays as possible, which of course included a Yankees game. I ate a hot dog, cotton candy, and ice cream. 😉 E enjoyed a couple of brewskis. Good times. Oh! And I was a drunk lady’s hero, so that’s worth something!

With less than two weeks to go, we are excited about holding the baby in our arms so soon!!!

The aches are worse by the day, but Eric is making life as easy as can be…he even plugged in my dead kindle so I could read more baby books. I did make him a martini earlier though…

We are watching NBA finals game and hoping for a Spurs Wake Forest Tim Duncan victory.

My hero and baby daddy and his martini:

So I’m at 38 weeks today!! I keep forgetting to post of late. Life’s been busy as we get ready for the baby, frantically wrap things up at work, and enjoy our last weeks as a family of two.

Eric and I have gone to the botanical gardens and Central Park zoo. We had a picnic in the park and are trying to enjoy the park benches, Belgian bar, and sleeping late when we can.

I am not showing any signs of labor…none at all, so hopefully, the baby will be full term or late. I would like for the baby to grow a bit more. I hear larger babies eat and sleep better, which is what we are going for!!

See pics of us at gardens, the crib Eric put up, and the snow leopard at the zoo.