9 months

Last night I told Frank I'd officially hit "that point" where I'm just DONE being pregnant.

I'm in the "maxi dress and flip-flops stage"—my feet are too swollen for most of my shoes to be comfortable, and even my maternity dresses are getting tight. So maxi dresses and flip-flops it was all weekend.

Today, though, I managed to get myself dressed in a nice, professional outfit, complete with black blazer and boots, for my last day at work before I start to work from home (until the baby comes). I wanted to make it in today so I could train the temp who's taking my place while I'm on maternity leave.

I'm actually really glad I made it to work today, even though I'm exhausted. If I hadn't, I'd probably be lying on the couch at home, feeling sorry for myself. Instead I feel like a productive member of society. :)

I keep telling Frank, "I don't think I was really pregnant until I was eight months pregnant." Before that, I had almost none of the usual pregnancy symptoms—no vomiting or nausea, lots of energy, very few aches and pains. I felt fine and genuinely enjoyed being pregnant. But when I got to 8 months, a bunch of symptoms hit with a vengeance—swollen feet, headaches and tiredness. I think the Lord in his wisdom designed the eighth month of pregnancy to help prepare husbands for living with newborns. All I've wanted to do for the past two weeks is eat and sleep.

My midwife told me on Thursday that it looks like Baby is around 8 or 8 1/2 pounds now, and "ready to come out any time!" That sent me into a slight panic, because 8 1/2 pounds sounds HUGE, especially if this babe takes its time and keeps growing.

Saturday night, Frank and I had a major false alarm. We were at Vigil Mass when I started feeling regular contractions. After Mass we went to a 24-hour diner with some friends and I ordered hot wings and ate them ALL in an effort to help things along. Sure enough, contractions kept coming. I was so excited and told Frank, "We better pack our hospital bags. I think it's happening tonight!" So when we finally got home around 2:00 am, we ran around the house like chickens with our heads cut off, packing our bags and the baby's bag and getting all the last things in place. Frank even cleaned the bathroom, in a random and adorable fit of nesting. The whole time we were laughing about being such classic first-time parents. We finally went to sleep at 3:00 am, with my final words being, "We'll head to the hospital in the morning."

Well, we woke up on Sunday morning to NO CONTRACTIONS whatsoever. Argh. We went to my parents' house for brunch, and after I told them about our false alarm and the baby's size, my entire family decided to play a fun and exciting new game called "make Tess go into labor."

First my dad led us all on a loooong walk, then my sister Maria talked me into walking up and down the stairs for 20 minutes. Caroline, the one in high school, decided to bake labor cookies and took me to Whole Foods for evening primrose oil and red raspberry leaf tea. We ran into one of my mom's friends at the Whole Foods. "What are you ladies doing here?" she asked sweetly. I replied with a bright smile, "Just picking up some natural remedies to induce labor!" Her response was a polite "Oh!" Afterward I realized that might not have been the most normal thing to tell her.

Caroline packed me a baggie full of 8 cookies to take home. So right now I'm sitting at my desk eating labor cookies and washing them down with raspberry leaf tea.

This looks like normal tea and cookies... but it's NOT.

I'll keep you guys posted.