39 weeks baby 2.0

well, here we are at 39 weeks.  i was hoping that i would be in labor sometime today or tonight, preferably tonight.  but i don't think i am.  the past two nights of sleep have been extremely uncomfortable because of this pubis symphysis and sciatic pain and the fact that in order to roll from one side to the other takes a coordinated three point turn, not to mention that getting out of bed to go to the bathroom i literally am like a turtle on its back and it takes so much effort to get up.  it has been harder to walk around, stand, run after z.  if i'm walking around i have so many braxton hicks.  today i was able to go run some errands by myself, i was only out for about 2 hours, but by the time i got home, my lower back was hurting so badly, and i had to just sit down for awhile.  i did some stretches and put a warm compress on it, and it felt better.  but i wondered if that wasn't the beginning of early labor.  with z's pregnancy, i had lower back pain (different from just a sore back, more like the lower back pain associated with menstrual cramps), and after about 30 min it wrapped around to the front and it became clear i was having real contractions.  this hasn't quite happened today.  now, 4 hours later, i still have back pain, and feel a little bit crampy, and every once in awhile it will intensify similar to real contractions.  but nothing is regular.  for some reason, i have a gut feeling that this may happen for a few days before i go into full on labor, i'm not sure why, but i just do.  so, for now, i'm just trying to relax, hopefully i can get a good night of sleep, i'll continue to stretch and bounce on my yoga ball and put warm compresses on my back.  we'll see what happens!  earlier when i was running errands today, i had some time to think.  i was thinking about my baby girl, what she may look like, how it will feel to hold her and bring her home as part of our family.  i started to get excited, and a little emotional.  i'm so glad that this part of our journey is almost over and we can snuggle this little one and watch her grow, and witness the special bond between brother and sister.  this past week has also been a little challenging because z had still been in a pretty cranky mood, not sleeping or eating well and generally just not being a happy guy.  two nights ago he started sleeping well again, so his mood and eating have been improving, thank goodnessssssss!  he still is having toddlerific meltdowns during the day, more than usual, but at least it's getting better.  i was really worried about him and how he would do when i actually am in labor and have to go to the hospital.  he will be with his grama, and i know everything will be fine, i just hope he isn't a handful.  he has never been with anyone else besides me and hubs overnight.  it will be interesting.  i have been preparing him as best i can, telling him that when baby sister comes, mama and baba will go to the hospital and he will stay with grama, and will come visit while we are in the hospital.  he has been repeating that and saying that baby sister will cry a lot and be drinking mama's milk.  i wonder how much he actually comprehends.  anyway, i really hope baby girl comes soon, healthy and safe, because i don't know how i can hang on for another week or more, hahaha.  it's very different than my pregnancy with z.  so i guess i will wait and hang in there!  i have been keeping it pretty low key this past week to conserve energy, and getting plenty of sleep.  my cold is going away so i feel a little more human and have a little bit more energy.

How far along: 39 weeks

Size of baby: around 20 inches and 7 lbs or so, everything is ready to go, but baby continues to gain weight and have rapid brain development
Total weight gain: up to 39-40 lbs

Gender: girl
Movement: she is still moving around, just with less room than ever before
Sleep: i sometimes dread going to sleep because i have been so uncomfortable, i kind of want to sleep half sitting up
What I miss: just not being in some sort of discomfort, not waddling, being able to get around normally, wearing clothes that fit and can cover my midsection 
Cravings: holiday type foods like pumpkin pancakes and molasses cookies, actually i have to say that if i didn't get diagnosed with GD and be forced to watch my diet, i probably would have gained so much more weight
Symptoms:  every symptom
Best moment this week: spending time with my mother in law, getting closer and closer to meeting my baby girl (and eating a brownie sundae!), talking to my folks and hearing how excited they are for this baby to arrive

this is my view looking down now, she is soooo low and just sticking out there!

trying to keep the toddler busy---water, food coloring, syringe and dropper, egg carton, an hour of fun