As the title infers, I am a) still here and b) still pregnant. The non-stress test and the amniotic fluid check went fine on Friday; I met with a pediatrician and have decided to go with her - appropriately supportive but realistic as well.

Yesterday, though, was the really fun day! The fabulous ladies of 3WA planned a surprise online/offline baby shower for us, while we met with Stenya, Trumanfly, and Zivvie from 3WA. They conspired for the past few months to get these gifts together, planning things in secret google groups and everything. I can’t say how completely touched we are about everything. So very touched.

It takes a village to raise a child, according to an African proverb. It is totally true. At the very least, it takes a community to welcome a child into the arms of the world, and we are so very lucky that our child is coming into the arms of this community. Thank you so much, you guys. Our baby will have the very best aunties and uncles out there, watching his back.

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In the “TTC” (trying to conceive” circles, there’s a thing called “2WW” - the two-week wait from when you ovulate to when a positive pregnancy test (or AF - Aunt Flo, or your period, for the less twee among us). Those two weeks, especially for women for whom conception and pregnancy have eluded them, are probably the longest two weeks ever.

Except for these two weeks. Tomorrow I will be at 38 weeks, 2 weeks before my due date. Next Sunday Josh’s parents arrive into town and begin the wait with us. Our baby to-do list is growing shorter, as is my work to-do list. I am antsy and anxious to meet this small person taking up residence in my abdomen, pushing things like my bladder and spleen off to the side; and then, I can’t wait to introduce him to the village welcoming him home.