THE boy is fully cooked.

Oh my goodness! Which means as many of you will know, that basically he could arrive anytime now, although I’m kinda hoping he’ll give me at least a good week or so to get my s**t together.

But time will tell. Because that’s the funny thing with babies isn’t it? All being well, they come when they want!

It’s such a bizarre feeling, waiting for him and wondering when he will arrive. Will my waters go first like they did with Elsie? Will it be quick? Will I have a false alarm?

Who the hell knows?! But I do know this, we are all now so excited to meet him and we’re prepared too! Well, as much as you can be for bringing a new life into the world.

Here’s how I’m getting on at the moment, in a little more detail.

HOW FAR ALONG?

37 weeks and one day! Our bambino is now full term and the waiting game begins.

 DAYS UNTIL DUE DATE?

20!

WEIGHT CHANGE?

Yep, I feel utterly GINORMOUS now. The bump is heavy, everywhere is swollen and even some of my faithful maternity clothes are giving up the ghost proclaiming “noooo, we can’t take this anymore!”

Which is good in a way, because it’s got me to that stage where I’m now mentally ready to give birth and get my body back. Eee pregnancy, it’s a clever ol’ thing!

STRETCH MARKS?

Yep, but thankfully and gratefully just a few!

I’ve now got a few little ones on the front of my tummy which almost seemed to appear overnight (!) and a couple of teeny tiny marks on my hips and that’s it. Overall my bump is looking good and I’m chuffed to bits. This is the product I’ve been using for months which I believe has definitely helped to keep the dreaded stretch marks at bay.

CRAVINGS?

Nope, nothing at all really. Still eating for England though!

SYMPTOMS?

This past week has definitely been tougher than the rest. My hands are now swollen so I’m getting the awful carpel tunnel in my wrists a little, it hurts to walk sometimes and oh my, my poor hips at night ache like hell! But in comparison to what some women experience, it’s a walk in the park really. I’ve been very lucky.

SLEEP?

Has gone to pot! I’m now up a minimum of 4 times in the night for toilet trips and often I awake in agony as my hips and pelvis ache.

But hey, sleep is for the weak right?!

MOVEMENT?

He’s wiggling and squirming around like a good ‘un still which is so comforting and reassuring, although fast running out of room I imagine.

As the days now whizz by, I’m really trying to enjoy these precious movements and soak it all up as much as I can.

BELLY BUTTON – IN OR OUT?

Out and proud!

WEDDING RINGS – ON OR OFF?

Still off and I don’t think they’ll be going back on for a while! My fingers now look like swollen sausages and my poor ol’ hands are unrecognisable so it’s safe to say my wedding rings will be staying in my jewellery box for a good few weeks yet.

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK?

Definitely putting the moses basket up and next to my side of the bed yesterday. It was our final ‘baby job’ on the list and as we’d ordered a new basket online, we had to wait a while for it arrive.

But arrive it did and oh my, it’s gorgeous! It’s from the new Little Bird collection from Mothercare and those of you familiar with the range, will undoubtedly understand why I love it so.

Suddenly it all feels very real.

BEST STYLE MOMENT THIS WEEK?

Do you know what? I’m gonna say yesterday when I wore one of my favourite maternity dresses and made an effort with my hair and make up.

I’ve been feeling a little low of late in terms of my appearance (as I say, because I now mainly resemble a HUGE weeble!) but yesterday I forced myself to make more of an effort and it did me the world of good.

Amazing what a nice dress and bit of lippy can do isn’t it?

WORST MOMENT THIS WEEK?

Nothing that springs to mind this week. I’m just utterly grateful to have got this far in pregnancy and keeping my (swollen) fingers crossed that all will be well.

MISS ANYTHING?

Being able to walk properly! Yesterday on the first school run drop off after the Christmas holidays, I watched in envy as a lovely slim mum ran past me in her running gear. Oh to be able to move and run freely!

LOOKING FORWARD TO?

His arrival!!! I’m nervous of course but pretty focused and just eager to have him with us soon.

MOOD?

A heady mix of nerves and excitement. I’m struggling to sleep at night because I can’t stop thinking about giving birth again and everything that comes with that. And I’m just so, so excited.

Who knows this could well be my last pregnancy update! Blimey, it hasn’t half gone fast. Thanks so much for tuning in and sticking with me. Wish me luck!

WANT TO READ MORE PREGNANCY POSTS?

Did you know I write a weekly column for the BabyCentre website? Each week I’m writing about pregnancy and sharing my experience. You can catch all my posts here which cover everything from pregnancy fears to parenting wisdom.  I do hope you’ll enjoy them.