Week 40

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the 40th week, at the end of which we should, theoretically, have a child in our possession. We'll see how it goes. So what's baby up to now? See for yourself:

• Much of the vernix has vanished but you will notice traces on her body.
• 15% of your child's body is fat. Since she hasn't learned to shiver yet, these fat stores will help regulate her temperature.
• Approximately 60 - 75 percent is water!
• Your baby's chest sticks out, almost as if she's ready to strut proudly over her accomplishment!
• Her lungs will continue developing until birth. They are manufacturing large quantities of surfactant which works to keep the air sacs open.
• She continues to grow; her hair and nails longer as well. You may need to trim those fingernails soon after birth or protect her face from scratches with mittens.
• Small breast buds are present on both sexes.
• The baby now weighs 7.6 pounds (3462gm) and is 20.2 inches (51.2cm) long.

Talking with a woman in our Sunday School class yesterday, it became apparent how nearly ridiculous the whole baby-having process is. I had to take a test to get my driver's license. I had to take a test to get into college. I had to fill out a form to get married. I had to take a test to get out of college. And yet, when all is said and done, they're just going to give us a baby, no questions asked.

You want to operate a vehicle? Not until you do well enough on this test.
You want to go to college? Gotta do well on this test.
You want to get married? Fill out this form first.
You want to graduate from college? One more test, buddy.

You want to take this baby home with you and be the only two people directly involved in its health and well-being and overall mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual development? You want the burden of assuring that this child will actually live to adulthood and develop into a sane human being capable of living a normal life? You want to change this baby's poopy diapers, feed this baby the right food, teach this baby to walk and talk, make sure this baby isn't traumatized for the rest of its life? Sure, what do we care?

One of those is unlike the other four...

Anyway, we're still waiting. Ame has a final on Tuesday then one more on Friday, at the end of which she will switch entirely over to "Happy baby thoughts" mode, which is really just an attempt to convince Addie that it's better out here than it is in there. But if she's anything like her mother, I don't think she's going to buy it. She's probably not going to want to leave her cozy little home yet.