Natalie Portman's Ready to Pop (PHOTO)

Natalie Portman is a trooper ... lugging bags along the street when she's clearly on birth watch.

We got Natalie out and about in Los Feliz Friday, carting her cache from a local bookstore.

It will be the second child for Natalie and hubby Benjamin Millepied.

Can't wait for the birth ... to be honest partly because she's such an awesome actress and we want her back.