38 Week Survey

This is a weee bit late!! Oopsy!



How far along? 38 Weeks! I cannot believe this baby could make an entrance at any moment now. I am so excited/nervous!
Total weight gain/loss: +1.5 lbs. this weeks. 38.5 lbs. total.
How big is baby? Supposed to be around 6.8lbs, and about 19.5 inches long.
Maternity clothes? Yes please.
Sleep: Decent, but waking up every couple hours to use the bathroom and reposition. Same ol same ol.
Best moment this week: We had a REALLY great weekend. Chris had the weekend off, so that was nice. Friday night we went and saw Inception with a gift card from his birthday. Saturday morning I cleaned up the house a little and he worked on a paper for school while I went shopping and returned stuff, and went to see Eclipse. All by myself. It was kinda nice actually. That afternoon I think we both feel asleep at some point and took naps, then had dinner a little later (thank you Entertainment book coupon) and went grocery shopping. Sunday we had to miss church, but we got our Maternity photos taken. Afterward we went to a local orchard called Robinettes. They have wine tasting there, and you can take hay rides, pick apples, get fresh cider and donuts, it is awesome. I love it there! We bought a bag of apples and had some pumpkin spice donuts and fresh cider. I have been craving more ever since! That afternoon I intended on cleaning more but at that point my feet and cankles were huge and killing me. I ended up taking a nap, Chris took the dogs to the park for a while and later on our small group came over to hang out. It was such a fun weekend, but it flew by as always!
Movement: Slowing down a little I think. I swear he likes to punch me in the bladder. It hurts.
Food cravings: Juice, more pumpkin spice donuts and cider. :)
Gender: Sweet, baby boy.
Labor Signs: Just Braxton Hicks. I hope to be feeling something more very soon!
Belly Button in or out? Outtie now
Stretchmarks? Still just the one above my belly button. Except the other morning when I was doing my hair I accidentally burnt my belly with my curling iron and I am afraid that the scar from that might turn into one. Who knows.
How are you feeling? I am feeling really good this week actually! We have gotten a lot done and my back hasn't been hurting me too much (which makes me think maybe he has moved down a little?) I am tired here and there but I think that is a given at this point. I hope I get this huge "burst of energy" soon that everyone keeps telling me about and then I can have the babe. :)
What I am looking forward to: Getting the house cleaned some more, and having the baby! Also, getting the final coupon for Babies R Us in the mail. There are a few more things we need to purchase and I would like to get that done asap, but want to wait for the coupon. I wish it would come in the mail already! Every day I have been eagerly checking for it, haha.
What I miss: The usual. Sleeping on my back and stomach, and not being all swollen.
Weekly Wisdom: Stay hydrated!!
Milestones: Got maternity pics done. Rug is in the nursery, and the blinds and curtains are up. We just need some wall art in there and we will be good to go.



You can see my curling iron burn in this one...my left, your right, right about my belly button like an inch or two. Hopefully it doesn't leave a scar!

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

Maternity Pics

So back when I first got pregnant I always thought that I would do these, but then realized that I did not want to spend the money and would rather save up for newborn photos. So I basically had no intention of doing these, but then my friend/coworker Robin offered to do them for us for free, because she likes to take pictures on the side for fun! I thought what the heck, why not? Then we can just have a few good ones at least for some memories. Well they ended up turning out really great and I love them! I feel really lucky that she offered to do something like this for us, and we are so extremely grateful! Here are some of my favorites.















I guess I have a lot of favorites! Not sure what we will do with them yet, but I know I would like to put one somewhere in the nursery I think. I am so lucky to have an awesome husband and blessed to be bringing our little boy into this world!
*edit*
I just remembered this and wanted to add it in. I was adamant about putting my wedding rings on for these pics. And I got them on.....but getting them off last night...yeah. Not so fun. :)

37 Weeks!

How far along? 37 Weeks! Time is flying by.
Total weight gain/loss: +0.5 lbs. this weeks. 37 lbs. total.
How big is baby? Supposed to be a little over 6 lbs, and about 19 inches long.
Maternity clothes? Yes please.
Sleep: The last couple nights I have only been waking up once during the night. It is SO hard to roll over and/or get out of bed, I cannot believe it.
Best moment this week: Pretty much getting the nursery all put together.
Movement: Slowing down a little I think. I swear he likes to punch me in the bladder. It hurts.
Food cravings: Just depends I guess but nothing in particular. Every time I eat now I usually do not feel good afterward.
Gender: Sweet, baby boy.
Labor Signs: Just Braxton Hicks.
Belly Button in or out? Outtie now
Stretchmarks? Only one little one that developed from a previous scar. Oh well, still no other ones so woo hoo!! I am still using Organic Palmer's Cocoa Butter cream in the morning and this "Beautiful Belly Balm" at night that I got at our local health food store. I honestly think that using a little something to keep it moisturized mixed with staying super hydrated helps.
How are you feeling? Hormonal and emotional. If I start to cry I am screwed because then I cannot stop! It's hard if I am at work, because I cannot escape my desk. For the most part I am not too tired, which has been nice, but my back is still killing me. I would like to get past this weekend and then he can come any time!!!!
What I am looking forward to: Getting some more stuff done this weekend and hopefully finishing up cleaning the house. Maybe seeing a movie or two since we have some gift cards. I would like to go and pick apples at an orchard here on Saturday but it is supposed to rain.
What I miss: Not being able to sleep on my back and stomach, and my hands feeling normal. My feet not being swollen, and my back and hips not hurting. Not pretty much having an accident every time I am running to the bathroom, lol.
Weekly Wisdom: Stay hydrated!!
Milestones: I am officially considered Full Term! The nursery is pretty much ready, which feels great! I will have to post some pictures soon. We are just waiting on the blinds and rug to come in the mail, and there are just a couple other few items I need to purchase yet.

Ohhh!! I do not know how I almost forgot about this. I had an appt. yesterday and got the results from my Group Strep B test back and it was NEGATIVE!! Praise the Lord!! I was very very very happy about this. I do not want to by hooked up to an IV if I do not have to be. I feel very adamant about this....I just want to be as mobile as possible and love the thought that I don't have to have that in my hand. We will see what happens though!

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

36 Week Survey!

Here is a little sneak peak of the nursery! Still a lot to do in there, but it is coming along. Nothing else is in there yet except for the furniture, as I am STILL sorting through things. I love it so far though!!

How far along? 36 Weeks! We are moving right along.
Total weight gain/loss: +2.5 lbs. in the past two weeks. 36.5 lbs. total. At my appt. yesterday the nurse told me that I had lost weight since the previous week. I think she is crazy, haha.
How big is baby? About 6 lbs, and over 18 inches long. And I am feeling the extra weight too...
Maternity clothes? Yes please.
Sleep: Well, I pretty much wake up consistently now every 2-3 hours. Every time I get out of bed I have a BH. I cannot believe how hard it has become to get in and out of bed. I can't wait to sleep on my stomach again!
Best moment this week: Getting all of the furniture put together and the bedding on the crib, I love it! Also Megan's shower on Saturday which I want to do another post about!
Movement: He is a crazy baby and I am convinced he is trying to escape.
Food cravings: Not really craving anything. Mostly after I eat it feels like it can't go down and is going to come back up. Fun fun!
Gender: Sweet, baby boy.
Labor Signs: Braxton hicks when I get out of bed at night!
Belly Button in or out? It's out now. And people can see it through my shirt which makes for extra comments.
Stretchmarks? Only one little one that developed from a previous scar. Oh well, still no other ones so woo hoo!! I am still using Organic Palmer's Cocoa Butter cream in the morning and this "Beautiful Belly Balm" at night that I got at our local health food store. I honestly think that using a little something to keep it moisturized mixed with staying super hydrated helps.
How are you feeling? Better about getting stuff done. He could come and we would be fine. Entirely and completely sore though, it's hard to walk. I feel like I am limping. My chiro. has me putting an ice pack on my lower back/right hip area, he says it's all inflamed and I totally feel it. :(
What I am looking forward to: 3 day weekend for Labor Day coming up! The weather is supposed to be cooler which will be awesome. I would like to turn off our central air now and just be able to have the doors and windows open again! We should be getting a lot more done with the house as well.
What I miss: Not being able to sleep on my back and stomach, and my hands feeling normal. My feet not being swollen, and my back and hips not hurting.
Weekly Wisdom: Well this week I'd have to say that if you wake up to use the restroom, don't lay there for too long, otherwise you start to lose it by the time you are trying to get down the stairs...no fun, haha.
Milestones: We are finished with our classes with our Doula, Andrea. I feel pretty prepared I guess. There is no stopping what is going to happen so no point in being stressed about it! I just pray for a safe delivery and a healthy baby boy. I can't believe he could come any time now. This pregnancy just flew by!

Overall I have been very happy with my "pregnant body."


Niles in the bathroom giving me "that look" while I was taking my picture. Please give me some attention Mom!!!


Siggy peaking through some of the baby stuff! He is hilarious.

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

Nursery Progress

I am happy to say that our nursery is finally ready to go. I am seriously SO stinkin happy, last night I just wanted to cry, and sigh in relief of course. I cannot wait to get the crib together and get everything put in there.

Here is a picture of the nursery before...this used to be our old bedroom downstairs, before we finished our upstairs, which I still plan on doing a post about, just haven't gotten around to it yet. It was an ugly marigold color. I liked it for a while...but yuck.



And here it is again, with the old windows and trim. I wish I had taken a picture of the windows with the blinds up. They were the originals from when the house was built, which was in the 50's.



And here is our completely INSANE dining room, piled with baby stuff. Some organized, some not.



And yes, it has been driving me absolutely crazy.



And here is the finished project! It is a light green color...not really a "lime green" but not pastel either. I like it much better in natural day light.



New windows and trim, with fresh paint...I love it!



After working on all of these house projects over the past year, I can can definitely say that Chris and I have had several "we are NEVER buying an old house ever, ever again" discussions. I love our house, it has tons of character but wow, it has been some work.
We still need to get blinds, curtains and a rug for the nursery as well. The blinds and rug I am not worried about that, we have those in the works. The curtains, well I found the ones that I want online at Ikea, but you can't order them online, and they seem to be out of stock everywhere that is remotely near us. It is sad.

Anyways, can't wait to start filling the room up this weekend!!

From bump to bump...

5 weeks pregnant



15 weeks pregnant



25 weeks pregnant



35 weeks pregnant



So cool. I am happy that I kept track of this, it is so interesting to see the difference between the weeks!
I am also missing my long, dark hair. It will be back for Fall, guaranteed.

35/35!!!!!!!!

How far along? 35 Weeks! Holy smokes. It freaks me out to think that next week I am going to be 36 weeks, which in my mind, he could then come at any point. PLEASE baby stay in there for at least two more weeks!!!
Total weight gain/loss: +1.5 lbs. in the past two weeks. 34 lbs. total
How big is baby? About 5 1/4 lbs, and over 18 inches long. Wowza
Maternity clothes? Yes please.
Sleep: Well, I pretty much wake up consistently now every 2-3 hours. Every time I get out of bed I have a BH. Not to mention he is instantly active. Hmm....starting a pattern already? Also, every time I wake up if I am still on my side that particular hip is killing me. When I wake up on my back, my lower back will ache a little. It is hard to get out of bed. I am officially pretty sore!
Best moment this week: So far, there have been a lot of great moments. First, my shower this past weekend, and finishing the windows in the nursery. I cannot wait to start getting everything put in there, and I refuse to start until the painting is COMPLETELY finished and the floors are cleaned. Anal, I know. I cannot help it, I want everything done properly. I will admit, I have been a little psycho about it. Also, my massage on Saturday was amazing, and then I have got to go to Yoga 2 out of the past 3 days which makes me feel amazing. I wish I could go like every other day.
*update since I started this the other day: Nursery is now complete and ready to put stuff in it. I am so happy I could cry.
Movement: All over the place!
Food cravings: Juice, fruit, pasta. I cannot eat a lot anymore otherwise I just feel like it's going to come back up. Getting heartburn A LOT.
Gender: Sweet, baby boy.
Labor Signs: Braxton hicks when I get out of bed at night!
Belly Button in or out? I think that it is starting to bulge out a little now....
Stretchmarks? Ok, so I found one on my stomach this week. But here is the thing, I totally did it to myself. When I was like 12 I tried to pierce my own belly button. The scar was barely ever noticeable until my belly got huge, and now where the scar was a tiny stretch mark has developed beneath it. Oh well, still no other ones so woo hoo!! I am still using Organic Palmer's Cocoa Butter cream in the morning and this "Beautiful Belly Balm" at night that I got at our local health food store. I honestly think that using a little something to keep it moisturized mixed with staying super hydrated helps.
How are you feeling? A little anxious. I want our nursery to be put together asap. And sore, it's hard to get up after sitting for like 10 minutes. My hips and lower back pretty much kill 24/7 now.
What I am looking forward to: Our labor and delivery tour tonight. Which will be totally boring for Chris since he sees it all the time and knows the hospital like the back of his hand. Also, Megan's shower on Saturday, and then getting stuff done this weekend. We are going to majorly kick it into high gear. Asap.
What I miss: Not being able to sleep on my back and stomach, and my hand feeling normal. My feet have not been too swollen which has been super nice. <----I take that back, they are getting more swollen again last night and today, bummer!
Weekly Wisdom: Drink tons of water!
Milestones: Well, on Sunday I totally accidentally squeezed some colostrum out of my boobs. Oops. Totally freaked me out, but I am super happy to know that they are doing what they are supposed to be! (I know, how was that an accident.....well I guess I just wanted to see if anything would happen, I am weird. Lol.) Nursing class is done with, Labor and delivery tour scheduled. Nursery is ready for everything to be put into it, woo hoo!! And all of my showers are done.

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.