36 Week Check In

One more week until full term... I have been bouncing on my birthing ball, logging lots of miles at work, drinking Red Raspberry Leaf Tea and taking Evening Primrose Oil supplements.  :)  I am doing everything I can to encourage this baby to do the opposite of mommy and make a timely arrival.  Care to take any bets on whether he/she will arrive socially early, right on time, or fashionably late?

How Big Is Baby?
 

• Cantalope, honeydew... melon of some sort, right?  Grow baby grow!!

Baby’s Development

• Baby is getting closer and closer to being able to breathe on his or her own.

How Big Is Mommy?

• I am still large and in charge... and someone actually told me they think I have dropped a little.  I don't know if this is true or not, but it sure made me feel good.

How Am I feeling?

• Physically:  Still going strong.  Like I said above, I have been walking a ton and bouncing on my ball for about an hour a night.  I'm doing what I can to stay in great shape to help make the birth and recovery as smooth as possible.
• Emotionally: Really really happy.  I catch myself standing in the nursery staring off into space, daydreaming about how there will be a little one in here really soon.  So excited!!  (and still kinda sad about the end of the pregnancy... but very very happy regardless)

Any new developments, milestones?  Anything new?

• Well I had an appointment on Friday... another boring quickie.... BUT... I did find out that baby is still head down (YAY!!!) although kind of high... hence all of the ball bouncing, walking, supplements, etc.   The OB is not concerned at all and thinks we can get baby headed south soon.  I still have plenty of time (4 weeks until my due date), but it's nice to talk about progress and have a goal to work towards for the next appointment.  I feel like I can do something proactive, instead of just sit around and wait, which is kind of cool.  Hoping for some progress by the next appointment.  Oh and also, the OB said she thinks the baby will be a little on the smaller side... which I am totally ok with as long as he/she is healthy.  I do love fat babies (chubby cheeks!!  Squeee!)... but I'm sure our little chunk muffin will... well... chunk up soon.

 Love/Hate:

• Love:  Fresh cherries and frozen grapes... oh my goodness... I could make a meal out of them!  The cherries right now are super ripe and delicious... and frozen green grapes are super refreshing on a hot summer day.
• Hate:  I'm really not loving meat lately.  Chicken ok... but beef and pork... meh.  I am no where near a vegetarian, by any means... but with the heat I just have no desire to eat anything hot really.  It's strange.  I swear I could live off of salads, fresh veggies and fresh fruit right now.  I have no doubt I will return to my meat and comfort food ways as soon as the weather cools off some.

Any upcoming developments, milestones?  What's next?

• Next appointment is Friday!!  I know it will be just another boring quickie.... but I think it's my last boring quickie... which is awesome.  After that.... GBS test and the internal checks begin.  The end is so so so close!!
• Next milestone will be 37 weeks...  FULL TERM!! Can't believe it 's next week already!  WOW!!

Songs I'm Loving

I really don't post much about music... although Kevin and I both are die-hard country music fans.  Not sure why... I love music... maybe I'll start to throw a song or two out there that I'm loving every once in a while.  But this is the first time that I have absolutely fallen so in love with a few songs that I felt compelled to post about them. 

We finally activated our trial of Sirius radio on our trip to South Carolina last week.  Sirius itself I am pretty "eh" about... however, we did come across 2 songs in particular that we just couldn't get out of our heads.  I had never heard of either band or either song, so kudos to Sirius for introducing me to some great new up-and-coming artists (now if you would just stop hassling me about signing up for your long term service, we could get along just fine).  Anyways, I have been listening to both of these songs non-stop on my cell phone, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the CDs I ordered and dying for them to really hit it big up here in Syracuse.

I figured, in the meantime, the least I could do is give them some blog love.  They are both perfect summer, roll-your-windows-down and crank-the-radio-up type of songs... the kind that instantly put you in a good mood and the type that you catch yourself singing randomly throughout the work day (daydreaming about being anywhere but work, enjoying a frosty cold one with your friends... but I digress...).  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

The first is from Florida Georgia Line (a place that is very near and dear to my heart)... and called Cruise.

Next up is Parmalee with Musta Had a Good Time.  This just makes me want to throw a party.  :)  It's not quite time for me to party yet, so I will just live vicariously through this tune for a while.  Enjoy!

35 Week Check In

35/35!!!  Wowza!!!  I am 35 weeks pregnant today and have (give or take, of course) 35 days to go!!!  This is our last major milestone before full term.  I can't believe it!!

How Big Is Baby?
 

• I *think* this is a coconut... or a bowling ball.  A coconut seems pretty small, so I am going with a bowling ball.

Baby’s Development

• I’ve reached 35 weeks, and my uterus has grown about 1,000 times its original size, a number that might sound exaggerated to everyone else -- but to me it probably feels more like a million.

How Big Is Mommy?

 

• This week, I ate a basketball!  Seriously!  It almost looks fake, doesn't it  I am so proud of this little bump I have grown... and so so in love with the wiggly little karate kid filling it.  :)

How Am I feeling?

• Physically:  Still great!  I am so very blessed to have enjoyed a pretty smooth sailing (so far, knock on wood) third trimester.  Aside from some back pain at night, I feel excellent!  Hope this keeps up!
• Emotionally:  It is really starting to sink in that the end of this pregnancy is nearing... and that is so bittersweet.  I longed so badly to be pregnant... then the first half of the pregnancy was so miserable I just couldn't wait to get it over with and have my baby in my arms.  Now I am really enjoying being pregnant and feeling the baby move inside of me... I am kind of sad that it will be over so soon and I will have to share him/her with the rest of the world.  While, of course, I can't wait to meet him/her and enjoy my newborn... I am really going to savor these last few weeks, since I'm sure they will fly right by in a flash.

Any new developments, milestones?  Anything new?

• 35/35 today!!!  Like I said above, this is one of the last few big milestones... :)

 Love/Hate:

• Love:  Tomato/cucumber salad.  I don't know if I've said that before, but I love love love it!!
• Hate:  Back pain.  Bleh.  So so annoying.  I feel great all day at work (which is good that I can make it through a tough work day without issue)... but I am D-U-N when I get home.  I wish I felt better in the afternoons so I can enjoy my time with the hubs instead of laying on the heating pad and BioFreezing myself to oblivion (by the way, LOVE BioFreeze... it really does help).  For a healthy baby, though, bring on the back pain.  Heck... I've only got a few weeks left anyway, right?

Any upcoming developments, milestones?  What's next?

• Next appointment is Friday!!  I know it will be just another boring quickie.... but I think it's my last boring quickie... which is awesome.  After that.... GBS test and the internal checks begin.  The end is so so so close!!
• Next milestone will be 37 weeks...  FULL TERM!!  Wow!!

34 Week Check In

34 weeks... wow... just wow!!!  Baby is growing big and healthy and strong and we just can't possibly wait to meet him/her... although we will patient wait at least 3 more weeks... to full term.  :)

This update is from Sunny South Carolina, by the way.  I survived the 13 hour car ride down here and we are super excited for Chad's (brother-in-law) graduation from Army Basic Training tomorrow.  The trip down was actually a lot of fun... I always enjoy road trips with the hubby.  And... even better... on our way back, we should be able to squeeze in some beach time!!  Yippeeee!!!

How Big Is Baby?
 

• Holy big baby!!  Over 4 pounds now and 17-18 inches long!  :)  Keep on growing baby, we're almost there!

Baby’s Development

• At 34 weeks, I might breathe a little easier, since baby may descend lower into my pelvis and give my lungs some space. (Ahh!) The pitfall of this descent, of course, is even more pressure on my bladder, so be prepared to make even more trips to the ladies room over the coming weeks

How Big Is Mommy?

 

• Today was family day, so Chad gave us a tour of the base and we snapped this picture!  Kevin's hand is kind of in the way, but my baby belly is still pretty large and in charge.  :)

How Am I feeling?

• Physically:  Great!  I was really surprised at how well I handled the car ride.  We did stop about every hour or so for me to pee, but my back did pretty good, so I will call it a win!!
• Emotionally:  Excellent.  Seriously, never better.  It is so refreshing to be off work, out of the house and just relaxing for a few days.  I will admit though, that when we dropped Lucy off at the vet yesterday for boarding, I cried like a baby in the parking lot.  I can't entirely blame pregnancy hormones, because she is my little girl and I probably would have shed a few tears regardless.... but it was full on ugly cry.  I miss her TONS!!!  This also kind of makes me nervous to leave the baby anywhere and makes me think I will never ever be able to enjoy an adult vacation again.  Guess we'll see.

Any new developments, milestones?  Anything new?

• My appointment last Thursday was another quickie.  I did learn that baby is definitely head down (woohoo!!!) but still pretty high.  I'm excited that we are facing the right direction... now it's time to kick up the Red Raspberry Leaf Tea and get him/her to start heading south.  It's almost showtime.  Other than that, an uneventful appointment... which is a good thing.

 Love/Hate:

• Love: The south.  Love everything about the south... the food (we started out day with biscuits and gravy... hello?!?!  Doesn't get any better than that!), the slow southern drawl, the sweet tea, the weather... everything.  I love love love it and can't wait to move back south... one of these days.
• Hate:  Hmm... this is a tough one.  I'm in such an awesome mood right now it's hard for me to think of something I hate this week.  Maybe it will come to me... but for now, I am just loving life.  Vacation kind of has that effect on people, I think.  :)

Any upcoming developments, milestones?  What's next?

• Next milestone is next week 35/35... and the last milestone before full term.  Wow.  The end is so so close!!
• Next appointment will be Friday the 22nd.  I think that may be my last 2 week appointment... after that it will be every week until baby comes.  Eeek!!!

33 Week Check In

It's so hard to believe that the end of this pregnancy is so very close!!  While I am very much looking forward to meeting this little one and joining the ranks of motherhood... I am also trying to savor every moment that I have left feeling the baby kick, wiggle and squirm in my belly.

How Big Is Baby?
 

• Honestly... I'm not really even sure what exactly this is... lol... but it's crazy to think that baby is over 4 pounds now!!

Baby’s Development

• Baby's keeping his/her eyes open while awake. S/he's also starting to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing.

How Big Is Mommy?

 

• This is from Sunday on our way back from Pittsburgh.  I have been DYING for a Sonic Ocean Water slushie and was super happy to be able to enjoy one this past weekend.  It was delicious!!

How Am I feeling?

• Physically:  Pretty good.  I was nervous about the 6 hour trip and how my back would handle it, but it went pretty good.  We got out to stretch (and for me to pee) a few times and it was a breeze.  I am still surprised at how comfortable I am for 33 weeks pregnant.
• Emotionally:  Great!  Every day this gets a little more real... between setting up meetings with a potential day care and pediatrician and shopping like a maniac with soon-to-be Grandma... I am just thrilled to be where I am and excited to experience what lies ahead.

Any new developments, milestones?  Anything new?

• No appointment updates this week, but we did drive to Pittsburgh to spend a short weekend with Kevin's parents.  MIL was a shopping machine and hit Babies-R-Us like it was her job.  She printed out our registry and zoomed up and down every.single.aisle filling her cart like she was a contestant on Supermarket Sweep (remember that show?  I used to LOVE that show!).  Anyway... she basically threw us a shower, by herself.  We couldn't be more grateful.  The nursery is stocked full of every possible necessity and luxury our baby could possibly need.  We are very very lucky!!

 Love/Hate:

• Love: Cucumber tomato salad.  LOVE it.  I have eaten it almost every day this past week.  I make it myself, super simple... chopped tomato, cucumber, thinly sliced onions, fresh basil, a little olive oil and vinegar and some Italian spices.  Nom Nom Nom.
• Hate:  That we don't have Sheetz or Sonic in Syracuse.  I got to enjoy a few Sheetz smoothies (cake batter... YUM!) and a gimongous Sonic Ocean Water slushie on our road trip this past weekend... and I would sooooo love to be able to enjoy them more often.

Any upcoming developments, milestones?  What's next?

• Next OB appointment is tomorrow.  From what I understand, this should be another quickie, but a chance to check up on little one, nonetheless. 
• Next week we will be driving down to South Carolina to watch Kevin's brother graduate from Army boot camp.  It seems like I am spending some serious quality time the passenger seat of our car these days.  Anyway, we are soooo proud of Chad and can't wait to see him in uniform.  And bonus... this beach bum gets a chance to enjoy her mostest favoritest place in the world... the BEACH!!!  Woot woot!!!  Can't wait!