Week 37

Fruit/Veggie

Swiss chard (weight)

Size

Over 19 inches, about 6 1/3 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

He is now full term & his lungs are likely now able to fully adjust to life outside the womb!

Best Moment this Week

Josh & I got to have a really nice dinner last week to celebrate the day we started dating/got engaged, & I got to meet up with 3 friends during the day last week & Josh & I hung out with two of our couple friends Friday & Saturday night. I am thankful for the relationships in my life!

Gender

BOY! Elliot James.

Movement

Movement is still the same. He did figure out the other night how to kick me in the ribs... that hurt. Luckily he hasn't made it a habit. My midwife does think that he is engaged at this point which is good considering I only have a little over 2 weeks to go!

Food Craving

This week's fruits: apples, grapes, peaches, bananas. Boring.

Sleep

My body has started waking up around 4 or 5 & not wanting to go back to sleep. So I have started getting up for about an hour then going back to bed, because I would not be able to function waking up that early!

What I am looking forward to

I feel like we are finally at a point where we are just waiting for him to come. Work has slowed down a bit for me, & we have no plans that can't be adjusted. So... let's go, little guy!

Symptoms

A little nausea, exhausted, sore back & shoulders, not sleeping well, Braxton Hicks, arthritis hands. Apparently my weight has FINALLY stabilized so I'm not gaining anymore, & actually lost a pound this week... AWESOME! I know that is a vain thing to be excited about while pregnant, but it's nice to know my body just needed a certain amount & once it got it, it stopped gaining. Phew!

To-Do List & Progression

-Wash clothes newborn - 3 mos.

Status: done! I might wash the rest of his clothes just for good measure.

-Wash diapers

Status: prefolds & covers washed; pocket & AIO diapers & wipes all washed.

-Get bookcase done

Status: in progress, hoping it'll be done this weekend

-Hang fabric circles, other decor

Status: Fabric circles hung! A few things have to wait until the bookcase is done, which I have no control over, so I'm going to check this off the list to make myself feel better. :-)

-Pack hospital bag

Status: packed!

-Install car seat

Status: car washed & car seat base installed!

-Make room in kitchen cabinets for bottles, sippy cups, plates, etc.

Status: Done!

-Make up crib w/ mattress pad & sheet

Status: done!

-Buy home coming outfit

Status: done!

Week 36

Fruit/Veggie

Crenshaw melon (weight) - I don't know what that is

Size

Over 18.5 inches, about 6 lbs (my midwife says she thinks he's probably about 6.5 lbs now, which is still average)

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

He's shedding most of the downy hair that covered his body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. He will be full term on Saturday! (ah!)

Best Moment this Week

Umm... I don't know?? This week has been a blur!

Gender

BOY! Elliot James.

Movement

He's still moving lots, mainly stretching which sticks his bum out near my belly button, then a little foot bump out near my side. He switches sides that his feet are on, but is still staying head down.

Food Craving

This week's fruits: apples, strawberries, grapes, peaches. I made one of my favorite recipes, chicken & rice casserole, last night, & it was delicious. Not a craving... but I thought I'd tell you anyways. :-)

Sleep

Oh, sleep. One day I'll enjoy it again, I hear. Yesterday I woke up at 5:30 with a stomachache & uncomfortable so I just got up. No fun. But I'm sleeping in as much as I can. I can't seem to get enough sleep.

What I am looking forward to

I've got a hot date tomorrow, whoohoo! & this weekend we have the goal to have Elliot's room & the hospital bag completely done. It will feel good to have all that done, so we can just go about normal life & be ready when he comes!

Symptoms

A little nausea, exhausted, sore back & shoulders, not sleeping well, Braxton Hicks, arthritis hands.

To-Do List & Progression

-Wash clothes newborn - 3 mos.

Status: done! I might wash the rest of his clothes just for good measure.

-Wash diapers

Status: prefolds & covers washed; pocket & AIO diapers & wipes all washed.

-Get bookcase done

Status: not done (Josh's job)

-Hang fabric circles, other decor

Status: Fabric circles hung! A few things have to wait until the bookcase is done, which I have no control over, so I'm going to check this off the list to make myself feel better. :-)

-Pack hospital bag

Status: in progress - almost done!

-Install car seat

Status: car washed & car seat base installed!

-Make room in kitchen cabinets for bottles, sippy cups, plates, etc.

Status: Done!

-Make up crib w/ mattress pad & sheet

Status: done!

-Buy home coming outfit

Status: done!

Week 35

(A little late, since today I'm 36 weeks!)

Fruit/Veggie

Honeydew melon (weight)

Size

Over 18 inches, about 5.25 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

His kidneys are fully developed now, & his liver can process some waste products. (It also says that he isn't doing somersaults because of his size, but that's not true of this little acrobat in my stomach!)

Best Moment this Week

Kelsy & Tyler got married last weekend! It was a busy week. It also marked the last time we go out of town until Thanksgiving - phew! Now we'll just be doing things around the house & waiting for Elliot to arrive!

Gender

BOY! Elliot James.

Movement

I did get it confirmed at my appt this week that he is head down, however a week ago he flipped to breech for a few hours then flipped back, & has attempted it a couple other times. He's a sneaky little guy!

Food Craving

This week's fruits: apples, bananas, grapes, peaches, white nectarines, grapefruit.

Sleep

Sleep is continually getting less fun. My back, shoulders, hips, & legs hurt; it's harder to flip or get up in the middle of the night; & I have a hard time getting back to sleep each time I get up.

What I am looking forward to

Josh & I have a special anniversary coming up next week. The second most important anniversary, I guess. :-)

Symptoms

A little nausea, exhausted, sore back & shoulders, not sleeping well, Braxton Hicks (continue to get more noticeable), & a new one - it feels like I have arthritis in my hands now. Apparently it's a less common symptom, but it hurts to do normal things now, like grabbing stuff.

To-Do List & Progression

-Wash clothes newborn - 3 mos.

Status: done! I might wash the rest of his clothes just for good measure.

-Wash diapers

Status: prefolds & covers washed; pocket & AIO diapers & wipes all washed - I have a couple of diapers/inserts that get one more wash then they'll be ready to go!

-Get bookcase done

Status: not done (Josh's job)

-Hang fabric circles, other decor

Status: not started

-Pack hospital bag

Status: in progress - some things packed, some things need to get washed, some things will have to wait until right before we head to the hospital (like toiletries)

-Install car seat

Status: car washed & car seat base installed!

-Make room in kitchen cabinets for bottles, sippy cups, plates, etc.

Status: not started

-Make up crib w/ mattress pad & sheet

Status: done!

-Buy home coming outfit

Status: done!

Great Marriage Articles

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Week 34

Fruit/Veggie

Cantaloupe (weight)

Size

Almost 18 inches, about 4.75 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

His fat layers - which he'll need to regulate his body temperature once he's born - are filling out, making him rounder. His central nervous system is maturing & his lungs are continuing to mature as well.

Best Moment this Week

Josh & I had a good day & a half together Sunday afternoon & Monday after we both got back in town from our respective places. We got some stuff done in Elliot's room, then just had some fun doing things like test driving Mini Coopers (just for fun) & going to a museum in town, then Josh grilled us some steaks last night. It was just a good time together!

Gender

BOY! Elliot James.

Movement

I'm pretty sure he's now head down (yay!) after flipping a couple of times on Friday. We're not necessarily in the clear, since he can still move around a lot & could easily flip back, but we are really glad to know there is not something that is keeping him from being head down (like the cord or something). I'm thinking he has some pretty long legs too, like his dad, because when he stretches his legs out, his toosh sticks out on one end & his legs on another, so I can gauge the length, & they seem pretty long to me!

Food Craving

This week's fruits: apples, bananas, grapes, peaches. I am getting more picky about food; some things do not settle well in my stomach now, & a lot of things just don't sound good to eat.

Sleep

Yuck. I'm pretty uncomfortable now, & wake up not just to go to the bathroom but to turn over or adjust my back/shoulders that are so sore now, pretty much every day.

What I am looking forward to

I am excited about a couple of upcoming things in the next few weeks, but mainly at this point I'm looking forward to Elliot being here!

Symptoms

A little nausea (it seems water makes me nauseous again now), exhausted, back & shoulders sore, not sleeping well, Braxton Hicks (those are not fun!), easily upset tummy.

To-Do List & Progression

-Wash clothes newborn - 3 mos.

Status: done! I might wash the rest of his clothes just for good measure.

-Wash diapers

Status: prefolds & covers washed; pocket & AIO diapers, wipes not washed

-Get bookcase done

Status: not done (Josh's job)

-Hang fabric circles, other decor

Status: not started

-Pack hospital bag

Status: not started (waiting a couple weeks)

-Install car seat

Status: car washed & car seat base installed!

-Make room in kitchen cabinets for bottles, sippy cups, plates, etc.

Status: not started

-Make up crib w/ mattress pad & sheet

Status: done!

-Buy home coming outfit

Status: done!

Week 33

Fruit/Veggie

Pineapple (weight)

Size

Over 17 inches, over 4 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

He's rapidly losing that wrinkled alien look & his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move & slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal.

Best Moment this Week

We got a lot done in Elliot's room Saturday. Josh cleared out the rest of his stuff from Elliot's closet & we got a small shelving system to go in there. I got a few loads of blankets, sheets, towels, etc. washed & folded (& yesterday I started on his diaper stash). We got everything opened & most things put away somewhere, although there is still a lot to do.

Gender

BOY! Elliot James.

Movement

He's still squirming around a lot, but unfortunately still breech. If he doesn't flip by the 21st, an OB will do an external version to manually try to flip him. We are praying hard that he flips, I don't care how, but the sooner the better!!

Food Craving

This week's fruits: apples, strawberries, blackberries, white nectarines, grapes. I find myself these days being more picky about what I want to eat; things are starting to sound not good, not because of an aversion necessarily, but I think I'm getting tired of eating. Yuck.

Sleep

I'm starting not to sleep as well. I have a hard time falling asleep after getting up to go to the bathroom (for the 2nd or 3rd time), usually in the early morning around 3 or 4. I am getting uncomfortable toward when it's time to get up; my hips & back hurt.

What I am looking forward to

This weekend I'm going to run a few fun errands with my mom, as well as hang out in the pool (which is one recommendation for getting babies to flip). I'm looking forward to a bit of down time.

Symptoms

A little nausea, super tired, lower back pain, swelling, thirsty, HOT.

(& I'm going to add a new one... this will help me keep track of what I need to do.)

To-Do List & Progression

-Wash clothes newborn - 3 mos.

Status: not started

-Wash diapers

Status: prefolds & covers washed; pocket & AIO diapers, wipes not washed

-Get bookcase done

Status: not done (Josh's job)

-Hang fabric circles, other decor

Status: not started

-Pack hospital bag

Status: not started (waiting a couple weeks)

-Install car seat

Status: not done, but getting car washed today in order to install (fresh seats, you know)

-Make room in kitchen cabinets for bottles, sippy cups, plates, etc.

Status: not started

I'm sure I'll figure out more things to add to the list... I need to get busy!!