Week 37 = Full Term!!!

How your baby's growing:
Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.

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.

How far along? 37 weeks -- full term!!!
Maternity clothes? Of course, and they are starting to get a little snug :0)
Stretch marks? Nope, please stay this way!
Sleep: Actaully not so bad that past few days
Best moment this week: Receiving some pictures of Adam with his family and watching the expression on his face while looking at them. He already has some up on the fridge.
Movement: Lots of movements - I can feel an arm moving across my belly. I love it!
Food cravings: Nothing really this week. I am not as hungry as I have been in the past.
Gender: Not sure
Labor Signs: Nope, I want Baby Winter to cook as long as needed.
Belly Button in or out? It is still depending on where the baby is situated in my belly depends if my belly button is an innie or outie.
What I miss: Bending over....I have to have Adam help with everything.
What I am looking forward to: Meeting Baby Winter to find out if he/she is a boy or a girl.
Weekly Wisdom: Same as last week...Enjoy everyday...I am so excited to meet Baby Winter, but I think a part of me may be sad that I won't be pregnant anymore. I have loved each and every moment so far. I love having him/her all to myself.

Week 36!

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.

How far along? 36 weeks -- only 28 days!
Maternity clothes? Of course:0)
Stretch marks? Nope, please stay this way!
Sleep: I think I have insomnia....I wake up either really early (like 3:00 am) or at midnight. I just can't get back to sleep.
Best moment this week: I had two showers!! Adam being the most awesome hubby in the world, surprise me with a few of my friends/his friends at The Willows. It was good friend and food:-) My work had a shower for me today...we played games, ate cake and opened lots of gifts. It really felt like a shower and I am so thankful for all the kind people I have meet since I've moved here. My mom and Kirsten also were though me a sort of shower via an announcement. It was super cute with a picture of me on the front and a little saying in the card.
Movement: Lots of twists and turns..oh and the occasional hiccup.
Food cravings: I think my belly is shrinking since I can eat a big meal anymore....I guess that is a good thing since it may help to decrease the amount of salt intake...thus the swelling.
Gender: At my first shower, someone just assumed I was having a girl, so I have lots of little girl clothes. I am going to keep them until the big day.
Labor Signs: Nope, but I still having lightening crotch if anyone cares to really know..LOL!!
Belly Button in or out? It is still depending on where the baby is situated in my belly depends if my belly button is an innie or outie.
What I miss: Wearing shoes...even my slippers are getting too small. I guess the right ankle sprain is not helping with the swelling. Can you believe that I sprained my right foot?!?
What I am looking forward to: Meeting Baby Winter to find out if he/she is a boy or a girl.
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy everyday...I am so excited to meet Baby Winter, but I think a part of me may be sad that I won't be pregnant anymore. I have loved each and every moment so far.

Week 36 picture - on my way to my work shower. Look at that bloat! I look miserable...:-(

Week 35! (only 35 more days to go!!!)

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.

How far along? 35 weeks -- today is the 35/35 meaning I am 35 weeks along and only 35 days until we hit 40 weeks!!
Maternity clothes? Of course:0)
Stretch marks? Nope, please stay this way!
Sleep: Same as last week. I think I am finally figuring if I put a pillow between my legs while laying on my side, that it does help some.
Best moment this week: Getting some more baby stuff in the mail (mom--you are the best!!!) We got our swing and bouncer. I am sure Baby Winter will get lots of use out of it. I also had a really nice time having dinner with a few girlfriends that I met during my wedding planning.
Movement: I feel lots of "roll movement" meaning, I feel an arm or foot moving across my belly. I am anxious to see if Baby Winter is still head down.
Food cravings: Nothing really this week. I actually am making that famous lemonade again. I have been trying to stay away from anything that has salt in it since my swelling is awful! You may not notice, but my maternity pictures show it big time!!
Gender: Not sure but my mother started to buy boy clothing...let's hope she is not standing in line returning them and having to explain why:-)
Labor Signs: Nope, but I have had lightening crotch if anyone cares to really know..LOL!!
Belly Button in or out? It is still depending on where the baby is situated in my belly depends if my belly button is an innie or outie.
What I miss: Wearing shoes, a glass of wine would be nice, not feeling I have the hips of a 100 year old and playing with my pup.
What I am looking forward to: Meeting Baby Winter to find out if he/she is a boy or a girl.
Weekly Wisdom: If you ever plan on getting maternity pictures taken...get them done earlier than I got mine. I am not loving the way I look AT.ALL!! And to be honest, I don't think I look that "big" in real life:-(

***these are just a few "teasers" that our photographer sent to us..I am anxious to see the rest and pray that my hair and Adam's hair look better than they do in these. There were actually a few that I was too embarrassed to post since I look like I just woke up*** I will post more when I receive them.

Week 34

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

How far along? 34 weeks
Maternity clothes? Of course:0)
Stretch marks? Nope, please stay this way!
Sleep: It's the same as last week except I can't get to sleep. Last night I was up until 11:30 pm!! Hello, most of you know that I am in bed, fast asleep by 8:00 pm most evenings.
Best moment this week: Getting maternity pictures take. My famous wedding photographer, Frank who was originally suppose to take the photos, had a death in the family so in less than a week I needed to find someone fast!! I didn't want to spend a whole lot of $$ so I found a lovely lady on craigslist.org who was really cheap. I don't have the finished product yet, but I am interested to see how they turned out. Let's just say her style is different from what I am used to. You may or may not be seeing these pictures:-)
Movement: I feel lots of jabs, but am still loving every second of it.
Food cravings: Anything cold and homemade lemonade! I found this recipe and it is amazing. It's a little too tangy for me so I do poor half water/half lemonade and it's perfect. I am sure the sugar is not so great for me, but hey...I already feel and look like a beached whale..what's a few more lbs?!?!

Gender: Not sure.

Labor Signs: Nope I used to feel something going on while I was around 17 - 25 weeks but, I don't even think I am feeling those famous braxton hicks anymore.
Belly Button in or out? Depending on where the baby is situated in my belly depends if my belly button is an innie or outie.
What I miss: Bending over and not feeling like I am 100 years old when I go to get out of bed or stand up from the seated position. Adam had a good laugh at me trying to get up from the floor the other day!! My hands are still sore, but I learned that I have pregnancy induced carpel tunnel. It is crazy to think that I am unable to make a fist due to the swelling!! Oh and my little toe still look like sausages and my ankles are now kankles:-(
What I am looking forward to: Meeting Baby Winter to find out if he/she is a boy or a girl.
Weekly Wisdom: still…….Drink water even if you're not thirsty.