Week 36: My Pregnancy Journey

How Far Along: 36 weeks

Size of Baby L: 6 lbs (size of a crenshaw melon?) 18.5" long according to Babycenter.

Total Weight gain: 32 lbs

Gender: Boy

Position: Head down, but not locked into position

Notes from doctors appointment: BP perfect, 1 1/2 cm dilated.

Movement: Big booty and possibly shoulders jabbing me. It's really cool to feel and try and guess what body part is pushing out. Also, hiccups every once in a while.

Sleep: This has gotten better over the last week. I switched from reading pregnancy and baby books before bed to a fun book. Currently reading I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson.

What I miss: My back not aching and sitting up straight not being a chore. Mostly just being comfortable. I'm not too bad. Just awkward.

Cravings: Sugar :(

Symptoms: Pretty much the same. Fatigue, Achey hips, Swollen feet/hands a twinge of heartburn here and there.

Nursery Stats: Curtains are up and beautiful!!! We need to finish up buying stuff this weekend, set up the bookshelf, storage and hang artwork.

Best Moment of the Week: Very sweet moment. This past Friday my friend Val and her son Wyatt dropped off their bassinet for Baby L to use. We enjoyed some pizza and playing with Wyatt. On their way out the door Wyatt came over to say bye to baby and kissed my belly. Such a sweetheart. Along with this, I also enjoyed a fabulous shower with my family on Sunday. I am very blessed to say the least.

Big Decisions:Nothing that I can think of.

Week 35: My Pregnancy Journey

How Far Along: 35 weeks

Size of Baby L: 5 1/4 lbs (size of a honeydew melon) 18" long according to Babycenter.

Total Weight gain: 30 lbs (? don't know this week) I decided I'm just going to let my doctors appointments be my weight ins. I have an appointment next week and then I start going every week.

Gender: Boy

Movement: Not anything too big, but bumps and I can feel him shifting around.Hiccups, typically in the morning.

Sleep: Oh sleep, how we use to be best friends. Now between waking up to flip and go to the bathroom I think about everything that needs to be done. I also question every little ache and twinge wondering if he is coming sooner than later. I have less than five weeks till my due date, but in the scheme of things he could come in 2 weeks. All I do know is I need to work on relaxing. My stress level has been too high and I need to remember what's important and that's my little guy.

What I miss: The days when shaving my legs was easy. As well as weeding the yard. I've definitely had to learn how to slow down.

Cravings: Sugar

Symptoms: Fatigue, Achey hips, Swollen feet/hands. Constant thinking and worrying. Is that a symptom or is that just motherhood?

Nursery Stats: No changes here this week. All of his clothes and gear covers are washed. We should be putting the finishing touches together this week or so.

Best Moment of the Week: My memory is failing me.

Big Decisions:Nothing in particular this week.

Planning ahead-freezer meals

These days it seems that all I ever do is prepare for Baby L's arrival. Planning and preparing is one thing I do know how to do, so this definitely helps ease some anxiety for the big changes that are about to take place in our house. One way I am preparing for baby boy's arrival is by making and freezing meals ahead of time. Today Mike and I did some grocery shopping and tomorrow afternoon we will be cooking. I've decided we will be making six dishes total, which will last us 2-3 meals per dish. Tomorrow we will focus on making the chicken dishes. Here they are:

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Healthy Mama Barbecue Chicken

Chicken Tortilla Soup is something we typically make in the fall. I've never made this recipe before, but boy do I love using my crock pot. It makes life a lot simpler. The chicken broccoli casserole isn't something I've made before. As you've read in a previous post we like to make chicken, broccoli & potatoes, I figured this is similar. It also seemed to have great reviews. The BBQ chicken we never had until last night. I prepped the meal Wednesday night. Chopping all of the vegetables, which took me about 10-15 minutes and then Thursday I added the chicken, sauce and spices. No particular reason for that timing other than laziness. I set it in the fridge and then Friday when Mike came home for lunch he sprayed the crock pot with Pam and dumped in the ingredients. When I came home around 4:45 the smell of BBQ was wafting outside my house. Do you think it's drafty? ;) The results were very yummy. The one change we will make is instead of using drumsticks we will use chicken breasts the next time. So tomorrow we will be prepping the meals for the freezer.

Predictions

40 days left! This is truly unbelievable!

Well, maybe...it could be more, it could be less.

Source: http://thriftstoreconfidential.com/2011/01/27/tsc-video-saving-a-bundle-on-cute-maternity-wear/stork/

What are your predictions for Baby L's arrival? How much do you think he will weigh in at? How many inches?

Estimated Due Date: 9/27

Week 34: My Pregnancy Journey

I promise one of these days I will post something else other than these weekly updates. I have a few posts planned, but not completed. An organization post on how to handle household paperwork, a nursery update, frozen meal prep and possibly a day in the life pre-baby. But for now this is what I have for you. :)

How Far Along: 34 weeks

Size of Baby L: 4 3/4 lbs (size of an average cantaloupe) 18" long according to Babycenter.

Total Weight gain: 30 lbs

Gender: Boy

Movement:Big swift booms that shake my whole stomach. Mike thinks he felt a finger the other day. :)

Sleep: Same as usual. Waking up to use the rest room and flip sides. My hips have been achey and its harder to fall back asleep when I wake up at 4:30. I figure if I'm up I might as well start my day. Makes for a very sleepy Katie at the end of the day.

What I miss: Wearing non-pregnancy clothes. Feeling like a normal non-pregnant person. I feel like Santa Clause.

Cravings: Edy's Fruit Bars :)

Symptoms: Fatigue, Achey hips, Swollen feet/hands. Also, forgot to mention that stretch marks set in about 2 weeks ago and look terrible :(

Nursery Stats: Put together the night stand. Bookshelf is built and is in the process of being painted. We hung one piece of artwork and have a few pieces left to hang.

Best Moment of the Week: More like funniest. My 4.5 year old nephew poked my stomach and I told him that is Baby C. He responded with, "So that's why your tummy is so big and fat." Telling it like it is. Keep it real.

Big Decisions: Finally, decided who my doctor would be. Back in June I learned that as of July 31st my doctor would no longer be delivering babies and switched gears in his career. Leaving me with going somewhere else or choosing one of the three other doctors in the practice. Over the last 2 months I've met all three and after yesterdays appointment we've decided who our doctor will be. I'm really happy with the decision. Also, since I finally could decide, I could also preregister. Things are getting checked off the list. :)

Week 33: My Pregnancy Journey

How Far Along: 33 weeks

Size of Baby L: 4 lbs 17" according to Babycenter.

Total Weight gain: 28-29 lbs

Gender: Boy

Movement: Hasn't been a ton, but baby boy sure does love Edy's Fruit Bars (Popsicles). Every single time I eat one, which is probably everyday, he always moves afterward.

Sleep: Just waking to switch which side I am sleeping on or to go to the bathroom. Still able to sleep pretty well, but so far no major
 interruptions.

What I miss: Having a normal non-pregnant body. Bending over is a chore. It's not terrible it's just awkward. I'm starting to feel very huge, which doesn't help the self-esteem.

Cravings: Edy's Fruit Bars :)

Symptoms: Same as last week with a bit of heartburn mixed in.

Nursery Stats: The crib is up and we were finally able to put the beautiful crib skirt my mother in law made on to it. My brother is finishing up the bookcase and we need to hang artwork. Night stand is ordered and just needs to be put together. For the most part it's coming together.

Best Moment of the Week: Brain freeze. I can't think of anything. I was very excited to finally learn our crib was here!!

Big Decisions:Again brain freeze. Nothing major.

Week 32: My Pregnancy Journey

Sorry no pic. Haven't had the chance to snap a photo. Just imagine a giant whale. ;)

How Far Along: 32 weeks

Size of Baby L: 3.75 lbs 16.7" according to Babycenter.

Total Weight gain: 26-27 lbs

Gender: Boy

Movement: Movements have been less kicks and more shifts of him moving around. According to my checkup on Tuesday, baby L is head down.

Sleep: Getting a little more difficult. Waking up to use the restroom several times a night and flipping and trying to get comfy. Also, this week has just been H-O-T again! The excessive heat warning broke last night so today's high is only suppose to be 92* instead of 106* with the heat index yesterday.

What I miss: Sleeping on my back or belly. Normal clothes. Being able to paint my toe nails.....

Cravings: Nothing much. I am back on my egg kick like I was during the first trimester. At least I'm getting more protein in.

Symptoms: Peeing a lot, had some feet swelling, which isn't surprising because of the heat. It's gone down. Fatigue, shortness of breath.

Nursery Stats: The crib is in!! Hopefully, picking it up in the next few days and setting it up. For those that missed the drama, it is not the same on we ordered three months ago. Come to find out, three months later, that the crib we purchased was on back order and would hopefully be in by the end of September. This has been a pain in the a**. Can't wait to see what the crib looks like and get the room a little bit closer to finished.

Best Moment of the Week: Nothing big. Just lounging around with Mike this weekend and going out to breakfast on Sunday.

Big Decisions: Had to decide on a new crib. I guess that was a big decision....