37 Weeks

How far along? 37 weeks

Weight gain? 38 lbs -Yes, I lost weight this past week.  A 4lbs loss was definitely shocking!

Baby is the size of - a watermelon - yikes!

Stretch marks? Still haven't spotted any.  From the feel of my skin stretching from the weight of my belly, I'm completely shocked and still praying that I don't get any!

Sleep? Sleep ….remind me what that is again?  The best sleep I get is after I hit the snooze

Miss anything?  Moving with ease.

Cravings? Fruit and meat.  The look on John's face when he noticed I'd sat down next to him on the couch with a half of a watermelon and a spoon was priceless.  Hey, this girl wanted some watermelon!  

Anything make you queasy or sick? Still the aftermath of giving birth makes me queasy…

Symptoms? Pelvic pain is back and in full force.  It has been a miserably painful week.  So painful that I've resorted to sleeping with a heating pad between my legs in hopes to get even just the slightest bit of relief.  It doesn't really help but I keep telling myself that it might be more painful without the heating pad.  I'm seriously trying to fool myself into believing that…

Belly button - In or out? It's an outie and it's definitely not cute by any means!  Haha

Wedding rings - on or off? They are still off and I'm slowly coming to terms to that they will be till after delivery. Have I mentioned how much I miss wearing them?!

Any movement? He's been working on his leg muscles a lot this week.  We've found humor in my insanely crazy shaped belly, especially when he completely stretches his legs out!  We press against his feet and the other side of my belly (his butt) will protrude even further out.

Happy or moody? I've definitely not been a ray of sunshine this week, but I wouldn't consider myself moody either.  It always helps to have a husband that's as awesome as mine to keep be going and smiling when otherwise I wouldn't feel like it.

What emotions have you been experiencing this week? The holy smokes they are really going to let us take a baby home to raise emotions have been hitting me hard this week!  Of course since day one we've known that life is going to change so much with a baby but it's really sinking in now that everything is done and we're just waiting now.  I'm thrilled, I'm excited, I'm scared but most importantly I'm really looking forward to this adventure known as parenthood!   

Looking forward to - Seeing John hold our son for the very first time.  I know it'll absolutely melt my heart a million times over.

Week 37 Fun Fact - Jaxon is still continuing to gain weight.

There's not much to highlight for this week.  I did start my weekly appointments this week with the OB.  Nothing says you are getting close to delivery day like knowing you have weekly appointments from here on out and noticing that your belly has "dropped."  Our bags are packed, including snacks for L&D for John and afterwards for the both of us.  John has the carseat loaded and secured into the Jeep, he even took it by the fire department to have it inspected to make sure it was correct.  We are ready and we are as prepared as prepared can be when it comes to bringing a child into the world.  I don't think anyone could ever honestly say they are fully prepared, but we are as much as possible.

Jaxon, we are beyond excited to meet you! 

32 Weeks

How far along? 32 weeks

Weight gain? 36 lbs

Baby is the size of - a squash

Stretch marks? None!  Yay!

Sleep? Sleep is still hit or miss, but with this belly I can't expect every night to be blissful and dream filled.

Miss anything?  I outgrew my pre-pregnancy bra collection weeks ago but now I'm limited on underwear too?!  Seriously?!

Cravings? This week it's been Lucky Charms.  They seriously are beyond magically delicious!

Anything make you queasy or sick? Nope!

Symptoms?  Nothing new this week.  I did have to work in the office this past week.  I made it 2.5 days out of 4, I feel like that was an accomplishment considering how bad I swell every time I step into the building! The picture shows how bad the swelling was after just one day in the office!  It isn't nearly as painful as it looks but it's definitely not comfortable and when my blood pressure elevates as well, it causes me to worry.  But, the OB doesn't seem overly concerned and has instructed me to keep my BP in check and unless it gets too high just to write the swelling off as "normal."

Belly button - In or out?  Mostly flat but there are some parts that are starting to poke out pretty bad.

Wedding rings - on or off? They are still on!

Any movement? He's still been pretty active.  When he's not active, he's pressing constantly as hard as
he can against my belly and side, which is very uncomfortable at times!

Happy or moody? It's been a happy week!  More sunshine was forecasted this week and the weather has been beautiful!

What emotions have you been experiencing this week?  Excitement!  We will be welcoming Jaxon in 8 weeks, give or take, and we can't be more excited to meet him!

Looking forward to -  This coming week, we have not one but two baby showers this week!  We are really excited and hope our friends and family are just as excited to celebrate with us!

Week 32 Fun Fact -  Jaxon is still gaining roughly half a pound a week.  He'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb.  He now has toenails, fingernails and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz)  His skin is also becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.

This week has been such a busy week.  It seems like there's been no downtime at all and I feel like I've hardly got to spend any time with John.  Since he's started working at his new job, the weeks that I go into the office, I never see him except for when I kiss him good day in the mornings before I head out the door.  I miss him lots during weeks like that! 

I had a checkup this week with the OB.  I'm beginning to really hate having to pee in a cup at every appointment.  I swear I end up with more pee on my hand than in the cup!  Everything looked great and his heartbeat sounds strong!  She told me I was definitely "all baby" after measuring me.  (Dear  God, please PLEASE let him be super long and slender with skinny shoulders)

On Sunday we met up with one of our friends for some maternity pictures.  I can't wait to see them and share them with everyone!  I did take my camera with us (like I could ever leave that thing at home) so I'd have a few to post on the blog now.  I'll share the ones from Kristen's camera soon! 

30 Weeks

How far along? 30 weeks

Weight gain? 32lbs

Baby is the size of - the length of a laptop!  No wonder I've starting feeling so much pressure from him stretching out!

Stretch marks? None!  Yay!

Sleep? I've been really congested this week so it's been hard to get much sleep this week.  I either wake up from lack of being able to breath or I wake up coughing.

Miss anything? Nothing new to add to the list this week

Cravings? Swedish fish….yummy and the usual cravings for fruit

Anything make you queasy or sick? Nope!

Symptoms?  My pelvic pain had eased off a bit until this past week.  I felt like one of those people with bad joints and bones that can "forecast the weather."  Pretty sure my pelvic bones were spot on at predicting the bad weather (snow) that we had this past week because good golly it was painful!

Belly button - In or out?  Flat with a couple wonky areas that are starting to poke out.

Wedding rings - on or off? They are still on!

Any movement? I'm beginning to think that this question is pretty much null and void just like the maternity clothes question from weeks ago…. There's been lots of moment as always.  I even caught him on video dancing around!  Click here to see the video!  He's also finding his way to my ribs occasionally as well as towards my hip bones.  I never thought I'd be ticklish from the inside of my hips but yep…I am!  It tickles when he kicks or punches around them!

Happy or moody? It's been a pretty happy, yet exhausting week.

What emotions have you been experiencing this week?  Given we are in our 30th week of pregnancy we are now under 10 weeks till he's here….O-M-Goodness, less than 10 weeks?!?  How did this happen so quickly?!?

Looking forward to -  Getting the fabric order that I just placed online so I can get started on Jaxon's crib skirt and bed rail.  I can't believe that I have waited this long to start on it!  Oh wait….who am I kidding?!?!  I'm a professional procrastinator.  Hopefully, I'll get the ball rolling the day that it arrives!
Here's the fabric that I ordered.  I know, I'm such a sucker BUT the bedding hasn't been made yet, I still have time to change my mind about the Gamecocks fabric (hehe).

Week 30 Fun Fact -  Jaxon's most important organ, his brain, continues to develop at a rapid pace.  His eyes are able to track light and some researchers have theorized that exposing your belly to light my stimulate development.  


Not a lot going on this week to ramble about other than being sick and who really wants to read about that.  Hopefully, I'll be on the mend soon and back to normal so I can get back out and enjoy these last few weeks as just husband and wife before Jaxon arrives.  We have so much fun together and we realize that having a child doesn't mean "life is over" like you hear so many others say, it will just be different from here on out and we are looking forward to our adventures as a family of three!

29 Weeks

Loving the paint on Jaxon's walls

How far along? 29 weeks

Weight gain? 32lbs as of last week, I didn't get on the scales this week..  My "waistline" is now 42 1/2"

Baby is the size of - a butternut squash

Stretch marks? None!  Yay!

Sleep? Sleep has been hit or miss this week.  I've felt exhausted all week.  I'm not sure if it's due to the pregnancy or just trying to adjust to John's new work schedule.  He's working 2nd shift so it's hard for me to fall asleep before he gets home.  This will definitely have to change this week because I'll be going into the office this week which means I'll have to wake up much earlier to get ready and get there.

Miss anything? Nothing new to add to the list this week

Cravings? Fruit, guess if I'm going to crave something fruit is a good thing to crave.  Although today, I inhaled a bag of swedish fish and I'm resisting the urge to go out and buy another bag!

Anything make you queasy or sick? Nope!

Symptoms?  Loss of energy, I seriously feel like I've re-entered the first few weeks of pregnancy again.  I feel exhausted and the desire to do anything really takes effort this week.  I feel so worthless somedays hope this phase passes.  Acne has decided to make it's horrid appearance on my face yet again.  Where in the world is that "beautiful pregnancy skin" that is promised in everything I've read?!? Apparently, my skin completely missed out on that memo….ugh!

Belly button - In or out?  Flat with a couple wonky areas that are starting to poke out.

Wedding rings - on or off? They are still on!

Any movement? They said at this point he should be falling into sleep patterns.  Honestly, I don't think he ever sleeps, he moves nonstop!

Happy or moody? It's been a pretty happy, yet exhausting week.

What emotions have you been experiencing this week?  Happy, sad, terrified, every possible emotion you can have I think I've had it this week!  The reality is setting in that the weeks ahead is on the verge of being in the single digits!

Looking forward to -  Our two baby showers!  Not only is my family throwing a baby shower for us but work will be having a joint shower for me and my coworker in the coming weeks as well!  I'm really looking forward to it!

Week 29 Fun Fact -  Jaxon's adrenal glands are producing a chemical which will be made into estriol (a form of estrogen) by the placenta.  The estriol is thought to stimulate the production of prolactin by your body and the prolactin makes you produce milk.  So even if he comes early, I'll still be able to breastfeed.

This week went so much smoother than last week.  I worked every day from home with my feet propped up on the couch, which in turn led to absolutely no swelling this week!  Thank God!  I was so worried after last week that swelling would be part of daily life from here till the end of pregnancy.  It's so nice to know that it's not and that I only have to be cautious and worried about the swelling during my in-office work weeks.

John started his new job this week.  So far, he's really enjoying it!  It's been an adjustment for me and him both since he's working 2nd shift.  It's hard for me to get in the mindset that I NEED sleep and that I can't go to bed when he goes to bed.  Even though I'd be in bed by the time he got home, I was rarely asleep because I wanted to know how his evening went.  Which I'm sure is mostly to blame for my exhaustion this week!  I definitely miss him not being here, especially at supper time since we usually cooked dinner together nightly.  It was nice having him home to talk to during my workday though!

We got our baby shower invitations done and sent out this past week.  Here's a picture of the invitations!

15 Weeks

How far along? 15 1/2 weeks

Weight gain? 10 lbs at the last visit to the doctor last week

Baby is the size of - an apple

Maternity clothes? I'm finding them increasingly more and more comfortable

Stretch marks? Still in the clear when it come to stretch marks!  I've read reports and most say that if you got them in your early years you are likely to have them during pregnancy. I still have several noticeable stretch marks from puberty, praying I don't add anymore!  

Sleep?  Toss and turn, toss and turn.  Lord only knows how many times I wake up at night.

Miss anything? I must admit that it would be nice to have a glass of wine while kicked back on the couch with all the Christmas lights on and a movie on TV, but I'll survive.

Cravings? This past week there was one day that I HAD TO HAVE a Bojangles cajun chicken biscuit & seasoned fried, but then again, that is a craving prego or not from time to time!   There was another day that during lunch the only thing that sounded appealing to me was an apple covered in peanut butter and Pampered Chef caramel sprinkle mix! Yum!

Anything make you queasy or sick? Just those darned headaches. Go away!

Symptoms?  I mentioned the headaches again to the doctor at our appointment last week and she seems to think that they are tension headaches and there's really not much that can be done for them.  Ugh.  I seriously feel like I've been punched in the right side of the head!

Belly button - in or out? IN! Although, from this point on, were just going to refer to it as looking wonky.

Wedding rings - on or off? ON! They get tight from time to time, but I'm not taking them off (for now)

Any movement?  I felt the baby once this past week, how exciting!  Usually by the time I slow down enough to feel the baby, I fall asleep seconds later!

Happy or moody? Happy :) for the most part with a side of stress. Bank of America knows how to get my blood boiling when it comes to the house loan, but I turned over that stress to John so I can start focusing on baby things and less stressful issues.  Thank God for my husband, I never would've thought he'd be the calm one of the two of us!

Looking forward to - Christmas!  This is the first year that John & I will be spending Christmas together!  We've always had to Skype on Christmas as we opened gifts from one another since he was in Afghanistan.  I'm thankful for the distance that we had when our relationship first started since it forced us to learn how to communicate with each other but I'm so thankful to have him home now! 

Interesting week 15 fact - At 15 weeks, the skin is still thin and transparent, but the baby has developed a thin layer of hair to help protect the body. This layer of hair is called lanugo, and it is present on every part of your baby's body, even finger nails! 

14 Weeks

How far along? 14 weeks

Weight gain?  7lb gain and holding (for now)

Baby is the size of a Lemon

Maternity clothes?   I'm finding them increasingly more and more comfortable

Stretch marks? Still in the clear when it come to stretch marks!  However, a bit of cellulite is showing up…Boo!  I've been using my Mary Kay Extra Emollient Cream at night and Vasoline Aloe Gel the rest of the time.

Sleep?  This past week, I went to bed way early two nights in a row and slept completely through the night!  I felt amazing after those nights!  The other nights, now that's a different story!

Miss anything?  Other than the previous mentioned, nothing new to add.

Cravings?  I'm still stuck on Cuties.  Mozzarella sticks and salsa was also a must have this week.  The other day John came home and I was eating a pickle and drinking a glass of milk.  Minutes afterward I was like, "Did I seriously just drink a glass of milk and eat a pickle at the same time….ewww!"  Hello weird food combos!

Anything make you queasy or sick?  Just those darned headaches.  Go away!

Symptoms?  Headaches, please go away, I'm begging.  Acne, UGH; I've always had a problem with it but this week it's flared up something fierce! Between the headaches, sleepiness, weight gain and acne it's really hard to feel pretty a lot of days.

Belly button - in or out? IN!  Although, it's starting to look a little wonky.

Wedding rings - on or off?  ON!  They get tight from time to time, but I'm not taking them off (for now)

Happy or moody?  Happy :) for the most part with a side of stress.  Bank of America knows how to get my blood boiling when it comes to the house loan!

Looking forward to - January 8th!  We find out if we are having a boy or girl! We also have another appointment on Monday just for a check up and to hear the baby's heartbeat again.  I'm excited since John will be able to come this time!

Advice I think I'll pass on - One of the workers at our OB office told me that if I didn't feel like eating, it was okay.  Test had been done on babies born to women while in concentration camps and they did just fine.  She then followed up with the fact that I may not fair so well if I don't eat because they baby will take everything possible from me but who in the world tells this to a pregnant person?!  Ummmm…I think I had to pick my jaw up off the conference room table I was sitting at before I left that day!  WORST advice hands down I think that I will hear throughout this pregnancy!  EAT, GAIN WEIGHT, BE HEALTHY FOR YOU & BABY!


This week I had a birthday, I celebrated the 3rd anniversary of my 29th birthday. What a difference a couple years can make in how we celebrated.  This year, I worked on my birthday and afterwards met my husband for dinner at Ichiban and a movie.  Ichiban is always a great place to grab hibachi and sushi.  Before you flip out, NO, I did not eat raw sushi!  I did have a "Bonsai" Roll, which is made of avocado, cream cheese and crab wrapped in cucumber.  YUM!  It's my absolute favorite roll and I'm thrilled that I can eat it while pregnant! After dinner, we went to see the animated movie Frozen.  It was a cute movie but I was rather disappointed that most of the funny parts were in the commercials.  It was a great night though, I always enjoy getting out and spending time with my husband! 

  

We did get together at my parents house to celebrate with the family the day after, since it was a Friday and everyone could be there.  Me & the baby enjoyed a cookie cake and an ice cream cake, YUM!