I am almost 38 weeks pregnant (!), and hopefully that means the end is near! Our weekends have been very quiet and relaxed, and my weekday afternoons are the same. I have lists going for the house and baby, and all that’s left are some odds and ends.

Here are some things we’ve accomplished that were looming and some left on the list:

• We have finally installed the car seat in one car.
• We washed the two outfits we have and all the blankets and swaddles and sheets. And packed them in a zipper bag so they can stay clean during the move.
• We have been reading our books. I started The Happiest Baby on the Block and Jeffrey has been reading a few chapters from Babywise and The Expectant Father.
• I have somewhat gotten a hospital bag together. I am still wearing the few clothes that fit and that I would pack, so I made a list and printed it. I am also still using toiletries and makeup and can’t pack it yet. That’s good enough for now. I am also hopeful that we would have time to get this together.
• I did my breastfeeding research and bought all I need to last the very beginning except the pump.
• The baby has a hospital packing list too! I have gotten those things together–clothes, hat, Boppy pillow.
• I’ve completed an email announcement list that Jeffrey will use to email our friends and family.
• We’ve also started our mailing list and organized that so we don’t have to do it later.
• I have scheduled a newborn photo session.

 What’s left on the list:

• We need more clothes for the beginning, but I don’t want to buy them in green and yellow anymore.
• I would like to finish a photo book of the weekly pregnancy photos and include my shower and some of our trips throughout pregnancy.
• Before arriving home from the hospital, I have requested the stroller, video monitor and pack and play be assembled!
• Do as much for the new house as we can before the baby arrives!
• Make more lists of new house things so I don’t have to think about them after.

Just a few days to go!

It’s Week 37, we are so close!

First, let’s start with the positive…I made it to full term! That deserves a high five. 37 weeks is considered full term, if you go into labor, your baby is cooked and it’s safe for arrival. I think that’s an accomplishment!

According to BabyCenter, the baby is the size of a stalk of swiss chard and about 19 inches long. However, last week at my doctor’s appointment, I had an ultrasound to find out exactly what’s going on and get a better idea of the baby’s size. This baby weight 6.5 lbs at 36 weeks, which means it’s about 7 lbs this week. That’s the 70th percentile of weight for this gestational age! This is gonna be a big bambino. Babies gain about 1/2 pound each week near the end. They are just bulking up for their entrance into the world.

Now for the not so great…This has probably been the hardest week of my whole pregnancy so far. I’ve been very uncomfortable, have barely slept one good night, and have little energy because of no sleep. My shirts are getting shorter, the waistbands of even my maternity pants are digging into me, I just can’t get comfy. The kicks are getting very sharp and almost painful because there’s less fluid to absorb the kicks and less room to roll. The baby still moves 24 hours a day and it sure feels like it’s never sleeping! You can definitely feel feet or elbows or a butt or other sharp points sometimes.

Over the weekend, I had two good workouts at the gym of treadmill walks and felt pretty good. A nice older woman even told me “way to go” for still being active this late in pregnancy! I think exercise is really important, and am glad I’m still staying somewhat active.

Since last week’s post, I have been to the doctor twice. Yesterday was more of the same–no progress on my own, and my doctor thinks a scheduled induction in Week 40 will be necessary. We are planning an induction date for March 12 if nothing happens before. Baby seems to be happy and growing and in no hurry to leave, but momma isn’t so comfortable or rested!

I still hope the baby will make some progress in a few weeks, maybe during the move. That would be a best situation! It could happen.

This weekend, we are going on a little dinner date night on Saturday as one last night out just the two of us!

Any questions now that the end is near and I don’t have so much to write about?

I am tired and cranky and have nothing else pregnancy related to write about except complaints and whines. So how about some cute pictures of Lily for this week?

Above is Lily wearing her new ThunderShirt. It’s like the infomercial, supposed to calm dogs in thunderstorms and act like a hug for them. It’s cute on her, but the thunder still wins. We’ve had a lot of rain recently which has meant a lot of sleepless nights.

On sunny days, she loves to sit on the balcony or look out the door. It’s so cute and she gets so calm!

She is just so cute. Even when she is scruffy in need of a bath.

And cute when she’s tired and tucked into bed.

And cute basking in the sun watching the birds and trees and cars and people.

Well around now, you may be coming here on Thursdays to see if I’m still here! I am, but my belly sure feels like it doesn’t have too much longer to go.

This week, BabyCenter says the baby is the size of a crenshaw melon (I have no idea what that is) and about 6 pounds pounds and over 18 inches. I actually go to the doctor weekly now, and today I have an ultrasound to see exactly how much the baby weighs and how long it is, and other important things like making sure it’s in the right position. I’ll try to update the post later today.

The theme of this week has been being uncomfortable! My belly is so big, it is hard to sit in a chair and eat meals or sit at my desk. It’s more uncomfortable than hard. But it feels like I’m squishing the baby, when it is more comfortable to lay on a couch or on the bed reclining. It is also less comfortable to sleep, harder to get out of bed, and I’m a slower walker. My few shirts that fit are getting shorter too. Doesn’t this sound like fun? I sound like I’m 90.

Luckily, there is an end in site, and I really can’t wait to have normal energy again and my body back soon.

This week we also finished our classes at the hospital. We ended up signing up for four and attending three. Not bad when one of us was dragging our feet at all of them! We ended up going to Infant CPR, Prepared Childbirth and Infant Care. We skipped Breastfeeding, but I spent that day doing research and asking friends far too personal questions!

Here are some doctor stats and other random facts:

• Weight gained at 35 weeks: 23.5 pounds
• Weeks until full term: ONE
• Number of weeks until we move: THREE
• Odds we will move before baby arrives: I say unlikely
• Blood pressure: Still really good averaging below 120/80
• Baby’s heart rate: Always between 140-160
• Fundal length at 35 weeks: 35 centimeters (these should match to show you’re growing on schedule)
• Random food interests: oranges, Pop Chips, homemade banana bread (I made it twice) and a strawberry bread once
• Number of failed trips to find a Dairy Queen for a blizzard: 1 (we ended up at Amy’s Ice Creams instead)
• Number of “workouts” in the last week: two at the gym plus one full lap of the mall and countless walks around the block and laps up and down three flights of stairs chasing Lily

That is it for this week. I have also been trying to finish up as much as I can of things I want to get before the baby arrives, and start packing a hospital bag or at least deciding what I’ll need. It would have been nice to spend this time on the baby’s room, but those things will come together quickly when we move in.

See you next week!