35 Week Pregnancy Blog

35 Week Pregnancy Blog

Written on August 6, 2016

How far along? 35 weeks 6 days -- 1 week until I am considered full-term! 

Baby: The baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (the size of a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in my womb, the baby isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. The kidneys are fully developed now, and the liver can process some waste products. Most of the basic physical development is now complete — Oreo will spend the next few weeks putting on weight. (Hopefully!) 

Total Weight Gain: This week I fluctuated between 123-124 lbs. (17-18 lb. weight gain). Weight gain has been a struggle this week. I am finally putting on some weight and while I'm super happy about that for the baby's sake, it's still hard seeing the scale continue to go up. I've been trying my best to eat lots of protein and just more calories in general. I'm not as hungry a lot of the time, but I'm forcing myself to eat anyways. Super hard but worth it for the baby! I think the baby is sitting on my stomach because I'm just not as hungry and I get full so quickly. My tummy has also been off all week which doesn't help the situation. I'm praying all this extra eating pays off at my specialist appointment on Tuesday when they weigh the baby. I'm looking forward to the weight gain part of all this being over. Gaining weight is no fun, but not gaining any is hazardous to my tiny baby at this point! I'm getting my thyroid levels tested this week, so I am very anxious to see how they are doing. 

Maternity Clothes: I feel like my belly has definitely grown and the maternity clothes are fitting better and better. My belly is looking big to me these days! I'm excited to wear my pre-pregnancy clothes again. I'm over maternity clothes, but they are still working for me as of now. Just bored of the selection. 

Stretch Marks: Still being consistent with applying lotion once in the morning and once at night and so far. I don't think I have many stretch marks, but it's kind of hard to tell with my skin being so stretched out!

Sleep: I slept better this week! I still woke up some during the night, but I have been sleeping like a rock. I'm completely exhausted! Third trimester has hit me hard this time around, as far as, being tired goes. Between getting over a sinus infection, running after Grayson, the stress of a high-risk pregnancy, and constantly being on-the-go, I'm beat at the end of each day! I didn't nap any this week either :( We were way too busy!

Miss Anything? I've been so stressed and overwhelmed by this high-risk pregnancy. I'm looking forward to her being here and not having to worry about this part any more. 

Best Moment of the Week: This week was great! I got my hospital bag packed, freezer meals done, the playground in our backyard finished, got my new breast pump, and had 2 good doctor's appointments. The specialist didn't end up weighing the baby this week, so all they checked was blood flow and fluid levels at my Tuesday appointment. My second non-stress test also went well on Friday. Tuesday is the big day as far as growth and weight gain is concerned. Praying she's doing okay! 

Movement: Baby girl is still super active! The non-stress tests have actually been a struggle because she moves so often that they struggle to get her heart rate. I love that she moves so much and I'm so thankful for it! Her movements are strong and powerful! She constantly kicks and loves to eat her feet (low kicks). She also moves her booty and belly a lot. Can't wait to meet this active princess! I have a feeling she is going to be just as wild outside the womb as she is inside. Firecracker!

Food Cravings: My new protein source this week was cottage cheese! We had a lot of church get togethers this week, so I had a bunch of different foods. I've been eating heavier meals this week in hopes to gain weight. No particular cravings. 

Anything making you queasy or sick?No.

Gender: GIRL!

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks especially when I'm active, very tired, always thirsty, extremely moody, nesting, constipation and upset stomach, and dark freckle forming on my lip. 

Happy or moody: So moody!

Looking forward to: My doctor's appointment this week where they will weigh the baby, getting my necklace with my children's names engraved on it, and last minute baby prep! 

34 Week Pregnancy Blog

34 Week Pregnancy Blog

Written on July 30, 2016

Hello there, August! I cannot believe we are so close to meeting our little girl and that this could easily be her birth month! While excitement fills the air, this was also a very difficult week for me. Stress and anxiety creep in as I'm now having to see the high-risk specialist twice a week until the end of this pregnancy due to baby girl's growth {or lack thereof} issues. Early induction is a definite possibility and I can't express how scared I am. So many fears come with the unknown and any mother knows how hard it is to control your worry when it comes to your children. Leaning on the Lord and trusting Him {once again} to get our little girl here safe and sound. It's been a LONG pregnancy and one heck of a ride, but God has been so faithful in her life already and I know He will continue to be. Please pray for our little fighter...she may be small, but she is fierce! 👊🏻💜🎀 

How far along? 34 weeks 6 days -- 2 weeks until I hit the 37 week mark which is my doctor's goal for this baby!

                       34 Week Bump!

Baby: The baby is now supposed to weigh about 4 3/4 pounds (about the size of a cantaloupe) and be almost 18 inches long. Unfortunately, baby girl is measuring small coming in at 3 lbs. 14 oz. She only gained 3 oz. over the past 2 weeks which is why I'm being seen much more often by the specialist from here forward. The fat layers — which will help regulate body temperature once the baby is born — are filling out, making the baby rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. The central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well.

Total Weight Gain: This week I gained gained 16-17 lbs. After learning that she hasn't grown much at my appointment on Wednesday, I have started eating much more. I've already greatly increased my protein, but also starting to really increase my calories as well. If it's really a placenta issue, none of this will really help the baby's growth (hence the early induction), but at this point I'm trying everything I can!

Maternity Clothes: Still sporting a lot of the same stuff!

Stretch Marks: Still being consistent with applying the thicker cream once in the morning and once at night! No new stretch marks from what I can tell. 

Sleep: I'm still waking up multiple times a night, but I've been sleeping really hard. I've felt absolutely exhausted this week! I've been fighting a sinus infection for a few weeks now and that's really worn me out. Between being sick, taking care of Grayson, and all the stress of a high-risk pregnancy, I've just been worn out this week. I've been napping a lot more. I have moments where I can't keep me eyes open or I start to feel sick or just terrible and need to sleep ASAP. I can't seem to get enough rest!

Miss Anything? This has been a very emotional and stressful week for me. The complications were so bad in the beginning of this pregnancy and it was so hard. The past few months have been so much better, but now that additional complications are back, I'm so ready for all this to be over. I hate to say that because I still LOVE being pregnant and have felt great for the most part, but the complications are so hard to deal with sometimes. I can't wait to meet our girl -- but I want her to stay in there until it's safest and healthiest for her to come out! ;)

Best Moment of the Week: We had another busy week filled with getting things done, doctor's appointments, and spending some time with friends! We now have baby's car seat installed (it's so weird having 2 of them in the back seat!) and we have a secondary crib for her as well. She will be getting Grayson's eventually, but we have a backup crib for now. The best moment of the week was probably purchasing a new car! Josh's car has been on the brink of death for a long time and we are so excited to have a safe family car for baby sister's arrival!

Movement: The baby is still super active! At her non-stress test on Friday, she moved around so much that the test took double the time. They kept losing her heart beat and having to adjust the monitors. The doctor even commented on how crazy the baby was! Haha! I'm so thankful she's still active and happy in there though. During her ultrasound this week, she had her foot literally on her face and her hand was grabbing at her foot. I keep feeling kicks super low which was confusing because each time they check she's head down, but now I know that she's constantly playing with her foot which is why I'm feeling the low kicks! The tech commented on how strong her kicks and movements are. She's wild already and I love it! 

Food Cravings: Still loving sweets! Enjoyed homemade peach cobbler and ice cream (made by me!), homemade chocolate chip cookies, cake, homemade peach and strawberry ice cream and Dairy Queen ice cream this week. All were delicious! Also, I've been continuing to eat a lot of protein and trying to eat more meat! Chick-Fil-A chicken has (and always does) hit the spot this week.

Anything making you queasy or sick?No, but I did have a dizzy spell this weekend that was a little scary. It was very hot outside and I hadn't had enough to drink. All of the sudden, I felt like o was going to pass out. I had to immediately sit down and I was very light headed with blurry vision. Once I got some ice water, a cold rag, and into the air conditioning, I felt much better! I actually passed out when I was pregnant with Grayson, so I was fearful of that happening again. Thankfully I caught it quickly and prevented it.

Gender: Girl! :)

Symptoms: Dizziness, nesting, always thirsty, consistent Braxton Hicks (they are getting more painful), round ligament pain, exhausted, constipation, and pregnancy insomnia.

Happy or moody: Moody and stressed!

Looking forward to: Getting Grayson's "Big Brother" shirt in that I ordered, finishing up some nursery preparation, and seeing how my doctor's appointments go this week! 

33 Week Pregnancy Blog

33 Week Pregnancy Blog

Written on July 23, 2016 

How far along? 33 weeks 6 days

Baby: This week Oreo weighs about 4.5 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark (the size of a pineapple!). The baby is rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and the skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Total Weight Gain: Still holding down the 15-16 lb. weight gain! The baby feel like she's grown, so I'm excited to see what she weighs at her appointment this week!

Maternity Clothes: I feel like I'm really just going for comfy these days. Lots of baggy t-shirts that fit my belly, staple maternity tops, and comfy shorts. I'm rarely dressing up or even putting together any kind of "nice" outfit. It's hot and I'm far enough along that I just want to be comfy in my t-shirt, Soffe shorts, and flip flops!

Stretch Marks: Still being consistent with the lotions and so far, very few stretch marks to report! I have this little patch where a few started showing up weeks back, but they don't seem to be worsening or spreading. The area is very low and it's hard for me to even see it at this point without a mirror! 

Sleep: Unfortunately, I've been fighting off a cold for a few weeks now. This week it went from a cold to what feels like a sinus infection. I've been sleeping really hard and been taking naps almost every day. I'm absolutely exhausted from taking care of Grayson, being in major "get it done/nesting" mode, and feeling awful. I'm thankful for the rest, but I wish it weren't because I was sick.

Miss Anything? Besides not feeling well, I've had a good week! I guess I miss having a stronger immunity system that seems to be lowered during pregnancy. I got sick when I was pregnant with Grayson too and it just takes me a really long time to finally kick it!

Best Moment of the Week: We had another super productive week! I am loving constantly checking things off the to-do list. The baby's nursery is almost completely out together, so that was probably the highlight for me. I had a moment where I was standing in there looking at how beautiful it was and was almost in tears. We are just so excited for her arrival and can't believe she's almost here! I'm thrilled with how the room turned out too...so perfect! I also ordered a beautiful picture for her room that I'm super excited about.

Movement: The baby has very active moments and not so active moments. There were a few days this week where she was moving all day and almost looked like a alien flopping around in my stomach! Then there were a few days where she wasn't moving as much and I really had to work to see any movement. I know she's running out of room, so she won't be flipping around much, but she still kicks all the time. I am still feeling her body parts very distinctly and I love it! I feel her feet and heels kicking me most often. I feel like I'm almost holding her foot through my skin...it's crazy amazing!

Food Cravings: Still loving sweets! I really like my peanut butter and chocolate protein bars and my rich chocolate protein shake. I've been trying really hard to keep up with my protein intake. I've been eating Greek yogurt almost every day and trying to make sure my snacks are protein filled. My guilty pleasure this week was Oreos and peanut butter...SO good! I've had a few days where I've indulged a little more, but I'm still staying on track for the most part!

Anything making you queasy or sick?No.

Gender: Girl! My best friend gave her a bunch of bows and got me even more excited about having a little girl. Her room colors are purple and gray and I love being in there. It's so pretty to me! I also ordered her baby monitor this week and it should be here tomorrow!

Symptoms: Having Braxton Hicks much more frequently, back pain, very thirsty all the time, tummy issues, and tired. Nesting is been crazy...My head has been spinning with lists and trying to have everything perfect for when the baby gets here! Between moving and preparing for her, there's all sorts of things that always need to be done. 

Happy or moody: Moody/Stressed about getting everything done before the baby arrives!

Looking forward to: My doctors appointments this week (specialist and OBGYN) and continuing to work on our to-do list! We also have friends coming to visit on Saturday, so that should be fun! 

32 Week Pregnancy Blog

32 Week Pregnancy Blog

Written on July 16, 2016

How far along? 32 weeks 6 days -- 8 months!

Baby: This week the baby weighs 3 3/4 -4 pounds! (about the size of a head of lettuce) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in the uterus. At her ultrasound this week, Oreo weighed 3 lbs. and 11 oz.! She's gained almost a pound in the past 2 weeks! :) I'm gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to the baby. In fact, the baby will gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. Oreo now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

                  32 Week Bump!

Total Weight Gain: This third trimester weight gain is no joke...I remember this from my last pregnancy! I have done so well with weight gain in my pregnancy, but recently it seems like rapid weight gain is inevitable. I am still eating mostly healthy (high protein) and smaller portions. The baby is squishing my stomach, so I can only eat so much at a time right now. I feel better when I eat many small meals throughout the day rather than 3 bigger meals. I've still been trying to walk each day and I'm enjoying that. This week I am weighing between 121-122 which is a 15-16 lb. weight gain. I know my belly is bigger, so the baby is growing! She went from being in the 24th percentile for weight to being in the 33rd percentile for weigh over the past 2 weeks, so I'm happy about that! That part is exciting, but seeing the numbers increase on the scale isn't too fun. Since she's had some growth issues, I've been instructed to increase my calorie and protein intake, but it's all for our sweet girl, so it's worth it!

Maternity Clothes: The bigger my belly gets, the more limited I am. I am still wearing my regular shorts with my belly band and mostly wearing just maternity shirts. I am a little bored with the selection, but I am too close to the end to spend money on a bunch of new maternity clothes. I've continued to wear the maternity clothes that I was given in my last pregnancy. Baggy t-shirts, comfy shorts, flip flops, simple maternity shirts, maternity sundresses, and bigger tank tops are my best friend! 

Stretch Marks: Still doing well with the stretch mark cream and belly butter and my belly is still looking pretty good (one small stretch mark) ...hoping it stays that way as my belly runs out of room for this baby! 

Sleep: I definitely have less energy than I did for a while, but I still struggle with sleeping. I'm a tummy sleeper, so pregnancy is always tough in that respect. I feel like I can't get comfortable and I naturally wake-up every few hours (usually twice a night). Still eating during the night :) Hence, the small meals every few hours...I don't take breaks! Overall, I'm really not getting much quality sleep, but that's just how the end of pregnancy goes. It's always hard for me to rest and relax at the end when there's so much going on and my mind is always racing with everything that needs to get done. I have been able to nap a little, so that helps me get through the extra tiring days. With that being said, I'm still in "get it done" mode and have majorly been nesting recently. I'm staying very active with all of the preparation for the baby and still feeling good being active! 

Miss Anything? The weight gain has been the biggest struggle for me this week. I'm still wanting to gain healthy weight and not just from overeating and eating junk. It's hard to find the balance sometimes, but seeing that the baby grew and was doing better definitely helps with the weight gain struggle! Also, I'm just feeling pregnant this week. I can tell I'm carrying around an almost 4 lb. baby and she's heavy! I'm just feeling it more and more, especially since I'm still taking care of an 18 month old who doesn't slow down full time! Picking Grayson up or running after him can be challenging sometimes.

Best Moment of the Week: We got the nursery painted this week and I love it! The nursery is gray with a purple accent wall and I think it's really pretty. I'm excited to put the room back together and see how it all looks! Getting closer to baby girl's arrival and feeling more prepared! 

Movement: The baby was a little less active this week, but I can feel her body parts so much more distinctly. There are days where she moves all day and days where she moves less. Her movements are powerful and strong and I can tell she's getting bigger and bigger. I can feel her head, feet, elbows, knees, punches, and kicks....it's great. She always has her hands in her mouth during the ultrasounds and I feel her arms move a lot, so it's cool to see what's she's doing in there! While movement is my favorite part of pregnancy, nothing compares to holding your baby in your arms on the outside of the womb. I can't wait! I'm trying to cherish these last weeks of baby kicks because I don't know if this will be my last pregnancy or not, and I don't want to wish it away.

Food Cravings: I've done so well with my protein intake! It's amazing how well  and disciplined you will eat when your baby's health is at stake. I am still really enjoying all my high protein food finds (protein bars, shakes, string cheese, Greek yogurt, scrambled eggs, and chicken), but I still love sugar and find it hard to make myself eat the "real" foods some days. I've had a few days where I've eaten a lot of sweets, but thankfully a lot of it has been ice cream which has some protein in there. ;) My favorite food this week has been this high protein, high fiber, and low calorie ice cream I recently found and a delicious pound cake given to us. I normally don't love pound cake, but this stuff is amazing. I've been on an ice cream kick this week and can't get enough of it! Baby girl is definitely a happy camper in there! :) 

Anything making you queasy or sick? No.

Gender: Girl! We received 2 handmade blankets and a beautiful handmade hat this week. I've also organized her dresser of clothes, shoes, and accessories and all her blankets, burp clothes, and bibs. Everything is so stinkin' cute! She's spoiled already.

The proud and excited big bro! He already loves his "baby"! 

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contractions but not as often this week, constipation, painful gas and bloating have been issues this week -- my tummy has just been off because of the baby's growth and the major increase in protein, feeling more pressure really low, insomnia, more tired, harder getting up and moving around, always thirsty, colostrum has come in, major nesting going on...definitely feeling pregnant! It's always hard for me to list pregnancy symptoms, because ultimately I have had it so easy! No heart burn, very little pain, a good amount of energy, no sickness, and still feeling good! I count myself lucky. :)

Happy or moody: Moody! This week was especially bad.

Looking forward to: Continuing our long to-do list! Once we get the nursery put back together and the decorations hung, we just have to get the baby monitor, baby book, and some more newborn diapers, and then we are done! I also need to pack my hospital bag and make freezer meals sometime soon. Lots to do, but getting closer and closer to meeting our little girl and I can't wait!

32 Week Ultrasound -- I love being able to see little glimpses of her face! 😍

Doctors Appointments: I had all 3 of my doctors appointments in 1 day this week! I scheduled them all together, so I only have to make 1 trip to Atlanta. My thyroid dosage was lowered a month ago, so we will see if my levels are where they should be! The regular OBGYN went well for the most part. My iron was abnormally high at my past 2 appointments, so I'm getting extra blood work done to check on that. (Always something!) But the specialist appointment (the most important one) went really well! The baby's belly growth is still lagging, but her belly went from being below the 10th percentile to the 16th percentile at this appointment and her overall weight and growth went from the 24th percentile to the 33rd percentile! The doctor was very happy with her growth and said she seems happy and healthy! I go back to the regular OBGYN and the specialist again in 2 weeks, so I'm going to keep focusing on drinking enough water, resting, and getting lots of protein in the mean time! :)

31 Week Pregnancy Blog

31 Week Pregnancy Blog

Written on July 9, 2016

How far along? 31 weeks 6 days -- almost 8 months!

                 Happy 4th of July! 

Baby: Oreo measures over 16 inches long and weighs about 3 1/3 pounds (about the size of a coconut!). She's definitely growing! The baby is heading into a growth spurt (which is crazy because the baby has already been in a growth spurt). The baby can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath the skin. The baby is moving a lot too!

Total Weight Gain: I have now gained 14-15 lbs (120-121). While I don't love it, I am happy to see my weight increasing since the baby is having some growth issues and is only in the 24th percentile for weight. This week I majorly amped up my protein intake (my doctors suggestion to help with growth), so my diet has been much different. I don't naturally eat a lot of protein, but I'm finding protein packed things that I do like after some searching. Hopefully the protein is helping the baby grow and allowing me to put on some healthy weight. I've also been walking some each day which I am loving. It feels so good to be active again, even if it's just a mile walk around the neighborhood.

Maternity Clothes: Maternity clothes are my friend right now! My belly is getting bigger and bigger, so options are becoming increasingly limited. Still wearing almost all maternity shirts and dresses and then some maternity shorts and regular shorts with my belly band. I'm filling out the bigger maternity shirts better, so at least they look like they fit me properly now. I've settled into my favorites as far as maternity wear goes and am kinda rotating those items. That's how I know the end is (kinda) near!

Stretch Marks: I'm still being consistent with the stretch mark cream and moisturization. I am applying lotion to my belly each morning and evening. I have been trying to be very consistent with this because I know now is the time I am growing quickly. 

              31 Week Bump! 

Sleep: I am still sleeping very lightly and wake up 2-3 times each night like clock work. I wasn't able to nap this week and I struggle to get comfortable more now. I just can't seem to chill out long enough to take a nap (even when everyone else is), but some days it catches up with me. I'm still waking up between 7-8am with Grayson each morning and he completely wears me out by the end of each day. Yesterday I did end up taking a 1 hour nap because I just didn't feel well. Sometimes the lack of sleep hits me and I start to feel almost sick. That's when I will take a nap and wake up feeling much better. Pregnancy insomnia is legit for me! 

Miss Anything? For most of the day, I feel great! But the aches and pains do kick in especially on active days and by each evening. Carrying around and chasing after a toddler at 8 months pregnant (add constantly having to go up and down the stairs in there) is exhausting. Back pain and round ligament pain have been prominent this week. I just miss my body being able to do whatever I want it to do without being in pain. Besides that, I still love pregnancy! Very few complaints here. 

Best Moment of the Week: We made a bunch of progress with baby things this week! I ordered and received my new diaper bag and baby girl's dresser. I was given a bunch of little girl clothes sizes newborn - 12 months from a friend at church along with baby gear. We got rid of some older baby things and were given used but newer baby gear items. We also bought decorations (pictures and a rug) for her nursery. So overall, it was a great week as far as baby preparation goes!

Movement: I can tell she's getting bigger -- her movements are big and powerful! I can really feel her different body parts and little booty constantly moving. She is still very active most days. She does have days where she's less active (which scare me), but usually she moves very often. I make a big effort to make sure she's moving every 1-2 hours, but usually it doesn't take long to feel her. I love all the movements and being able to tell there's a fully formed baby in there! I can also feel her at night and during my sleep. She tends to be very active at night before bed. 

Food Cravings: I did well with food this week. I was instructed to eat more protein to help with the baby's growth and that's exactly what I've been doing. I'm really making to effort to have every calorie count by eating nutritious and protein filled foods. My favorites have been apples and peanut butter, Boost Chocolate nutritional drink (kind of like a protein shake), peanut butter and dark chocolate protein bars, Greek yogurt, cheese sticks, and scrambled eggs with cheese and tomatoes topped with salsa. Yummy! This week we had a few days filled with eating delicious food -- 4th of July, birthday party, lunch with friends, family dinner, and church staff dinner. I ate a lot of protein (meats) at all of those meals and just ate some good hearty food. I was told to increase my caloric intake, so that's what I'm trying to do -- within reason. I'm sure that helped with the weight gain this week, but no complaints from me! I've been really limiting the sweets lately just because I know that they do nothing for the baby as far as nutrition, BUT I did have a brownie and ice cream twice this week, 2 pieces of cake at a birthday party, and delicious homemade blueberry pie that a church member gave us -- and it hit the spot!! I'll always have a sweet tooth...just trying to control it until she's born and not dependent on me for all her nutrition. :)

Anything making you queasy or sick?Just not getting enough rest.

Gender: GIRL!

Symptoms: More Braxton Hicks contractions (a few each day), back pain, round ligament pain, tired, difficulty sleeping, and just feeling more pregnant as the baby grows. Acne and constipation have been great this pregnancy which is a change from my last pregnancy. Funny how each pregnancy has its specific challenges!

Happy or moody: Moody

Looking forward to: My 3 doctor's appointments this week (specialist, thyroid, and regular OBGYN) and continujng to work on getting ready for the baby to come! Also, a busy week with play dates and meeting new people here in Macon, so I'm excited about that. 

35 Week Pregnancy Blog

Written on Monday December 8, 2014 -- 1 month away from my due date! :)


How far along? 35 weeks 5 days -- 1.5 weeks until I am considered full-term!

Baby: The baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he or she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (the size of a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in my womb, the baby isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he/she kicks should remain about the same. The kidneys are fully developed now, and the liver can process some waste products. Most of the basic physical development is now complete — Peanut will spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Total Weight Gain: This week I fluctuated between 130 - 132 (15-17 lb. weight gain). At the beginning of the week I was nervous that I still hadn't gained anything and over the weekend I gained 2 lbs. and wasn't thrilled about that! I'm looking forward to the weight gain part of all this being over. Gaining weight is no fun, but not gaining any makes me nervous! I'm getting my thyroid levels tested today, so I am very anxious to see how they are doing. I feel like getting the results will ease my mind about the weight gain (or lack thereof) issue.

Maternity Clothes: I feel like my belly has definitely grown and the maternity clothes are fitting better and better.

Stretch Marks: Still being consistent with applying lotion once in the morning and once at night and so far. I don't think I have any stretch marks, but it's kind of hard to tell with my skin being so stretched out!

Sleep: I slept better this week! I still woke up a lot during the night, but I was finally tired and didn't have this strange middle of the night energy. I got some good sleep this weekend and it was awesome. I woke up once in the middle of the night with pain in the space between my belly and my hip bones this week and that wasn't very fun. Maybe the baby is dropping or I'm experiencing growing pains?

Miss Anything? Getting a full 8 hrs of sleep without waking up and not having to worry about the weight I am or am not gaining.

Best Moment of the Week: The hospital tour was really exciting! It was fun to see where I'll give birth and to really start to consider how it will all go down. Getting closer!

Movement: The baby's activity is so on and off. Sometimes I don't feel anything and other times I can't even focus on anything else because I am so in tune with the baby's movements. I can tell the baby has grown because the movements are slow and more distinct.  My whole stomach shifts depending on where the baby is sitting and I can feel if the baby is on my hips, ribs, or bladder!

Food Cravings: Still loving sweets! I need to eat more real food this week.

Anything making you queasy or sick? No.

Gender: Surprise! But getting more anxious to know the gender! We also started using the names this week to kind of "practice" instead of just calling the baby "Peanut". It's a little weird, but I love the names! I can't wait to put a name on this child!

Symptoms: Having trouble sleeping and also experiencing random tummy pain, tired, always thirsty, extremely moody, waking up in the middle of the night starving and eating!, acne and constipation have been much better!

Happy or moody: So moody!

Looking forward to: Although it's a little stressful, I have a bunch of holiday activities and parties this week! I am trying not to be stressed out by it all and to enjoy it :)

34 Week Pregnancy Blog

Written on Monday December 1, 2014

Hello there, December! I cannot believe it's already Christmas time and less than 6 weeks until my due date. Wow, time has flown! I honestly have few complaints about my pregnancy and have really loved being pregnant. I have been blessed with a very smooth and healthy pregnancy and I am so grateful for that. I will miss it in a lot of ways, but the excitement I feel about meeting my baby outweighs any sadness I feel about the pregnancy coming to an end. This week was another good week and another week closer to meeting our Peanut.

How far along? 34 weeks 5 days -- 2.5 weeks until I am considered full-term! (They now consider full-term to be 37 weeks meaning that if I go into labor after that point, they aren't going to stop me!)

Baby: The baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (about the size of a cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. The fat layers — which will help regulate the body temperature once the baby's born — are filling out, making the baby rounder. The skin is also smoother than ever. The central nervous system is maturing and lungs are continuing to mature as well.

Total Weight Gain: Still holding down the 15-16 lb. weight gain! I have still been able to stay active which helps give me more energy.

Maternity Clothes: I've been lucky enough to survive on the maternity clothes that were given to me by a few friends. I've only bought 1 maternity top this pregnancy which was extremely nice for my wallet. The selection of clothes that fit me is a little thin, but at this point I'm not going to buy a bunch of new maternity clothes since I am so close to the end. I'm still wearing maternity tops, maternity pants, leggings and my regular pants with my belly band.

Stretch Marks: Still being consistent with applying lotion once in the morning and once at night and so far, no stretch marks to report!

Sleep: Sleep has been very strange lately. My energy is waning, but I am really struggling with sleep. I'm not uncomfortable and I don't have to pee every 2 seconds, but when I do wake up in the night, I just can't seem to get back to sleep. I am sleeping very lightly and wake up around 5 am most weekends. I think it has to do with having so much on my mind and beginning to nest and want everything done and in its place.

Miss Anything? Getting a good nights sleep!

Best Moment of the Week: Clearing everything out of the baby room and getting everything in it's place! Besides the decorations, the nursery is now complete! I love it so much and find myself going in there just to look at everything and take it all in :) Also, Thanksgiving was great! My brother flew in town Wednesday night and surprised my parents! We had been planning the surprise for a few weeks, and it was so nice to have him home for a few days. We have only seen him once in a whole year, so I loved having us all together for Thanksgiving!

Movement: The baby was very active this week! Now that the baby is bigger, I can definitely tell a difference. The movements are so strong and powerful...they make my whole stomach shake! I can distinctly see and feel the different body parts which is so cool. The movement is my favorite part of pregnancy, so I'm trying to soak it all in while I still can.

Food Cravings: Still loving sweets! Also, I was on a grits kick last week. I ate them every morning for breakfast and they just hit the spot.

Anything making you queasy or sick? No.

Gender: Surprise! But getting more anxious to know the gender!

Symptoms: Having trouble sleeping and also experienced a random leg cramp during the night, nesting, always thirsty, consistent Braxton Hicks and random numbness in my hands and legs.

Happy or moody: My mood is all over the board! Also, lack of sleep never makes me a happy camper, so that definitely doesn't help!

Looking forward to: The hospital tour this week and getting my hospital bag packed! I bought everything for the hospital bag, now I just need to pack it up :)

My brother caught this lovely pose of mine on camera on Thanksgiving! If you needed a good laugh for today, well here it is! Along with the baby bump :)