Week 35 and 36

Week 35
Our 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 (a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in the womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. She definitely still squirms around in there all the time! Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Dr. Appointment
I started going for weekly doctor's appointments this week. The doctor does the same check up as always... blood pressure, measures me, weighs me, measures the baby... He didn't really give us much information other than he still thinks she is going to be early. I dropped last week and he confirmed that I had. Then, he predicted that throughout his many years of practice the baby comes 2 weeks after she drops. That means the baby could come the end of next week. He doesn't seem at all worried that it would be too soon. I guess he knows what he is doing. He did some preparations for the labor and tested me for some different viruses. He told us to take it easy and rest.

Week 36
Our 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. At the end of this week, our 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, which we are pretty sure she is. 

Doctor's Appointment
I went back for the doctor's appointment by myself this week because they moved me up from Friday to Thursday. Mark has Fridays off but has to be at work in Ft. Worth on Thursdays. He did all the normal stuff. I actually lost weight, which is funny because I have been eating lots of junk food lately and just knew I had gained. He said all the tests he ran the previous week came back normal, which is great. He says that the baby is in position and we are just waiting still. I was slightly disappointed when I left the doctor's office. I don't know what I wanted them to say, congratulations lets induce you at 36 and half weeks? But, it is nice to know that the baby and I are healthy and we just have to wait and rest. 

Walking

I have been walking at least once everyday for about a week now. It feels so nice to just get out and exercise. Don't worry I'm not going very fast; in fact, Mark says I can't even call it walking, it is more like waddling. I really enjoy walking except for when the weather is really humid or hot, which makes me sweat (a lot!). 

Practice Makes Perfect!

I know practice makes perfect but I think I've practiced enough now. I have had so many braxton hicks contractions. They started a few months ago with just a few a day, then when the baby dropped it was more like 4 or so an hour, every hour. They aren't painful just really uncomfortable. It feels like this tightening across my stomach, almost like a Charlie Horse in my abdomen. Sometimes they will come every 7 minutes consistently for hours and then just stop. I know its not real labor because they don't progress even if they are consistent. It's to the point that I wake up about every 15 minutes all night long with them. They are annoying but I know that soon enough it will be the real thing. 

Watch Us Grow!

I put together a slideshow of my belly shots from week 13 through week 34...watch baby Charlotte grow!

Week 33 and 34

Week 33

This week our baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (half a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her 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. 

Changes

I have had a much harder time breathing lately. It feels like there is a brick on my chest. Also, I can barely eat because it is getting so crowded inside that my stomach is so small and squished. Charlotte is running out of room, but she is still super active. The difference is that she is rolling and protruding rather than kicking. I actually saw her foot sticking out of my upper belly the other night. The rolling and protruding is much more pressure than the short quick kicks. 

Nesting

I have been nesting lately. Nesting is quite controlling and has taken over my life really. I get these urges and have to do them. Mark says I will say I "need" to do something and within minutes be up doing it and can't stop tell it is done. The other day I spent 14 straight hours purging the house and put 18 garbage bags and countless boxes at the curb. It was about 2:30am when Mark made me go to bed. It is random things each day, for instance: reorganizing closets and cabinets or cleaning the baseboards. So, my life has been consumed by random urges, but it has been really comical. I tell Mark I am losing my mind. 

Dr. Appointment

We went to the doctor this past Monday. We were able to hear her heartbeat. Everything came in great. And, I am right on track with my weight and blood pressure. The one thing I am doing that is concerning is swelling a lot. They told me to watch my sodium intake and drink lots of water. So, I have been looking at the labels on what I eat and I apparently eat quite a few mg of sodium. I am going to pay more attention to my sodium intake, which is weird because I never really pay attention to labels when I eat. We go back in 2 and half weeks because Mark's day off is changing from Mondays to Fridays with his new job. 

Houston

We made a trip to Houston this week for our nephew's second birthday. The trip was nice. Mark's parents drove Mark and I in their brand new Ford Fusion. The party was nice, it rained some during it, but the kids didn't care too much. It was good to see our brother- and sister-in-law. Next year will be fun because Charlotte will be almost one at Colton's third birthday party. 

Week 34

Our baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (an 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. 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. So, baby Charlotte can arrive anytime now :)

Speaking of....

baby Charlotte's arrival. This past Thursday night I had a hard time sleeping. After being up almost all night I noticed that when I got out of bed early Friday morning there was much more pressure on my pelvic bone. I already carried the baby low and had a lot of pelvic pressure, but I could definitely tell there was more. I put on my maternity belt for support and got ready to go out to Canton. (Mark took our friend Annie and me to Canton) In the car on the way I started to have (Braxton Hicks) contractions. I was having contractions about every ten minutes, if not closer together, but I wasn't quite sure what was going on. Surprisingly, when we got there and were walking around they seemed to go away, or I just couldn't really feel them. But, when we got back in the car to go home they started up again. I realized that night that the baby had dropped and I was in fact having Braxton Hicks Contractions. 

My skin has been stretching and I feel like at any moment, my bellybutton will burst open. Since the baby dropped I have had much more room in my upper stomach. So, I can eat more and bigger meals because my stomach isn't so squished. Although, now I probably eat too much, because I am constantly hungry! 

Saturday Night we went to our friends wedding. I could feel the baby almost the whole time. By the time we left I had contractions in my back as well. When we got home that night I was so uncomfortable. I was up until 5:30 am with contractions. From 2:45 until 5:00 am I had contractions every 13 minutes for about 40 seconds. I was debating on calling the doctor, but the contractions weren't painful really. I probably would have called to see if there was something I should or could do to stop them, but it was the middle of the night. I tried drinking 3 full glasses of water, emptying my bladder, laying on the left side, taking a bath... everything I could think to try. 

Nursery

I have made quite a few advances in the nursery. I finished her quilt and her valance. Also, we picked up a few more items in Canton (a small table and chair set). I have been acquiring little trinkets and decor for her room the past few months. I found a few things this past week on clearance at Hobby Lobby. I will have to post a full post of the final nursery but her are a few more sneak peaks. 

Still Growing

Maternity Pics

Mark and I had some maternity pictures taken this morning. One of our biggest regrets is that we never take pictures together. We really want to change that and capture every moment of Charlotte's life and of our new family. I really wanted to find a photographer that we loved because the only other time we worked with a photographer was for our wedding, and we loved him as a person, but his work was more traditional than what our (or I should say my) style is. 

So, I saw some photos online of an old friend of mine, and I found her photographer on the internet. I looked through her work and immediately fell in love with it. I contacted her online and set up a photo shoot for maternity pictures for this morning. Mark and I aren't very artistic and left the whole thing in her hands. She suggested to do the shoot in Las Colinas down by the Canal. We had never been there but it was so pretty (and we saw the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning Show Studio during the show which was neat because Mark and I really enjoy their show...). We had such a fun and relaxing time, and Mark even enjoyed it (he thought it was going to be cheesy). The photographer is really nice and natural and before we knew we were finished. 

I'm sure you will agree with me when I say that Angie (the photographer) is very talented. She put up a preview of some of our pictures on her blog www.onelifephoto.com/blog and on facebook (tagged to my profile). Here in a few weeks we will have 30-50 photos to show, and we can't wait. I love the ones she has put up so far. We can't wait for her to take pictures of our baby Charlotte! 

Week 31 and 32

First, I apologize that it has been so long since I posted. The good news though is that I am done with the semester and I am done with finals forever! A lot has been going on, so hang in there this is going to be a long post!

Week 31

This week, our baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (about the size of four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so I have had trouble sleeping because our baby's kicks and somersaults keep me up and sometimes make it hard for me to keep down my meals. However, all this moving is good because it is a sign that our baby is active and healthy. I started heartburn prescription medication and have been feeling much better. And, I have been able to eat. 

Week 32

By now, our baby weighs 3.75 pounds (a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in the womb. I'm gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to our baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She 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.

Doctor's Appointment

We went to the doctor on Monday the 4th. He said that I look healthy. They also told me that I lost 7 lbs which was a little concerning. But, later that day I started thinking about it and I really think I gained 3 lbs rather than lost 7, and that the nurse was ten lbs off in her calculations. If I did gain 3 lbs, then that puts me right at 21 total lbs gained which is right where I should be. He wants me to gain 1 lb a week from now on and about 30 lbs total, and with 9 weeks left that would put me right where I should be. I haven't really worried about my weight and have just continued eating the same way I always have. 

One thing we discussed is the baby's due date. Mark and I have always thought the due date might be a little off. Since we changed doctors after the first trimester, it is hard to tell. Although, our baby has measured a little big every time we had a sonogram. The doctor basically said that she is a little big, but nothing to worry about. Because she is big and I carry her so low, he did predict her not staying in the womb until July 7th. He is thinking about two weeks earlier, around June 23rd. But, we will just have to wait and see. It doesn't really matter when it comes down to it because when she is ready and when my body is ready she will come. I am already starting to get anxious waiting for her, so I wouldn't mind if she came early. But, Mark has a competition June 28-30 and he is working through the end of June. So, he would like her to wait until July. 

We Graduated

We had our last LaMaze Class. We learned quite a bit at this class and are definitely glad we took it. I do feel better prepared for childbirth, but I'm terrified of it now. Not really, but birth just doesn't seem all that wonderful to me. At our last class we talked about interventions and instrumental births, which basically tells you everything that could go wrong with birth. At the end of the class we were told to make up our ideal birth plan. Mark got mad at me because I was insisting upon c-section at this point. I was half-way kidding, but at the same time really scared of all the things that could go wrong and I have been through so many surgeries and nothing has ever gone wrong. So, we were kind of upset with each other. Then, we had to spend the last 30 minutes of class doing relaxation techniques, which meant Mark had to hold me and rub my back. By the end of class we weren't mad at each other anymore. Then, when we went to the doctor the next day we discussed our concerns with him. I love our doctor; he was so great with us. He was really reassuring and said that whatever we decide about our birth plan he will stick to. So, we are going to plan on going into labor whenever it happens, and if something happens, rather than using forceps or a vacuum or some kind of intervention we will just do a c-section. Both of us and our doctor are all comfortable with this and on board. And, I am not scared of anything anymore, especially since I am completely confident in my doctor and in Mark as my labor coach. 

We are so Blessed!

We have been blessed by so many friends, family, and loved ones. Mark and I are so appreciative of all who have blessed us. These past few weeks we have had two more showers and spent some special time with our loved ones who have been so supportive and encouraging to us. I am going to save the last two showers for a separate post. 

Canton

Mark and his mom and I all went to Canton. It was so fun to walk around and see all the unique items. It wasn't bad and was overcast so we really weren't hot. However, I did get a little swollen from the humidity. We saw so many cute baby items. We got a cute pacifier holder and nursing blanket clip. Mark's mom bought Charlotte the cutest wooden rocking horse. It is unfinished so Mark is going to finish it to match the nursery. We also found a super cute picture frame.

Update: We're not moving...

Many of you have asked how Mark and I's house search in Dallas is going. Thank you for asking, but after weighing many things we decided we are not moving. We spent many hours searching and even found a few places that would work, but when it came down to it, we were going to have to make too many sacrifices to be in Dallas. So, we will be here in our nice big wonderful house for another year. Then, we will have to see where graduation takes us. 

Pack n Play

Mark's parents bought us a pack n play this past weekend. It was one of the only things left that we need for Charlotte. We really appreciate their generosity! We have a pack n play that has a newborn napper and changing table. If you aren't familiar with a pack n play basically it is a necessity for any baby because it can be a playpen, portable crib, bassinet, and changing table. So, on Monday Mark put it together. When we were in Target buying the pack n play Mark, being funny, asked Charlotte, "If I build it will you come?" He was joking because we were saying it was the last thing we need before she arrives. Well, Mark finished putting it together early Monday evening and then he moved it into the bedroom that night when I was going to bed. 

I was only asleep for a little bit, when I woke up at midnight nauseous. I spent the net two hours in and out of sleep propped up on four pillows and not feeling well. Then, all of a sudden I had a strong back pain, which was weird because I haven't actually had any back pain. It was this strong dull, almost numbing, pain in my lower back. After about 30 seconds I decided to stand up. As soon as I stood up, I doubled over on the floor beside the bed as the pain was now in my lower abdomen/uterus. I called for Mark and he brought me my birth ball and a pillow. I spent a few minutes laying over the ball on all fours because Mark insisted upon it. I kind of thought he was being silly, as he was really wanting me to get in the bathtub too. After about 5 minutes or so, what felt like 20 minutes to me, the pain went away. Mark was on top of everything. I was just confused and knew it wasn't an emergency because it wasn't a stabbing pain, although it was a strong pain. Well, after processing what happen the next day, it was a strong contraction. 

Mark was the best help and remembered everything we were taught in our class. He is going to be the best birth coach. And, I probably should listen to him next time. I probably should have got in the bathtub, which is what you are suppose to do if you go into preterm labor. And, I probably should have called someone, but I wouldn't let him because it was 2 am. So, Mark is just going to have to take the pack n play apart because now Charlotte thinks we are ready for her to come. 

It's Getting a Little Crowded

I am continuing to grow. Most people who see me make some kind of comment along the lines of "wow! You're big!" I think its funny, and I do have to agree I am big. I can say that Charlotte is getting a little more cramp inside the womb as she continues to grow. And, her movements are getting much stronger. She is still just as active as ever. It's such a weird feeling when she rolls across my stomach and stick out a body part. You can just look down and see her sticking out of my stomach. Also, as of last Friday, I have started to really swell. My feet and hands get real puffy at random times. I probably need to drink more water. Here are some updated belly pics. 

Week 30

Only 10 more weeks...

Our baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in the uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

"You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size."--babycenter.com

Changes

Mark bought me a maternity support band yesterday because I was in a lot of pain. I was having lots of pressure on my pelvic bone because I am carrying Charlotte really low. She is kicking me inside of my pelvic bone. My doctor and my LaMaze instructor both suggested that I get a support band because I carry her really low. I started more frequent Braxton Hicks contractions as well as lots of pressure on the upper part of my stomach. The band makes a huge difference, except the Velcro on parts of it can get scratchy. 

My belly-button is diffidently an outie in every possible way. Even through several layers of clothes is sticks out. Apparently, I have started snoring at night. Not to blame this on my daughter, but I wonder if this has something to do with the difficulty breathing because the baby is smooshing everything inside. Also, I can tell I have many moods lately. Not that I switch from moods often or quickly, but I can tell that I am in particular moods. Yesterday I was anxious and very worrisome, while today I was lackadaisical. 

LaMaze Class

This week in class we began with another wonderful labor video. We actually watched 3 or 4 video of birth this week, all of which are from the 80s, and I think are trying to scare us. The one person who chose to get an epidural, didn't seem like she was in much pain. 

We toured the hospital this week as well. They showed us the labor and delivery room and then the rooms upstairs in the Family Center where we will stay for 48 hours (96 if a C-Section). The rooms are all very nice. The birth center has showers, birthing balls, rocking chairs, and all kinds of freedom (we can wear whatever we want to labor and don't have to just wear the hospital gown). Also, we can have as many people as we want in the birth room, although, I think it will just be Mark, me, the nurse, and the doctor. 

The anesthesiologist came and gave a demonstration (not a real one) of the epidural. Baylor actually uses a combined spinal tap and epidural. The needles weren't too big. I actually hate IVs (believe it or not, as I have had so many in my life), because I always get scared I am going to rip them out. I didn't know the epidural is like an IV. So, this part scares me the most. But, it will be nice to have a continual release of medication. 

We learned how to use a birthing ball during pregnancy and birth. I actually already own one because it is just a work out ball. We are suppose to use the ball to help relieve pain and stretch during pregnancy and then we can use it for comfort during labor. I have basically just been sitting on it and rolling/bouncing while watching t.v.. I don't know how much it helps.

Nursery

The chandelier for Charlotte's nursery came last week. We are excited to install it, but Mark is waiting for his dad to come out and help. Here is a picture of it....

We decided that instead of spending $30-60 for a mobile, which Charlotte could only use for 6 months, that we would take that money and put it towards a mini chandelier for her room, which she can use for years. I think that this chandelier will be perfect for Charlotte's nursery.

On Saturday, Mark and his mom and I have plans to go to Canton to look for decor and trinkets for Charlotte's Shabby Chic room. We have heard of and seen some products that are super cute and have come from Canton. I am really excited because I actually have never been, and I know it will be a lot of walking. I am looking forward to see what we find. 

Work Shower

My co-workers and bosses (in the Dean's office at Truett Seminary) threw a lunch shower for Charlotte today. We had McAlister's and cupcakes from SImply Delicious... yumm! It was such a wonderful blessing to celebrate with them!

Here are a few pictures of the day. The first few pictures are of my co-workers and bosses. Then there are a few of me opening up presents. 

All of Charlotte's presents in her crib at home...

Charlotte and I...
(Pardon the clothes. I have raided Mark's dresser for my lounge clothes. His clothes are a little big on me, but they are comfortable for around the house.)

Week 29

Our baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, I'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, I need to be sure to drink milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in our baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Illness

I have been really fortunate to be healthy this whole pregnancy (besides pregnancy complications), and haven't really caught any illnesses or had allergies. However, these past few days have been long. I am trying really hard to keep food down for the baby to get her nutrients and trying to rest and eat popsicles to keep the fever down. Hopefully it will pass soon. In the meantime, I am getting some much needed rest after a long week at school last week. 

The doctor seems to think I caught a stomach flu, however, I think I am just having really bad heartburn. Anything, no matter if it is water or crackers is having a hard time staying down. Also, I have been sleeping in the recliner because it is the only way I can feel comfortable, as soon as I lay down I get ill. So, I think I am just going to have to find a way around this heartburn. I am already taking between 6-8 Tums a day. I might have to stick to a bland diet eaten in small portions for a while.

I have been taking my anti-nausea medication all week, and it is really strong. It pretty much knocks me out. And, while I am out, Mark claims I say and do things which I can't even remember. Apparently, I asked him to get me a water bottle and chocolate from the gas station in the middle of the night. So he went and got me a water bottle and some M&Ms and helped me open them so I could eat them. I would say he is lying, except for the M&M wrapper I found the next day. So, I think I am going to lay off the medication for a while. 

Swing Set

Mark's parents decided to build a swing set for their grandchildren to play on when they come visit. They finished the whole thing in about 2 weeks, and it looks great. Here is a preview... I am sure Charlotte will have a blast! 

Nursery

This past weekend, I spent some time working on Charlotte's bedding for her nursery. Her is a little preview.... this is the bumper laid out around the top of her crib. 

And, this is part of her quilt...

Registry

Mark and I spent some time registering for baby supplies at Target and Babies R Us. Everyone would think this would be a fun task; and it is. However, it is a bit overwhelming as well. There are so many things on the baby checklist, and we don't know if we need all of them. And, if we do think we need them, then we have to figure out the difference between all the different options. It took us at least two trips to each store to complete the registry because we would get headaches from being over-stimulated and have to go home. But, we did it. We decided to forgo the electronic bottle warmer and the microwave sterilizer... if this was a bad decision, please let us know. And, we were trying to find cute girly things but keep the larger purchases more gender neutral, so we could use them in the future. All in all, we are excited for our baby's arrival and slightly overwhelmed at the number of baby products we will need.

Childbirth Class

Mark and I had our first LaMaze class this past Sunday, and it was very interesting. We walked in and the very first thing the instructor did was show us a movie. I think they were trying to scare us, because this movie wasn't very pleasant. It basically showed many women in lots of pain. After the initial shock or scare, we were able to meet some of the other couples. There are 13 couples in our class. I wasn't expecting the class to be so big. I would say that most couples range anywhere from 20-30 years old. This is everyone's first baby except for two couples who this is there second after a 10 year gap. I found it kind of funny to see all 13 of us pregnant ladies waddling around to the bathroom and the snack machine. And, I thought I ate a lot, our class together cleaned out the snack machine, and I didn't even eat anything but my grapes and almonds I brought from home.

We learned about a lot of interesting things such as the anatomy of pregnancy and the baby. We also learned about the signs of labor. I didn't know this but nesting and the feeling of wanting to stay close to home are strong urges or instincts that happen within 2-4 days before labor begins. So, if Mark comes home and everything in the house is clean, he should prepare for me to go into labor in the coming days. 

My favorite part of class is the last 45 minutes where Mark (my "labor coach") has to learn how to "relax" me. I get to lay on blankets and pillows while he has to "conduct my breathing" and I tell him what relaxes me (i.e. a back rub). We also learn long slow breathing techniques, which are very relaxing within themselves. I almost fell asleep. Try to take 6-9 deep breathes in 60 seconds and see how relaxing it is. I enjoy these relaxation techniques, but let me just make one thing clear, I am open to any and all available drugs during my labor. :)

Bump

Here we are... both of us are growing!