Well hello there, December! I surely didn't expect you to arrive so soon, but here you are! It's officially baby girl's birth month! I have to say that when I first found out that we were expecting, I imagined what this time of year would be like, when I was close to delivery and the magic of Christmas was all around. It was easy to dream up the coziness I would be feeling, and sure enough it has not disappointed. What I didn't imagine was the way I would feel this late into pregnancy, the possibility of baby not being in the right position, and so on. You know, I kind of left the details out of the equation in my excitement over a pregnancy that we had prayed for and were completely surprised with. Pregnancy has been one of the hardest things I've experienced, but it's also been the most rewarding. With less than a month until we meet our girl, I'm feeling everything from pure exhaustion to total elation! Life is about to take a huge turn, and we're ready for the sweetness of it even in the chaos. Hello, parenthood, here we come!
How far along? In the 36th week
Baby's Size: A honeydew || approximately 17ish-19ish inches and anywhere from 4.2-5.8 pounds
Gender: Sweet girl!
Baby Fact: Baby girl is getting so close to being able to breathe on her own. Her skin is also getting smooth and soft, her liver and kidneys are in working order, and her circulation and immune systems are basically good to go.
Weight Gain: 26 pounds as of a week and a day ago. At this point, it feels like a lot more!
Baby's Movement: Baby girl loves to wiggle right across my belly. Seeing that she is still sideways (yes, we've still got a transverse baby on our hands), I can see her movements from head to rump. And she loves to stretch out her little neck causing her head to be very visible on my stomach. I can also feel what I imagine are her arms/hands and legs/feet stretching out. Sometimes that isn't so comfy.
Maternity Clothes: Let's just forget maternity clothes all together. I'd be much happier in pajamas or sweats!
Sleep: I'm' not sure I know what sleep is anymore. From bathroom breaks, to congestion, aching hips, and fingers that fall asleep, I'm not getting quality sleep any longer. I'm guessing this is all in preparation for a newborn.
Symptoms: Acid reflux (check); swollen feet, ankles, and fingers (check); congestion and a constant tickle in my throat (check); lower back pain (check); fingers that fall asleep while I'm sleeping (check); hip discomfort (check); electric like shocks through my legs when standing up after sitting awhile (check); puffy face (check); no more wearing of my wedding bands (check). I've got all the pregnancy symptoms, or so it feels like it!
Cravings: Ice cold water and juice, crunchy and cold fruit (think grapes), peppermint patties, and cereal.
Miss Anything? My sleep.
Best Moment This Week: Getting our Christmas tree and decorating! It means baby girl is so very close to being here!
Worst Moment This Week: The realization that my body is not the energizer bunny. That I'm just not capable of going full speed ahead, and that's okay.
Looking Forward To: The doctor turning baby girl. In all reality, I'm not actually looking forward to it, but I know that it's a step in the right direction of meeting our girl. It will answer a lot of questions in regards to her birth, or at least I hope so. Your prayers for a successful external version (manually turning baby girl down) without causing her any distress would be so appreciated!
How's Husband? More and more excited everyday to meet baby girl! He's been a great help at getting all things ready and doing the things I can no long do (like bend over to pick something up). He's also been a trooper at helping with more of the house stuff as my body tires out much quicker than ever before. I've got to say, I love our teamwork!
In case you missed it:
WEEK 22
WEEK 23
WEEK 24
WEEK 25
WEEK 26
WEEK 27
WEEK 28
WEEK 29
WEEK 30
WEEK 31
WEEK 32
WEEK 33
WEEK 34
WEEK 35
WEEK 23
WEEK 24
WEEK 25
WEEK 26
WEEK 27
WEEK 28
WEEK 29
WEEK 30
WEEK 31
WEEK 32
WEEK 33
WEEK 34
WEEK 35
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