35 weeks

They baby is now the size of a honeydew melon, about 5 1/4 lbs, and about 18 inches long. No wonder I'm so uncomfortable! Most of the baby's physical development is complete, the next few weeks he/she'll be putting on weight.

I can't believe there are only 5 weeks left! We just ordered our diapers, now we have to start washing everything! It's getting scary! I will have to take a new picture soon, it seems like I got a lot bigger just the other day!

34 weeks

At 34 weeks, the baby is about the size of a cantaloupe, between 4 3/4 and 5 lbs. The baby's fat layers — which will help regulate body temperature once he/she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. The baby's skin is also smoother than ever. The central nervous system is maturing and the 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. That's kind of scary that I really could have my baby at any time. I'm counting on at least 2 more weeks though!

6 weeks left....and with the possibilty of 2 weeks left, we have 2 diapers. Looks like I need to place an order!

John and I took a last minute trip to Palm Springs, California this week. We decided on Thursday night we were going and left Sunday morning, and came back Wednesday night. John was there on business and I went just for fun. We are really glad we went, it was a nice vacation before the baby comes! Palm Springs is in the middle of the desert, so it was hot hot hot! But, dry, so it was very comfortable! I pretty much just laid around the pool while John was busy. We met up with my cousin Katie on Tuesday and it was great to see her! I took most of my pictures on my underwater camera, and it's film, so I don't have those to post.

We saw windmills everywhere in the desert on our drive from the airport to the hotel.


Here is our view from our hotel room!


Here are some photos of the pools at the resort and views from the pool area.








And here's my belly.

33 weeks

Wow, time is flying. I'll be full term in 4 weeks. I can have my baby at the alternative birthing center safely in 3 weeks. Ok, lets not think about that anymore.



And the baby is as large as a pineapple, about 4 lbs.

The baby is rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in the skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him 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 his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

My book says I might start "nesting" soon. Yeah, right. I wish. I do keep waiting for this crazy desire to clean to happen, but it doesn't. It also says I should make food and freeze it for when the baby comes. Seriously? I can barely cook for myself right now, much less cook for myself a few months down the road.

I'm having bad pain that I think is my sciatic nerve. It's different every day, some days I can barely walk (that makes work really difficult) and other days I don't feel it at all.

I got my diaper bag, and I just love it! I never thought I'd be excited about a diaper bag. But, I have always loved purses, and this will be my purse for the next couple of years.




I'm dressed up in that photo, because we were on our way to our debt free dinner celebration! Yes, John and I are free of credit card debt. We thought it might never happen, and thankfully it did happen now, because with a baby, it may have never happened. We have a great respect for credit cards now, and we will NEVER fall into that trap again.

We babysat Marcel for a short time the other night, and lets just say we aren't ready for a baby that walks yet. Thank goodness they just lay there at first. Walking babies are stressful!

32 weeks and 4 years

Thursday was a big day this week. I'm 32 weeks pregnant, and John and I had our 4 year anniversary. We spent our anniversary at work, and a 3 hour hypnobirthing class. Fun! John did come take me out to lunch though.



That is a jicama...and that is the size of the baby this week. I had no idea what a jicama was, but I guess it's like a Mexican potato. A big potato, because the baby is supposed to weigh about 3.75 lbs.

The baby is taking up a lot of space in my uterus. I'm supposed to be gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to the baby. In fact, the baby gain a third to half of it's birth weight during the next 7 weeks as it fattens up for survival outside the womb. He/she now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). The skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

I'm pretty miserable a lot of the time now. I'm uncomfortable in nearly any position, except standing and that makes me tired. The baby's bottom (I think) really hits me in the ribs, a LOT, and it drives me crazy. I can't eat as much anymore, because my stomach is so crowded, but it doesn't mean I'm not hungry. Work is rough. Putting socks and shoes on is rough. Forget about bending over. I make this noise sometimes if I bend over to pick something up, and John comes running, just to find out all I was doing was bending.

My brother in law Greg turned 30 on Monday, and I don't really like that, because it's means I'm almost 30 too. Although, having a baby makes 30 not seem as bad as it once did.

I forgot to add this last week...here's me at 31 weeks.