36 Weeks

-- 36 Week Belly Bump --

How far along? 36 weeks
Total weight gain: I'm past the point of trying to care about this...let's just chalk it up to being a heck of a lot more than I planned on.
Baby is the size of a: Honeydew melon
Maternity clothes? Most definitely. And this week I stopped wearing my dress pants to work because my feet have swollen so much that I don't fit into my work shoes...so it is scrubs and tennis shoes from here on out!
Stretch marks? More popping up on my lateral backside...unfortunately these won't be coverable with a swimsuit (not that I was thinking that was going to be an option ever again anyway)
Sleep: Really cannot complain here!
Best moment this week:  What I'm calling our last hoorah - we celebrated Tiff's birthday Saturday night just going to Keller's and then Sheri's bar in Milford for the evening. Ended up not getting home until after 1 but it was so worth it. I'm pretty sure Daddy realized it was his last hoorah for awhile too - he felt it the next morning :) Also got the Christmas decorations put up this weekend. I had been looking forward to it for SO long, but then when it came down to my last chance to do it I was too tired and didn't feel like doing it. BUT, I decided that Baby Girl cannot come home on her first Christmas and not have a tree or any decorations so I powered through it and got it all done. I will be thankful when I am cuddling a sweet little girl by my Christmas tree here in a few weeks :)
Miss anything? Still pretty content right now!
Movement: Nothing new here...she must be getting pretty squished in there!
Food cravings: Nothing particularly, but if I had to say I would still say chocolate chip cookies taste pretty awesome.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Gender: Sweet baby girl :)
Baby Name: Yep!
Labor Signs: Still braxton-hicks, and possibly some rare legit contractions that start in my back and feel more like PMS cramps and not just my belly getting hard.
Symptoms: Heartburn, and even more swelling in my legs and feet, and hands especially in the mornings. Also having worsening back pain these past few weeks...worst between my shoulder blades especially when I'm sitting.
Comments Solicited from Others: Nothing this week.
Belly Button in or out? Flat as a board
Wedding rings on or off? Definitely off. My bracelets and watches don't fit now either.
Happy or Moody most of the time: More and more uncomfortable, but still content for the most part.
Looking forward to: Going home for Thanksgiving!

On Saturday we went to the one and only class that I signed us up for during this pregnancy. We attended a 4 hour class at Milkworks to learn as much as we could about breastfeeding in advance. I haven't talked about this much on the blog, but I am very uneasy about the whole breastfeeding concept. I am repulsed by it when I even see someone doing it in public and am scared that I am not going to be able to do it because the thought of it kinda wierds me out (apparently my mom was the exact same way). BUT, I want what is best for our baby so I want to give it my best shot. I knew that I needed to know as much as I could about it before we even go to deliver so that I can give it my best. So I have done some research and then Dan agreed to go to the class with me (without any begging, he was so sweet about wanting to be there to support me). It was just a basics class and we did learn some things that I think will come in useful. At the very least we won't be completely lost when it comes down to trying it out. I am going into this whole thing with a very open mind, and I am going to give breastfeeding my best shot...but if it doesn't work out I am not going to beat myself up about it either. I am so very thankful that I have such a supportive husband that would go to a class like that with me where he had to have been very uncomfortable. But he handled it like a champ and it ended up being some nice time together.

In other news, we had another doctor's appointment on Monday, and everything still looks great. Her heart rate was 136 and I am measuring right at 36 weeks (happy to hear I wasn't too small like every thinks I am). I was dilated 2 cm and 30% effaced. We go back again in a week and a half and are anxious to see if things are still progressing!

Love and Prayers in Week 37, Little Miss! We cannot wait to meet you!!