Bumpdate: 37 Weeks

 How Far Along: 37 Weeks! Full TERM - but still technically, and ideally 3 more weeks to go!

Baby is the size of: Bunch of swiss chard
 
Total Weight Gain: 34 pounds

Sleep: I've been sleeping really well. Actually, Friday night was probably the best night's sleep I've had in a long time. I fell asleep at 9:30 p.m. on the couch in the living room (the earliest I've fallen asleep in probably...I don't know...10 years?!) We finally went up to bed at 1:30 a.m. and though I didn't fall back asleep until after 2:30, I slept straight through till 8:30 on Saturday morning. I felt so good and refreshed on Saturday!

Best Moment of the week:
*We set up the baby monitors in the house! These are amazing because we can access the video from our iphones no matter where we are. We put one in the living room and one in the nursery. We've been enjoying spying on Zoey while we're at work. We found her sleeping on a part of the couch she is not allowed to sleep on...what a little rebel! She's been playing us for fools!

*Funny for me...but not for Zoey. This is Zoey trying to sit on my lap on Saturday morning. She gets so confused when she can't sit all the way down anymore. She has to either perch or sit on my lap sideways.

*Washed and packed the baby's coming home outfit. My parents got this outfit when they were in Italy this past summer:

*My boss finally hired my replacement so I can finally get started on training someone! She's great and I think she will be a fine addition to the team at work.

Worst Moment of the Week:
*I tested postive for Group B Strep at the doctors. This occurs in about 20-30% of pregnancies and according to my doctor is completely normal/natural, and there is no way to prevent it. It just means that I have a particular strain of bacteria that's fine for me, but could cause a problem for my baby. I will need an IV of pennicilin immediately upon arrival to the hospital for delivery in order to make sure that the bacteria is not transmitted to the baby. I'm not happy about it, but in the grand scheme of things, this is pretty minor, and not something I should be losing sleep over. Also, just because I have it for this pregnancy, doesn't mean I will have it for my next pregnancy.

*Major spotting after my doctor's appointment, followed by cramps. Spotting lasted about 4 days.

Miss Anything: Red Wine

Food Cravings: I've noticed I'm having my typical PMS symptoms: going back and forth from salty to sweet things. I'll have a cookie and then really want pretzels or crackers right after.

Anything make you queasy or sick: No...but I'm getting way fuller faster, and have had a decreased appetite the past two days.

Have you started to show?

Gender: Team Green!
I was stopped in the street this week on my lunch break by a random delivery man. He did a double-take before pointing to my stomach and saying "Boy!...November 30th!" It was so random, that I actually believe this random delivery man has some prophetic sense and that I will be delivering a boy on 11/30. We shall see!

Symptoms:
*Def. feeling Toni Braxton hicks contractions now

*I've had some spotting from my appointment on Thursday, and 4 days after. At the appointment I was told that I am a "tight 1 centimeter dilated"

*Serious serious pregnancy brain. I'm repeating stories to Chris, having no recollection of telling them to him. I can't think of basic words. I needed to ask Chris where the paper towels were on Saturday and I think it took me a minute to think of the words "paper towels" to explain what I was looking for.

*SOOO out of breath. Just to explain things in training at work, makes me breathless. It's embarassing.

*Back aches. I noticed a signifiant decrease in energy this past weekend. Things are getting really challenging and exhausting for me.

*I've definitely dropped! My stomach is not nearly as high as it used to be. I feel increased pressure in my pelvic area.

Workouts: Walks with my Zoey! We walk a mile every morning before breakfast.

Mood: Very overwhelmed, primarily with work. Wrapping things up at work is stressful.

Looking forward to: 
Starting maternity leave, continuing to get the house in order. 

Maternity Clothes: Yes...so hoping I can stretch these out for another 3-4 weeks. And anyway, once I'm not working anymore I can lounge around in Chris's big 'ol t-shirts for all I care.

Stretchmarks:
Just a few on my sides that I've been using BioOil on regularly.

Rings on or off?
Wedding Band on (most days), Engagement ring off  - I missssss it :(

Bellybutton in or out? OUT

This week I:
*Did about 52,000 loads of laundry: Washed the car seat, the bouncer, baby clothes, swaddle blankets, bed sheets, changing table pads, socks, hats, etc. etc. This cuteness should be illegal:

*Installed the car seat bases into both cars (took about an hour...these things are complicated!)

*Did some major clean-up of the nursery! Still lots to do, but I would at least feel comfortable bringing a baby home to the room now.

*Finished and mailed all my thank you's!

*Attended a breastfeeding class. More on this tomorrow

*More crazy cuteness....baby socks!

Reading: Just hospital packet information. These days, if it's not baby related reading material, I can't focus on it.

Milestones: "Your baby is simulating breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, sucking on his or her thumb, blinking, and pivoting from side to side (one day you feel the tushy on the left side, another day it has swung around to the right side). Here's an interesting fact: Your baby's head (which, by the way, is still growing) will, at birth, be the same size circumference as his or her hips, abdomen, and shoulders." The baby is still just growing fat at this point. 

Bumpdates:
Week 36
Week 35
Week 34
Week 33
Week 32
Week 31

Week 30

Week 29 
Week 28

Week 27

Week 26

Week 25

Week 24

Week 23

Week 22

Week 21
Week 20

Week 19
Week 18
Week 17
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
First Trimester

Linking up with Kristin for Baby Talk Tuesday