{36} Weeks

How far along: 36 Weeks

                                                                   Weeks to go: 4

Baby is the size of: Head of romaine lettuce

Gender Prediction: Girl

Weight gain: 31 (lost 2 lbs)
Symptoms: Hips hurt, Nesting like CRAZY, leg cramps, and holy heartburn/indigestion!

Mood: Yowzers. I'm an emotional wreck .. watch out.

Maternity clothes: Over them. No, but really.. I'm selling most of them after this because if I get pregnant again I just want all new. None of them fit. I'm always uncomfortable no matter what I'm wearing.

Cravings: Milk, Sweets, Fruit

Aversions: Just raw meat.. per usual.

Sleep: Not amazing, for sure. I really think I would sleep fine if Trice weren't in bed with me.. but it's just so restricting. 

Movement: Lots 'o movement!

Labor Signs: Had some strong Braxton Hicks this week (see below), baby has dropped, waddling

Best moment this week: Finally getting all of our hair cuts! Going out for supper Sunday night with my dad!
Worst moment this week: Stomach flu. Enough said. It was brutal. I got so dehydrated I started having strong consistent contractions. Trice only slept a total of 4 hours that night .. so it was just not fun. They were going to put me on an IV for dehydration, but they let me go home with the agreement that I would come back if I couldn't keep any fluids down that night. Luckily I was able to! I didn't eat anything from noon on Tuesday to lunch on Friday .. poor baby starving inside of me!

Maternity pictures also did NOT go well. Picture day is ALWAYS stressful and I ALWAYS ask myself why we pay for them. It was SO windy that last minute we had to have htem inside our house -- not a fan .. so it was stressful to say the least. Trice was way crazy with them being at our house, and we didn't capture any of the shots I had hoped for. Oh well. 

Miss anything: Comfy clothes when I'm sick! 

Trice's Thoughts this Week: If someone even starts to mention baby, Trice says, "WE DON'T KNOW!" because he knows the next question will be if it's going to be a boy or a girl. Apparently he is over it. He is a little too lovey with my tummy these days and it's a bit painful. He wants ALL of baby's things/wants to be in ALL of baby's things.
Appointment Notes: Heartbeat was much lower (due to me being sick we think) -- 130. I tested positive for Group B strep again which was very disappointing. We had hoped to have as little interventions as possible during labor this time, but it is one thing that makes me nervous so I will get the antibiotics (which is unfortunate since I don't even like antibiotics for my child ever) ... just praying there are no complications from this. Other than that, all is well -- baby is head down. My doctor answered ALL my questions and calmed my fears!!

{Big Brothers} are a {BIG} Deal

When I was pregnant with Trice, we were so excited to be having our first child. Pregnancy #2 has brought that same joy but in different ways -- one of them was getting to share it with Trice. I am incredibly excited to see him as a big brother. I know it will be a HUGE adjustment for all of us and there are still times I wonder how my heart will possibly have room for another blessing .. but it will. 

Big Brother Bag packed full of goodies!

So what's inside?! Well, I took a picture of it all but then realized his shirt that matches baby's coming home outfit was in the picture, and I don't want anyone to see it before he's wearing it .. so .. this is the best picture you'll get of the contents! 

1. Dinosaur Color Activity Book w/Crayons

2. Mini Magna Doodle

3. Stuffed Dinosaur

4. Lots of Big Brother and New Baby books!

5. A Book to make funny faces using stickers

6. New baby -- Baby came with a newborn hat, diaper, one outfit, swaddle blanket and bottle. I added a little diaper bag and a pacifier, blankie that matches the big blankie Trice sleeps with every night. There's even a little "birth certificate" with it so we'll let him name his baby -- most likely "Motorcycle."

7. A few snacks for the hospital! 

Trice's Present for Baby

This is a small gift Trice will bring baby when he comes to the hospital to meet him/her! He is SO excited about it. 

Don't mind that it's out of focus -- I was being lazy and used auto mode! Don't mind that it's sideways either.. 

Trice picked out the dinosaur and the monkey rattle. I added the blankie that matches his big blankie and the blankie in his bag! Thank goodness my second mother, Kathy, made so many matching blankets! :) (Today I found a little Iowa State board book I bought before I was ever even pregnant with Trice .. so that got added!)