36 weeks - Maternity Photoshoot!

How far along: 36 weeks and 6 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: Honeydew Melon Total weight gain: 30 lbs.  Exercise: 1 day prenatal yoga, walk around the neighborhood with Matt, a hike in the Wissahickon with Rachel and lots of going up and down the stairs as I get the rest of the house organized before baby comes! Maternity clothes: I'm ready to wear some regular clothes again! My maternity cycle of clothing is wearing thin... especially with the warm weather we're having. One pair of shorts isn't really cutting it. Sleep: I wake up about 4 times now to go to the bathroom, but it doesn't seem to interrupt my sleep much. I'm normally not a morning person (love sleeping in until at least 9) but now I'm ready to go by 7:30 or 8, which is pretty exciting because I never thought I would be able to do that without feeling worn out. Baby is training me well! Best moment(s) of this week: Going to the Kutztown Folk Festival and trying some Dutch treats, getting awesome maternity pictures taken by Sheryl, and having a great baby appointment on Wednesday where my midwife said everything looks good and that he is average size. Keep on cooking little guy!

Miss anything: This doesn't have much to do with pregnancy, but more with living far away from my closest friends and family. I miss the deep relationships and the ability to spend time with people I have a history with. I don't know if that will ever get easier or not... Movement: All the time, and lots of hiccups. Hoping for a strong, healthy boy! Food cravings: Watermelon, cold water, salad, ice cream :) Symptoms: A little swelling this week when we were outside in the heat at the festival on Saturday - my feet and ankles ballooned up a little, but once we got home and I was able to lay down it was much better. Gender: I think we've got the name! But still not revealing it... :) Belly button in or out: So out.  Wedding rings on or off: On, but only swollen day, I didn't have a choice, there was no way they were going to budge. I had sausages for fingers. Looking forward to: Baby appointment on Wednesday and Matt having a 4 day weekend! Woo hoo!

35 weeks - Happy Birthday to Matt! And Nursery Pictures!!

How far along: 35 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: Coconut - I'm guessing this is in comparison to the weight? - About 18.5 inches long. Total weight gain: 29 lbs.  Exercise: 1 day prenatal yoga, 3 mile walk to Chestnut Hill with Sheryl, 5 mile kayak trip with Matt for his birthday. :) Maternity clothes: Everything is just tight these days, my smalls and mediums even in maternity clothes are getting stretched to the max. Only a few more weeks left! Sleep: Still sleeping well, multiple bathroom breaks, but luckily I am able to fall back asleep quickly... However, Matt woke up this week in the middle of the night, and I somehow also woke up to see him sitting upright, and I asked him what was going on, and he said, "I'm just being a turtle." He then laid down, rolled over and didn't wake again until the morning, where I then proceeded to tell him about the nights events... and he never remembered a thing. Maybe too much time with our almost 3 year old niece? ;) Best moment(s) of this week: Celebrating Matt's 29th birthday today with a 2 hour kayaking trip atGreen Lane Reservoir and U-Pick Strawberries at Long View Farms. - What a year! Full of many transitions and celebrations, struggles and joys - There is no one else I would rather share life with than Matt. 

Miss anything: Nothing is really slowing me down at the moment, my energy level has remained strong in the last week, so I will continue to ride this wave! Movement: Sometimes he feels like a little frog in my stomach, bending his legs and straightening them constantly. I'm hoping he will be able to walk (after all of his leg strengthening exercises) when he comes out. :) Food cravings: English muffins with raspberry jam and butter every night for dessert.  Symptoms: Leg cramps at night if I flex my toes - ouch! - nothing else, just a growing tummy!  Gender: Boy - We have settled on a middle name! Hooray! That's all for now... Belly button in or out: Popped out.  Wedding rings on or off: On, I'm determined to keep them on! Looking forward to: My next baby appointment on Wednesday - it's always nice to hear a little update on my progress. Then I'll be going weekly from here on out! Woo hoo! He's almost here!

**And last but not least, here are the nursery pictures as promised! (A few photos missing from the walls still, but overall complete!)**

My craft area - Why does a tiny baby need a whole room to themselves when they are first born?

34 weeks - Live from Ocean City, NJ

Me and my sister-in-law Kim - Our due dates are 10 days apart!

How far along: 34 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: Cantaloupe - About 18 inches long. Total weight gain: 28 lbs.  Exercise: 1 day prenatal yoga, and some walks around the neighborhood. I cancelled my gym membership because this was the last week of school and I won't be close enough to go during the week. :( Looking forward to more outdoor time and swim time at AFS! Maternity clothes: I like Matt's shirts and Adidas shorts these days.. especially around the house, not in public. Sleep: I feel well-rested, just waking up to go to the bathroom.. but nothing out of the ordinary! Best moment(s) of this week: Matt has been out of town this week for work, but it's been fun having dinner with Mike and Kim, and a slumber party with Rachel while he's been gone. And.. I can't forget - it was the last week of school! So many sweet surprises from families and a thoughtfully done book by Tamara that included quotes from each student about me and their pictures - definitely reminded me of how thankful I am for the year I have had at AFS. Miss anything: Wearing my normal summer clothes, but give me another month or two and maybe at least one of those pairs of shorts will fit! Movement: Went to the midwife again on Wednesday and she said he is still head down and will most likely stay there until birth - fingers crossed! His legs have been going from the left side to the right side, he's really making the most of the room he has left! Food cravings: Buffalo Chicken Pizza, all week long... Symptoms: I'm starting to wonder how much water actually stays in my body - considering every time I drink water, I have to use the bathroom about a half hour later! Baby hiccups daily - he's getting his lungs ready!  Gender:  The name conversation has come up again, and I think we went through every name possible, including many silly ones, and.. it's closer, but no actual decision. Well, we have the middle name, but not the first yet.. any suggestions?? Belly button in or out: I think it's as out as it can get..but I'll keep an eye on it.  Wedding rings on or off: Still on, but a little snug. There was actually a point in time today where I couldn't get it off. Looking forward to: Another shore trip on Sunday (today) with friends and family. Can't wait until we can play with our little one in the sand! But until then... Mommy and Daddy will just enjoy some sun bathing and relaxing without responsibilities.
*Next week will be the nursery reveal! The crib is now put together and everything is starting to look more organized. Just a few more things to hang up on the walls and we're set! Yay! 

33 weeks

How far along: 33 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: Pineapple - About 17 inches long. Total weight gain: 27 lbs.  Exercise: 1 day at the gym, no prenatal yoga this week, but did some resting because of a cold. Maternity clothes: Anything with an elastic waistband is THE best.  Sleep: Still using the bathroom about 2-3 times a night, but have worked out a new strategy where I keep my eyes closed as I walk the five steps to the bathroom and keep them closed the entire time until I get back into bed.. it makes me feel like I haven't lost any sleep that way. :) Best moment(s) of this week: Feeling confident in Matt's birth coaching abilities as he answered many questions correctly in our Bradley Method class on Monday night. Miss anything: Rolling over with ease Movement: Well, his new trick is to stick his bottom up in the middle of my belly and then kick his legs straight out into my right side. Maybe he will be a tall little guy.  Food cravings: Bread, Trader Joes Handmade tortillas with melted cheddar cheese, roasted vegetables Symptoms: Frequent bathroom use, growing stomach Have you started to show yet: Not at all ;) Gender:  The name conversation has come up again, and we're definitely narrowing it down.  Belly button in or out: Changing shapes daily. Wedding rings on or off: Still on, but a little snug.  Looking forward to:  Going to the shore on Sunday with Mike, Kim, Dave, Sheryl and the kids, AND picking up our crib next weekend and getting the rest of the nursery set-up! Pictures to come soon. 

32 weeks - And the heat is on!

Silhouette?

How far along: 32 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: Large Jicama - About 16.7 inches long. Total weight gain: 26 lbs. - I think I may have actually stayed the same this week - due to the large amount of sweat I have emitted from the recent 90+ degree days.  Exercise: 1 prenatal yoga class, not gym exercise, but sweating, lots of sweating. Maternity clothes: Loose and flowy Sleep: Well, this has sure been an interesting week for sleep... with hot weather, and having to get up to go to the bathroom 2-3 times a night, sleep has been somewhat interrupted... until... Matt installed the AC unit in our room! Woo! Thank you Matt! So wonderful to have cool and comfortable sleep the past two nights.  Best moment(s) of this week: Great visit with the midwife, saying that baby boy is head down in theLOA position, which she believes he will stay in until he is born.. right where he needs to be! Yay! Lots of fun moments at school as well, with Beach Day for the kids, and sewing costumes for their class play, the year is winding down.  Miss anything: Nothing at the moment, just getting more and more excited to hold and snuggle with our baby boy each day. Movement: He loves to make his bottom stick out on my belly and I feel lots of kicks and hand movements on the right side. He's always shifting around and getting cozy, which is exciting to know he's active and healthy. Food cravings: Ice cream, COLD water, fruit, cucumbers Symptoms: Heartburn is new this week, so I'll have to stray away from the spicy foods and bagels with cream cheese? Strange, I know... but every morning after I have a bagel with cream cheese the heartburn sets in... Have you started to show yet: Showing and growing daily! Gender:  Strangely enough, I have had two grown men in different locations state that I am having a boy, based on what I'm looking like. One man in Home Depot even decided it was appropriate to chant, "It's a boy, it's a boy, it's a boy!" - How do they know??? Belly button in or out: I've never seen this part of my belly button before... Wedding rings on or off: ON Looking forward to: Hanging out in the sunshine all weekend, and getting the nursery finished (pictures hung, crib set-up, clothes washes, cloth diapers washed)... it's getting closer!