One month left

Well.. it's officially one month until my due date. Tomorrow I will be 36 weeks and my life of weekly appointments has started. How exciting. For some reason 36 weeks seems a lot closer than 35. The start of 35 weeks depressed me, 5 weeks left seemed like so much for some reason! 

This week, I'm going to have my first check to see if I'm progressing at all. That seems absolutely crazy to me! I think I'll be a little sad if they say there's no sign of anything, but then again, I have 4 weeks left, so I won't be surprised. 

How far along? 36 weeks tomorrow

Total weight gain/loss: I haven't weighed myself since last week where I was about 33 pounds up.

Sleep: The last two nights have been really stressful for some reason! Derek was planning on working out before work this morning and I woke up so much overwhelmed by the fact that he wouldn't be there in the morning to get ready for work with me. Why that matters, I have no clue! But it kept me awake. The night before I was having stressful dreams that woke me up.

Food cravings: Nothing in particular. I've had more of a sweet tooth than usual, but not for anything specific.

Best moment this week: Today when I realized the due date is exactly one month from today.

Movement: Going strong. I ate some pineapple and strawberries and the baby was kicking like crazy right away. He/she must have liked that choice!

Gender: Your guess is as good as mine!

Labor Signs: More braxton hicks and some cramping earlier this week. The BHs are starting to get a little meaner, but nothing awful.

Belly Button in or out? Still out. Not going in until after baby.

What I miss: Sitting on the couch without my back hurting! Really... sitting everywhere except bed. Thank God our bed is comfortable!

What I am looking forward to: Finding out if I'm progressing at all on Thursday.

Weekly Wisdom: Nothing really... just kind of taking it easy.

Milestones: Just finally, only having one month left. 

Photo Update!

I have some new belly pictures to show off! 

How far along are you? 

35 weeks, tomorrow

Total weight gain: 

33 pounds as of this morning

How big is baby?:  

No clue! Last dr visit, at 33 weeks, I was measuring 34 cm. That's as much info as I get since we only get a 20 week ultrasound. 

Maternity clothes: 

Yep- still shirts and jeans. My big pajama shirts are now becoming midrif shirts. Derek got some tshirts from his parent's house and gave them to me. Hopefully they fit! 

Stretch marks?:  

Yeah :o( They seem to be slowing down though. 

Sleep?: 

I've been good with sleep still! I wake up about 3 times to go to the bathroom, but I'm pretty good at falling back to sleep after. 

Best moment this week?:

Finishing the bedroom! Derek and my father in law finished painting and putting up the shelves. Today I organized and did all the laundry- sheets, clothes, burp clothes, blankets, etc. It was the most fun I ever had doing laundry. Here's the room! 

 

Movement?: 

Lots of it! This baby LOVES to move my belly around. 

Food cravings?:

Cookies and cream ice cream or oreo McFlurries. I don't know that it's really a craving, but it just sounds good at any moment. 

Food aversions?:

Nothing really. 

Labor signs?: 

No more than usual. Just braxton hicks contractions. 

Belly button in or out?: 

Still an outtie. I hope it goes back in! LOL 

What I miss: 

Being able to get up from sitting easily. I can still do it fine, but it just takes extra effort! 

What I'm looking forward to: 

Meeting this baby! I can't wait! 5 weeks seems like FOREVER! 

What I'm not looking forward to: 

Being surprise attacked by labor. I hate not knowing when/where I'll be! 

Milestone: 

If I go into labor, they aren't going to stop it! I may have said that last time, though. Maybe at my Dr. appointment on Thursday, they'll tell me a new milestone :o) 

A letter to baby Shupe

Today when baby Shupe was kicking me, I was thinking, I wonder if he/she realizes that I poke back and what is going through that little head? 

Then it hit me... I will never know! This little baby won't remember all these fun times we're already having together and that totally bums me out! So I figured I'd write him/her a letter and maybe someday I can give it to him/her. 

Dear Baby Shupe, 
        I don't really, actually know you yet, we've never met, but I know you more than anyone else in the whole world knows you! 
        I know way, way back to a few months ago, I felt little flutters and while I was watching TV and I felt really silly when I turned the volume way down so I could feel the flutters better. That was the first time you made me laugh! Of course I was laughing at myself, but it was because of you. That's something you'll learn when you grow up, me and your daddy are really good at laughing at ourselves and making each other laugh, too. I think you'll be the same way. 
        Then a few weeks later, I was laying on my side on your daddy's lap and I felt you moving and kicking! That was the most exciting moment of my whole life... 24 years lead up to that one perfect moment on the couch. It was really fun. I learned about you that if I wanted to feel you kicking me, I had to lay a very certain way, and the best way was when your daddy was my pillow. I could lay like that forever if it meant I got to know that you were there.
       Sometimes when you kick me, I want to remember that moment so I can ask you about it later. I think, "Wow! That was a big kick, baby Shupe will have to remember that one!" But then, I realize you're just an itty-bitty, little thing and I'll have to tell you about it someday. It makes me a little sad because those are our first times playing together and you won't remember them, but I can already imagine the day when I tell you all about when you kicked mommy's belly. That makes me smile because I'll really be able to see you then! Maybe you'll be sitting on my lap or I'll be tucking you into bed and I'll tell you all the stories I can remember about things before you can remember! 
        Like, when your daddy leaves in the morning, he always rubs my belly and says bye to you and when he comes home, he always rubs my belly, too! He sure loves you a lot already. I think you know him, even though sometimes you're a little stinker and you stop moving around when he's trying to play with you. 
        I also know that you are already so loved! Not only by me and your daddy, but your grandmas and grandpas and cousins. Your cousin Xander calls you "baby boy cousin," he says that's your name and he thinks you're a boy. I wonder if he's right? 
        In just about a month, we are going to meet for the very first time and I know I'm going to never, ever want to let you out of my arms because I waited a long 9 months to see your cute face and touch your soft skin. But I will let you out of my arms because that's something mommy's do... they share. And I know in 5 years I'll remember how hard it was to be in the same room with you while someone else held you, but then you'll maybe be at a friend's house and I think it'll feel just as hard as the first time I let you out of my arms. 
        I have so much to tell you, but I know I have years and years to hold you and tell you lots of stories. Even though you might not remember these things, I know I'll never, ever forget them. 
        I love you so much, baby! 
Love, 
Mommy 

46 days left

I can't believe there are 46 days left before baby Shupe gets here! It seems so far away and so close at the same time. I have to remind myself that even though I have to wait a little more than 6 weeks until he/she is here, I will get to have the rest of my life with him/her. It just seems like forever at this point. 

I had yet another dream the baby was here. It was a boy and it was so fun telling everyone the name. Anyway, here's something fun to update! 

How far along? 33 weeks 3 days

Total weight gain/loss: up a little more than 30 pounds. Oye! 

Maternity clothes? Shirts, yes. Work pants, no, jeans, yes. I love to wear dresses to work though, because tights are so much easier than pants! 

Stretch marks? yes. Those dumb things came about 2 weeks ago and they were not welcome. Oh well. 

Sleep: Well, I love it. I fall asleep on the couch just about every night. I've been sleeping pretty good, but I wish I could sleep on my back! 

Best moment this week: Dr. appointment when I heard baby's heartbeat. Also all the crazy kicks I've been getting. 

Movement: So much! He/she never stops moving. :o)

Food cravings: nothing really. Lame. I guess I have more of a sweet tooth than I used to have. 

Gender: We don't know. :o) 

Labor Signs: braxton hicks all the time. Dr says that's completely normal, so... ok! 

Belly Button in or out? out. 

Wedding rings on or off? On. I don't have any swelling, thank God. I give props to all my water drinking. 

What I miss: My old body, jeans, and ability to stay awake. 

What I am looking forward to: knowing what it is! Seeing what he/she looks like! Holding him/her. I have dreams all the time about it, then I wake up and there's no baby yet. What a tease!

Weekly Wisdom: I suppose not really caring if you have to fall asleep early. I know that's a gift now, especially after baby sitting my cute nephew and just wanting to lay down on the couch. Not a choice with a little one around. So I'll enjoy my rest now. 

Milestones: Dr said that after next Wednesday, if I go into labor, they won't do anything to stop it or slow it down! Wow! 

Baby Shower!

We had our baby shower last weekend. Thank God for family members and friends with their cameras because mine broke.

Here are some great shots from the awesome day.

The cute ducky for the center piece game from mom-in-law and one of the bags my mom made for everyone's prizes.

 All the prizes mom-in-law bought for the games we played through the shower.

 Super cute cake from father-in-law's mom. Mom-in-law picked the design!

Cake table with some of the extra center pieces. 

 My mom and dad with me and Derek. Sad we didn't get a family picture with Barb and Jim. :o(

Mommy and Daddy to be!

We are so lucky to have such kind, generous family and friends!

My best friend's maid of honor duties will never end!

My awesome mother-in-law! 

 Opening some gifts. :o)

Here are a bunch of our family members and friends who celebrated with us!

self evaluation

I got my first stretch marks and I was devastated. I thought I might be one of those freakish people who didn't get them since I went about 31 weeks without any. Then they showed up! Let me tell you, I was real ticked when I saw them. Derek just said, "It's fine." and that didn't help one bit because I did not feel fine. I felt icky. :o( 


Today I went on a mommy website and someone posted this: 

The Beauty Love Left Behind.

 A mark for every breath you took, every blink, every sleepy yawn. One for every time you sucked your thumb, waved hello, closed your eyes and slept in the most perfect darkness. One for every time you had the hiccups. One for every dream you dreamed within me. It isn't very pretty anymore. Some may even think it ugly. That's OK. It was your home. It's where I first grew to love you, where I lay my hand as I dreamed about who you were and who you would be. It held you until my arms could, and for that, I will always find something beautiful in it.

As I read it, I realized my hand was resting on my belly, just like it says above, and how much I already love this little one and if growing in my belly means that I'll have a memory of it forever, well, I guess that's just the living scrapbook I will bring with me. I love this baby too much to be upset forever about it. And who knows, maybe they'll go away. 

I won't say I'm not going to be upset about these marks ever again, but it does help. I thought I'd share with any soon to be mommies going through the same thing. :o)