Short & Sweet 37 Week Dr. Appointment Update

There really isn't much to write, but wanted to document what was said at today's doctor appointment.

I am 2cm and 75% effaced. I have felt a few contractions over the past week, but not really more than once a day and definitely not in any pattern. My doctor said the baby can come this weekend because she's on call :-D ...I'd like a little more time to get the house ready and cook some more food...but we are all so excited to meet our baby BAL, so if the Lord wills it this weekend, bring it on!

Sneak peak at our maternity photo shoot by the lovely & talented Courtney Moore

37 Weeks = FULL TERM!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 37 Weeks

Size of baby: 6.2-9.2 lbs, 18.9-20.9 in (Watermelon)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 31 lbs? I've given up weighing myself...

Maternity Clothes: I'm outgrowing my maternity clothes!! Help!! I'm going to be wearing moo-moos soon!

Movement: Nice big movements throughout day & night and hiccups about once a day

Sleep: Sleep is almost non-existent...God is preparing us for parenting!

What I miss: Sleeping through the night

Cravings: Not much of anything...

Symptoms: Restless legs; heartburn in the afternoon/evenings ; stretch marks; calf cramps; exhaustion; etc. (really, I could add about 10 more things :-D)

Best Moment this week: I have made it to FULL TERM!! I praise God for this blessing because I know that so many women deliver sweet babies before this time and can be the biggest struggle of one's life. Also, can I just say that for every "symptom" or "what I miss" or complaint of morning sickness, I am so so so so grateful for this sign that my body is carrying a sweet blessing from God. I know so many who struggle with infertility or carrying to term and I just have a new perspective that I being grateful and appreciative for the not so fun times throughout this pregnancy. On a happy note -- a friend of mine who has been fighting infertility for a little over a year just announced she is pregnant! She is 9 weeks along - please pray for her and her sweet baby for health and a full term pregnancy!

When taking this picture tonight, I commented that this could be my last update!! Who knows...doctor appointment on Friday morning - I may do a little mini-update after my doctor appointment if anything has changed :-) 

36 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 36 Weeks

Size of baby: Still 4.2-5.8 lbs, 17.2-18.7 in (Honeydew)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 31 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Any loose fitting item of clothing I can possibly find that fits!

Movement: Nice big movements throughout day & night and hiccups about once a day

Sleep: Not sleeping very well...rolling over is really uncomfortable

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach, comfortably bending over or sitting on the floor, comfortably rolling over in bed

Cravings: Not much of anything...

Symptoms: Restless legs; heartburn in the afternoon/evenings ; stretch marks; calf cramps; exhaustion; etc. (really, I could add about 10 more things :-D)

Best Moment this week: Today we had our 36 week appointment and we got some exciting news! I am 1-2 centimeters dilated and 60% effaced! I have been feeling many/any contractions that I know of, but I must be having them if the process has at least somewhat begun :-D I know I could be sitting at this stage for several more weeks, but I'm so thankful to know my body is doing its thing! Heartbeat was 154bpm today! 

Some things old & Some things new

I am getting so excited as we get closer to baby BAL making his/her arrival! When I started thinking about how I am 36 weeks on Wednesday, I just got so excited imagining baby BAL being right here at home with me and watching him/her grow in our little house for a few months. [Side note if you're new to my blog: my original post mentioned us moving to DFW in a "few months"...9 months later we're still here, but God is providing and we are even more confident that we will be in the DFW area soon!] I started out by taking just a few pictures of a few things that were mine that my mom gave me for the baby and a few things that have been bought new for the baby and then I just got picture happy and decided to take pictures of things I could think of right off the top of my head that I just can't wait to share with baby BAL.

So, without further ado, enjoy the picture collection of things that I'm super duper excited to see baby BAL use or things I'm super duper excited to share with baby BAL :-)

My pawpaw (Mom's stepdad) gave this to me when I was in the NICU...he was a man of few words at times, but his actions spoke so loudly of love.

My lovey bunny! It has satin around the edges, but it's not so soft anymore.

I loved the satin around this little lion's head so much that my mom had to take it away from me at night because all night she could hear the rattle shaking because I was feeling all the soft part :-)

NEW Giraffe Rattle! Gift from Grandma Kaki

There's a sweet little cap that is white with the BU logo on it, also. Also, Grandma Kaki bought baby BAL an A&M Swaddling blanket & cap that is already packed for the hospital. We have more Aggie stuff and Baylor stuff, but when is enough??

This is the first thing I made for baby BAL - a SUPER soft tag blanket. Perfect size for a infant carrier blanket or a lovey :-)

Granny & Grandpa bought this BEAUTIFUL glider cradle to go next to our bed. The front railing can be removed to transform to a gliding bench when we don't need it for a cradle! 

Some of these books are old and some are new...all of them I can't wait to read over and over again to baby BAL...I often wonder which ones will be his/her favorites :-)

There are many many more things that I'm excited about, but that would just mean I take & upload about 300 pictures and I just can't do that, so I chose some of the things I look at often that remind me of how excited I am! 

Hope you enjoyed the little tour of baby items!

-Sarah

34 & 35 Weeks

***UPDATE*** Special 34 week picture has been added!

We have been super duper busy around here lately, thus the lack in updating the dear old blog. My 34 week post is waiting on a special picture, so as soon as I get the picture, I'll make a little announcement or something so you know to check back :-)

Me at 34 weeks with baby BAL, and Diane (my bff from Baylor!) at 27 weeks with Karley! So so blessed to share this with her!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 34 Weeks

Size of baby: Still 4.2-5.8 lbs, 17.2-18.7 in (Honeydew)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 28 lbs

Maternity Clothes: I'm getting pretty limited on what I can wear...

Movement: I felt baby BAL's hickups for the first time during childbirth class! 

Sleep: Getting up more during the night and am wide awake in the mornings! I've had a couple weird dreams, too...

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach, comfortably bending over or sitting on the floor, comfortably rolling over in bed

Cravings: Mexican Food

Symptoms: Restless legs; heartburn in the afternoon/evenings ; stretch marks; calf cramps; exhaustion; etc. (really, I could add about 10 more things :-D)

Best Moment this week: Saw the nurse practitioner for our 34 week appointment. Baby BAL is growing well, heart rate was 156, and his/her head is way down low--praying that he/she does not decided to flip in the last minute! Also, we scheduled the rest of my doctors appointments until BAL is due! We're getting crazy close to meeting our little munchkin! 

(blah! I just noticed my poor posture :-( yuck!)

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 35 Weeks

Size of baby: Still 4.2-5.8 lbs, 17.2-18.7 in (Honeydew)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 27 lbs

Maternity Clothes: I'm getting pretty limited on what I can wear...

Movement: I'm still feeling baby BAL's hickups. Also, he/she calms down when Daddy talks to him/her :-)

Sleep: Sleep is overrated....

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach, comfortably bending over or sitting on the floor, comfortably rolling over in bed

Cravings: Fresh Fruits

Symptoms: Restless legs; heartburn in the afternoon/evenings ; stretch marks; calf cramps; exhaustion; etc. (really, I could add about 10 more things :-D)

Best Moment this week: I had a shower in CS this past weekend and then we had a maternity photo shoot with Courtney Moore. I loved getting to see some very special friends at the shower! Baby BAL got to be near his/her future bff/husband, Karley Kathryn and I was excited to compare baby bumps with  Karley's momma (due in October). Also, last night, the ladies that Brian works with surprised me with a baby shower at a local italian restaurant. It was so so so so exciting! One of his co-workers, Nicole, made this WONDERFUL diaper cake!

I leave you with a comparison between the weeks that I have worn the same dress :-)