36 Weeks

36 Weeks

By the way, I have no clue what a crenshaw melon is... Anyone???? This week has been a lot of fun so far! On Monday, Artie and I went to a Coping with Labor class at the hospital. I know that whatever happens, will be okay, but it really made me feel a lot more comfortable and confident with being able to do this whole labor thing naturally. I am not going to go into the hospital saying that no way will I not get an epidural, however, I'd like to say that I can go for as long as I can without one. And if that means all the way, then I really hope so! We learned some good pressure points, some relaxation techniques, tips for breathing, all sorts of fun things like that. We were the couple with the earliest delivery date in there. Made me excited!

Then Tuesday was my birthday, as well as being only a MONTH away from our due date!!! It was a good birthday although I turned the big 3-0. Artie had to work late, so we just enjoyed a night in. Plus, having your birthday on Valentines Day does not always work out the best for going out to dinner on that night.

On Wednesday Artie and I celebrated my birthday with a wonderful dinner out to one of our new favorite Japanese/Chinese restaurants by our house. It was good food! The week seemed to fly by then and this weekend is crazy busy. So I'll move on to our weekly quiz.

36 Week Quiz

How far along: 36 weeks and 4 days today

Weight gain: I'm up about 30 pounds. A lot has to do with what I eat the night before because my weight has been fluctuating about 2-3 pounds up or down.

Maternity clothes: Nothing new in this department. I am still trying to keep looking at least somewhat okay in clothes. I have learned that patterns do NOT help me out.

New Baby Items: We got a lamp for the baby's room from Artie's cousin, Lisa, which is sooo cute. It is the Noah's Ark theme. I am a little upset with our registry because they've discontinued selling the Noah's Ark bedding set though. They have one very similar, but we will need to buy it soon because it seems like it's not going to be out for very long either. I did go to Babys R Us and pick up some of the things off our registry that came from money we got for our shower from my Grandma and Grandpa as well as Artie's Grandpa and Phyllis. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I will let you know all the fun stuff we got!

Stretch marks: Still trying to keep them away. Not sure some mornings whether I see stretch marks or marks from the sheets :-).

Sleep: I've been sleeping pretty well other than more constant bathroom trips.

Best moment of the week: The fact that I am getting myself prepared at work to not be there for a little while and packing up a bag for the hospital!

Movement: So the baby knows where to kick me and stuff so that it really isn't comfortable now. Kicking up high on the left side and headbutting me down low on the right. At least that's the position I think it's in.

Food cravings: I want pizza still. I'm going to have to make Artie go and get me a pizza one of these nights. (I'm sure there won't be much fight there). The only problem is that the only good New York pizza is a little bit away. We might just need to stop there and eat there instead of bringing it home.

Labor signs: No! Still having loads of braxton hicks contractions. I'm getting a little more nervous just about what to expect and how to know when they're real contractions or not, but I'll figure it out soon enough.

Belly button in or out: Someone actually made a comment the other day that I must not be very far along because my belly button hadn't popped. I replied to them that I was due next month (about 4 weeks) and they were shocked. I guess my innie really is AN INNIE!!!!!

What I miss: Right now I miss not being kicked from the inside when I'm trying to sleep. Whoever says that baby movements feel like gas is totally wrong!

What I'm looking forward to: I'm looking forward meeting this baby, figuring out a name for him or her, and of course continuing to get set up for baby's arrival!

Weekly wisdom: You can do it!

Milestones: Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

36 Week Belly Shot! I look way less pregnant than I really am! Here's one with shirt down and me turned a bit...