39 Weeks

My little creeper won't let me take these pictures anymore without jumping in.

 

How far along? 39 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 144 lbs -- +24 lbs total
Maternity clothes? Maternity clothes.
Belly Measurement: 40 in -- +8 in
HB: 156 BPM
Stretch marks? Still just the one.
Sleep: I've been waking up with bad heartburn and because of bathroom breaks all night.
Best moment this week? I got my hair dyed and cut this week.  It turned out so great and now I'm ready for some amazing delivery photos. One can dream, right?
Miss Anything? After 39 weeks, I'm ready for a margarita!! Or a Mojito. Or a cold glass of Moscato.
Movement: He's pushing out on all sides lately.  I feel like he's doing yoga with the way I'll get a foot on one side and something else pushing out on the complete other side.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells here and there.
Have you started to show yet: For Sure!
Gender: BOY!!
Labor Signs: Still having Braxton Hicks, pressure and the occasional contraction.  At my check on Friday, I'm still at 1 cm but my cervix is effaced.  The nurse practitioner said that my body is ready to go so now I just need to start having some strong contractions. I just wish there was some way to magically make that happen now!
Belly Button in or out? Still just halfway out.
Wedding rings on or off? On still! I seriously can't believe I'm still wearing it.
Weekly Wisdom: Remember that your due date is not Carter's birthday.  It could happen anywhere from today or three weeks from now.
Looking forward to: Labor starting soon! I'm planning on a natural, unmedicated birth and I'm actually looking forward to the challenge. I can't wait to hold this little guy in my arms!

38 Weeks

You may have noticed a shadow behind me in the picture.

 

Liam didn't want to miss his moment!

How far along? 38 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 141 lbs -- +21 lbs total
Maternity clothes? Maternity clothes.
Belly Measurement: 40 in -- +8 in
HB: 145 BPM
Stretch marks? Still just the one.
Sleep: I wake up around 3am and lay there for 30 minutes to an hour.
Best moment this week? The fact that I'm 38 weeks blows my mind! I didn't even make it to 37 weeks with Liam so I just can't believe we have made it this far!
Miss Anything? Being able to bend over, or even just lean slightly, without feeling like I'm squishing a baby head.
Movement: He's always rolling and pushing out his feet.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells here and there.
Have you started to show yet: For Sure!
Gender: BOY!!
Labor Signs: I've been having some pressure and contractions.  The last couple days, I have noticed more contractions in the morning but they are still irregular and not worth timing. The contractions are also starting to get painful, which actually really excites me! I feel like that means my body is at least gearing up for labor.  At my last OB check, there was no change in dilation so hopefully these contractions are doing something.
Belly Button in or out? Still just halfway out.
Wedding rings on or off? On still!
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy your belly while it lasts.
Looking forward to: Liam meeting his baby brother.  I can't wait for that moment! I keep picturing Liam sitting in my lap and "holding" Carter.  Liam loves to give kisses to pictures of babies so I wonder if he will give Carter one.

37 Weeks, which makes us Term!!

Today marks this pregnancy being Term.  Carter can arrive at any time now!  It's really surreal to have made it this far because I delivered Liam at 36 weeks and 6 days.  I'm officially the farthest along in a pregnancy that I have ever been.

How far along? 37 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 141 lbs -- +21 lbs total
Maternity clothes? Maternity clothes.
Belly Measurement: 40 in -- +8 in
HB: 145 BPM
Stretch marks? One on the underside of my belly.
Sleep: Oh, heartburn. How I will not miss you waking me up all night!
Best moment this week? Hitting Term today.  With Liam, we were 55 minutes short of 37 weeks.  It's really awesome to have made it to this point but I definitely feel like I've hit the wall.  I'm so uncomfortable, tired, cranky and overall just ready for him to be here.  I know he will come when he is ready, which of course I want him to grow and be as healthy as he can be, but can it just be sooner rather than later? Commence the walking and bouncing on the yoga ball!
Miss Anything? My body being my own! I know I'm going to miss his movements but I'm ready to feel normalish again.
Movement: He's always rolling and pushing out his feet.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells here and there.
Have you started to show yet: For Sure!
Gender: BOY!!
Labor Signs: I've been having a lot of pressure and a few contractions here and there.  At my OB check on Friday, Dr Altman told me  that I'm 1 cm dilated now and he could feel Carter's head.  It explains the pain since his head is right there pushing down.
Belly Button in or out? Still just halfway out.
Wedding rings on or off? On still!
Weekly Wisdom: Still take the time to enjoy his kicks in these final weeks and Liam's cuddles with the baby belly.
Looking forward to: Carter picking his birthday soon! I'm ready to see his sweet face.

36 Weeks

How far along? 36 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 140 lbs -- +20 lbs total
Maternity clothes? Maternity clothes.
Belly Measurement: 40 in -- +8 in
HB: 150 BPM
Stretch marks? I have a little one on the underside of my belly thanks to the dry, itchy skin I had last week. I'm starting to wonder if it was caused by the heart rate monitor, that tracked Carter's heart and was strapped on my belly, that I wore the entire time I was in Labor and Delivery last week since it's in the same spot.
Sleep: Oh, heartburn.  How I will not miss you waking me up all night!
Best moment this week? At my OB check, Dr. Altman was pointing out that Carter is head down and his feet are up in my ribs.  He helped Shawn feel Carter's toes which I thought was so amazing that they could be felt through my belly.
Miss Anything? Being able to eat and not get full immediately because my stomach is so squished. Oh, and not having heartburn 24/7.
Movement: I'm getting little feet pushing out near my ribs constantly.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells here and there.
Have you started to show yet: For Sure!
Gender: BOY!!
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks daily.
Belly Button in or out? It's pushing it's way out but the bottom is still flat.
Wedding rings on or off? On still!
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy his kicks in these final weeks.
Looking forward to: There are two exciting things happening this week.  First, today is our Sprinkle! I'm so excited to spend the day with our family and friends celebrating Carter.  The second is on Saturday I will be 36 weeks and 6 days pregnant which is when I had Liam! I'm pretty sure Carter isn't going to be born on that day, or this week for that matter, but it really makes me feel like the end is near!

35 weeks

I had been waiting to take my weekly picture because I have had no energy into making myself look nice.  I finally caved tonight and took it anyways. I think of it as a reminder of how the end of pregnancy feels, haha.  Then Liam wanted his photo taken too!

How far along? 35 Weeks 1 Day
Total weight gain/loss: 142 lbs -- +22 lbs total
I'm blaming the 4 IV bags of fluid I got in Labor and Delivery this week.... As long as I have something to blame.
Maternity clothes? Maternity clothes.
Belly Measurement: 40 in -- +8 in
HB: 145 BPM
Stretch marks? On Friday, I started getting a little irritation on the underside of my belly.  I have been trying not to scratch it but woke up Friday night to myself itching it like crazy.  Sadly, I may have caused a stretch mark there now!
Sleep: Still waking up to heartburn.  My OB recommended Mylanta which has helped me get right back to sleep after I take some.
Best moment this week? Not having this baby! Shawn and I got a really bad stomach flu that hit on Wednesday.  I got so dehydrated that I went into the Labor and Delivery unit at 2am on Thursday.  I got there and they hooked me up to the contraction monitor and saw I was having contractions every 3 minutes! I was so sick that I hadn't realized.  They started getting IV fluids in me in hopes that it would stop the contractions. By the time I started my third bag of fluids, they still weren't stopping so I had to get a shot of Terbutaline.  That stuff is rough! I felt jittery, hot and my heart was beating fast.  Thankfully, it was enough to stop the contractions.  I had to stay until 8pm because Carter's heart rate was staying a little higher than they liked so I had to get more fluids through my IV and drink what I could.  I was so happy when I got home that night to be with my guys again and to lay on my comfy couch!
Miss Anything? Sleeping without waking to acid pouring up my throat.
Movement: Kicking and squirming around.
Food cravings: No real food cravings this week thanks to the stomach flu!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells here and there.
Have you started to show yet: For Sure!
Gender: BOY!!
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks more regularly.  Shawn, Liam and I went to Target on Saturday to get some Super Bowl snacks and I started having contractions while walking around.  We finished our shopping after that and I got put on "bed rest" by Shawn. 
Symptoms: Still Fatigue and fire breathing heartburn
Belly Button in or out? It's pushing it's way out but the bottom is still flat.
Wedding rings on or off? On still!
Weekly Wisdom: Take it easy and keep baking that baby!
Looking forward to: This baby being here! I don't want him here yet because he still needs to stay in and keep growing but I'm ready to fast forward a couple weeks.

34 weeks

How far along? 34 Weeks 2 days
Total weight gain/loss: 142 lbs -- +22 lbs total
I think all the eating out while I was in Virginia last week did me in!
Maternity clothes? Maternity clothes.
Belly Measurement: 40 in -- +8 in
HB: 140 BPM
Stretch marks? Nothing yet but I feel like my skin can't stretch much more!
Sleep: I am woken up multiple times during the night with horrible heartburn.  Last night I used my big body pillow as a way to keep myself propped up.  I'm starting to look forward to being woken by a newborn rather than from horrid acid in my throat.
Best moment this week? Getting back home to my family on Friday was great! I'm way to emotional at this point to be leaving for a week.
Miss Anything? Not having constant heartburn!
Movement: Kicking and squirming around. I feel like we are both running out of room.  His movement is becoming painful because my skin can't stretch that far. I'm also constantly battling little feet and a butt to get out of my ribs.
Food cravings: Grilled Cheese! It's so tasty and doesn't cause my heartburn to act up.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells here and there.
Have you started to show yet: For Sure!
Gender: BOY!!
Labor Signs: None currently
Symptoms: Still Fatigue and fire breathing heartburn
Belly Button in or out? It's pushing it's way out but the bottom is still flat.
Wedding rings on or off? On still!
Weekly Wisdom: Keep Tums on you at all times!
Looking forward to: OB appointment on Friday and then we start going every week!

33 Weeks

If you are like me, my first thought when I saw the comparison is what the heck is a Durian Fruit? Well, here it is!

How far along? 32 Weeks 6 days... I had to post this early because I fly out to Virginia early tomorrow morning and won't be home until Friday.
Total weight gain/loss: 139 lbs -- +19 lbs total
Maternity clothes? Maternity clothes.
Belly Measurement: 38.5 in -- +6.5 in
HB: 150 BPM
Stretch marks? Still holding out.
Sleep: I've been waking up a lot because of horrible heartburn.
Miss Anything? Nope
Movement: Kicking, punching and squirming all around.
Food cravings: Sweets
Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells here and there.
Have you started to show yet: For Sure!
Gender: BOY!!
Labor Signs: None currently
Symptoms: Still Fatigue and fire breathing heartburn
Belly Button in or out? Still half and half.
Wedding rings on or off? Still wearing them pretty comfortably.
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy Liam's final weeks as an only child.
Looking forward to: Flying home on Friday! I'm gonna miss my guys so much this week!