From 5 to 40

35 Weeks

Yesterday we reached 35 weeks! I feel like the end is in sight, yet, at the same time, I feel like 5 weeks is still a long.long.long time to be pregnant. I'm starting to understand why women get to the end of their pregnancies and want it to be over. A lot was accomplished this past week and so I feel like I am just about ready to welcome this child. My SIL and I stocked the freezer with meals. I had my second baby shower. Thanks to my mom, the nursery is pretty well done and organized. I bought my cloth diapers and have started washing and putting them away. I found out the baby is head down and good to go. I had my home visit with my midwife to discuss our plans and my mom got to meet her. The birth supplies are gathered. Bags are packed. I really feel like we're gearing up to welcome baby.

I know that he or she needs to stay put and cook for a bit longer but things are really starting to feel like they are in place. We just need to get the swing, playpen and car seat set up/installed and then we'll be all set.

Last week, my brother took a few photos for us. He forgot his camera, so he just had to use my point and shoot, but I still love them. They are really 34.5 week photos, but you get the point!

"The View From Here"

(Yes I know you can't see my belly in the last photo but I just had to share it because I know you're all dying to see our pet duck, Mr. Quacklewayne)

Sleep has been very hit or miss over the past week. I've had some of the best sleeps I've had in a while, and some of the worst. I guess I just have to take it one night at a time. I've been starting to feel much more noticeable Braxton Hicks contractions, especially throughout the night. And I've also been waking up with some mad heartburn. Propping my head up on a few extra pillows seems to help it out a bit but I don't find it very comfortable. Oh well, you do what you gotta do. The other night I woke up and realized I must have been having some extreme difficulty rolling me over because the Dude was sitting up and literally helping me pull my body over so I could switch sides. Good times.

My tum tum is starting to drop. The Dude has affectionately nicknamed me "Droopy Bags" this week. My midwife said that I will start to lose cms when she measures me from here on in as the baby gets lower and lower and gets him/herself ready for the world.

I've also been experiencing some mad swelling in my hands and feet which hasn't been the most awesome part of this, but it's no big deal. My blood pressure is still a-okay so there's no need to be concerned. I find that I wake in the night to very sore hands. Has anyone else every experienced this? Some nights I find I can hardly open and close my fingers. It's likely just a circulation issue but it can make things uncomfy.

It's so hard to believe we're nearing the last month! I'm praying for time to go by quickly but also hoping that I will relax, enjoy, and cherish the last few weeks that the Dude and I have as a tw0-some before we welcome our third.

29 Weeks with Maternity Photos

Today marks 29 weeks! According to the bump, the baby is now the size of a squash and weighs between 2.5 and 3.8 pounds. I am now in the seventh month!

(source)

I don't have a lot to report this week except that I have now gone 8 days without taking any diclectin! Can I get a whoo hoo! In those 8 days, I have thrown up twice but it is so manageable compared to how sick I was getting before. I don't feel nauseous during the day and I actually feel like a normal human (minus the basketball sticking out of the front of me).

The baby's kicks are getting stronger and stronger and his movements are more and more visible from the outside of my tummy all the time. The little Monkey always quiets down whenever someone is trying to catch a glimpse of the movement or feel a kick though!

My belly is still growing, growing, growing. A whopping 13 inches since the beginning of this journey. I wonder just how big she's gonna get!

I haven't been sleeping so great over the past week or so and I'm not sure what the deal is with that. Some nights I find myself waking up and feeling like I am wide awake in the middle of the night.... perhaps just practice for what's to come.

This weekend when I was up north for my family reunion, I had a chance to get some maternity photos taken by my cousin's wife, Shannon. Let me tell you - this girl is talented! Although she is primarily located in Northern Ontario, she does travel to Southern Ontario quite often and would be a wise choice for family photos, maternity photos, wedding photos, newborn photos ... or any other type of photos you are interested in. Be sure to check out her website and blog and become a fan on facebook to see her work and contact her if you are interested in photos. Here are my photos:

What do y'all think? I am totally loving them!