Bump: 40 Weeks!

I can't believe I'm posting these...I feel so huge!  Still no action over here but I've been putting all of the popular tricks to induce labor into action, so maybe something will happen tonight?  Or tomorrow?  Or soon?  PLEASE!

 

And, just to give me reassurance that I haven't always looked this whale-like, here is a little 16 week/40 week comparison.

Come on little Charlotte...everyone is anxious to meet you...especially your mother!

xoxo,
meghan

40 Weeks!

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and after being so anxious to see if things were progressing down there, I was a bit disappointed to hear quite the opposite.  I wasn't dilated at all!  Huge bummer.  I also found out that my fundal height hasn't changed in the past few weeks, so they ordered me to get an ultrasound with is scheduled for tomorrow, to be sure everything is ok in there.  I'm a little nervous that maybe something is wrong, but praying that everything is ok (and excited that we can hopefully confirm that she is really a she and not a he)!  So, ultrasound tomorrow at 8:00am - cross your fingers that everything is ok!

If I don't go into labor on my own by next week Thursday (7/28), they have me scheduled to be induced.  I'm really hoping that doesn't have to happen because being induced = drugs and I want to try to steer clear of those.

Anyway...without further ado...here's the rundown for today!

Today's date: Wednesday, July 20, 2011

How far along: 40 weeks...and no sign of this baby wanting to come out!

Sex: We're still planning for a girl... : )

Maternity clothes: Basically, whatever is comfortable!  Yoga pants, tanks and running shoes and flip flops.  The stretchier, the better :)

Sleep: I've been sleeping pretty well, actually.  The acid reflux has really diminished, although I still take two tums right before bed.  And two more when I wake up around 2:30am to go pee.  I haven't even been sleeping propped up, which has been great!

Best moment(s) of the week:  This is going to sound really silly, but one of the best moments this week was working with Brad to get a frame collage up (more on that in a bit).  Its been in the works for a long time now and it was nice to work on a project with hubs again.  We used to work on projects together all the time - painting, ripping up flooring, tiling, etc but since I've been pregnant I haven't been able to help with much.  So...it was nice to get to work on something together again :)

 
Movement: She's still wiggling around in there but sometimes I worry that she's not moving as much as she should be.  Maybe due to cramped quarters?  I don't know!

Food cravings/aversions:  Nothing too exciting to report in this department.

Morning sickness: Nada.

Symptoms: Still very achey...I think my poor feet and knees are just about at their breaking point.

Labor signs: You would think so, but I really haven't had any BH contractions or anything!

 
Belly button in or out:  Top half only :)

What I miss: I still miss: wearing my wedding rings, being able to see the tendons in my feet, sleeping soundly through the night...in my own bed and on my belly, being of normal body temperature and blow drying my hair.

What I'm looking forward to: Really just want to meet this little girl!

Size and growth of our baby: Baby now is as long as a SMALL PUMPKIN!

It's hard to say for sure how big your baby will be, but the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and is about 20 inches long. Her skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor. This so-called "molding" is the reason your baby's noggin may look a little conehead-ish after birth. Rest assured — it's normal and temporary.

39 Weeks

Today's date: Wednesday, July 13, 2011

How far along: 39 weeks...1 week to go!

Sex: We're still planning for a girl... : )

Maternity clothes: Basically, whatever is comfortable!  Yoga pants, tanks and running shoes and flip flops.  The stretchier, the better :)

Sleep: I've been sleeping in our bed again and its been great!  I still wake up around 2:00/3:00am with some mild acid reflux, pop a Tum, hit the potty and am back to sleep.

Best moment(s) of the week:  We had another great weekend!  Our friends, Andrew & Natasha, came up to visit for the weekend.  We didn't do anything too exciting, but it was nice to just catch up and relax with good friends :)

 
Movement: She gave me a pretty swift punch last night ; )

Food cravings/aversions:  Nothing too exciting to report in this department.

Morning sickness: Nada.

Symptoms: Just very achey...I think my poor feet and knees are just about at their breaking point.

Labor signs:  Unfortunately, I don't think so.

 
Belly button in or out:  Top half only :)

What I miss: I still miss: wearing my wedding rings, being able to see the tendons in my feet, sleeping soundly through the night...in my own bed, being of normal body temperature and blow drying my hair.

What I'm looking forward to: Having this baby...on time, hopefully, although I was told yesterday by one of my doctors that I have at least another week...or TWO!  Yikes!

Size and growth of our baby: Baby now is as long as a MINI WATERMELON!

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! She continues to build a layer of fat to help control her body temperature after birth, but it's likely she already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.)  The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

Lets see how much we've grown!

I can't believe that's already been one month since Molly's wedding, when my last baby bump picture was snapped.  I guess I better have Brad take at least one more picture before this little lady makes her debut. 

I thought it was time to update the baby bump series with the two latest pictures: 32 & 34. 

So funny to look back to mid-pregnancy when I felt so fat : )  I can't believe how much this belly has grown...and, not to jinx myself, but not a single stretch mark (yet), which you know I attribute to the best lotion ever.  Pricey, but worth it.

I'll be sure to have my photographer snap a 38 week picture this weekend...and maybe even a 40 week picture if we get that far (which I'm thinking we will since there have been NO signs of labor thus far)!

xoxo,
meghan

Big Brother Moose

I've been feeling rather nostalgic towards Moose these last few weeks, knowing that he's not going to be the center of attention once this little lady makes her appearance.  So, I think I've been paying extra special attention to him and have vamped up the Moose photography again :)

 He can be such a naughty boy sometimes, but he's such a lover that I can't help but melt when he does things like this...

Mooser - you'll always be our first baby and we're going to try our darnedest not to make you feel like you're second best.

xoxo,
meghan

38 Weeks!

Today's date: Wednesday, July 6, 2011 (Happy 30th Birthday, Michael!)

How far along: 38 weeks...2 weeks to go!

Sex: We're still planning for a girl... : )

Maternity clothes: Basically, whatever is comfortable!  Yoga pants, tanks and running shoes and flip flops.  The stretchier, the better :)

Sleep: I still wake up a few times each night, but have been falling right back to sleep, thank God.  And, my work schedule has been pretty flexible, so I'm able to sleep in if I want/need to.  The acid reflux hasn't been too bad the past week, so I'm thankful for that, too!

Best moment(s) of the week:  We had a great weekend!  It was productive, fun and relaxing, all rolled into one.  My mom came into town on Thursday night, so I got to spend some time with her on Friday - we went outlet shopping in Grove City and then met Brad for dinner.  On Saturday morning, we headed out to Greensburg to visit with my Gram & Pap.  We had lunch with them and then just 'visited' for the rest of the afternoon.  My Aunt and cousins stopped by, so it was great to see them too.  We scooted off to get pedicures and were back just in time for a delicious dinner with Gram, Pap, Uncle Chris and Anna.  Everything was so good - I could have eaten for days : )

Fast forward to Monday, the 4th (Brad's FAVORITE holiday).  I wasn't up for much since I had over-done it the couple days before, but Brad encouraged me to head up to McConnell's Mill with him and some of our friends, for a little outdoor fun.  I decided to go and it ended up being a really great afternoon/evening.  I brought a lawn chair and was able to just sit and watch - it was great.  And, the best part is that it was especially cool because we were covered by trees and near a river.  Brad was so happy to be climbing again and I think he needed a break from house projects (even though there's still plenty to be done).

 
Movement: I think she's running out of room in there, but I can still feel her squirming around.

Food cravings/aversions:  I feel like I haven't been eating as much the past few days than I had been.  Maybe its the heat?

Morning sickness: Nada.

Symptoms: Lots of aches and pains.  The acid reflux hasn't flared up in awhile, but that might be because I take precautions when eating (time of day, types of foods) and take two tums before bed.

Labor signs:  Unfortunately, I don't think so.

 
Belly button in or out:  Top half only :)

What I miss: I miss: wearing my wedding rings, being able to see the tendons in my feet, sleeping soundly through the night...in my own bed, being of normal body temperature and blow drying my hair.

What I'm looking forward to: Having this baby, of course!

Size and growth of our baby: Baby now is as long as a LEEK!

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long. She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.
Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

37 Weeks!

Today's date: Wednesday, June 29, 2011

How far along: 37 weeks...FULL TERM!!

Sex: We're still planning for a girl... : )

Maternity clothes: Basically, whatever is comfortable!  Yoga pants, tanks and running shoes and flip flops.

Sleep: Still sleeping on the couch every night even though Brad bought and installed an AC unit in our bedroom.  Now its not the temperature keeping me on the couch, its the fact that sleeping in a more upright position is easier on the couch than it is in bed.  Sleeping upright seems to help ward off acid reflux attacks, and I'm all for keeping that at bay.  The new couch and I have gotten to be good friends :)

Best moment(s) of the week:  We started and finished painting the nursery!  Its still not near being ready for this little lady, but we're making progress and that makes this mamma-to-be very happy!  I also washed and folded my first load of baby laundry, which was actually pretty thrilling - everything is so teeny tiny and super cute!  Its hard to imagine that she'll actually fit into some of these things...they seem to small!!  And, Brad got the swing put together the other night, so that's taking up a lot of space in the living room, now : )  Moose nudges it with his nose and then barks at it.  Grrrrreat!

 
Movement: I had to stop by the auto body shop the other day and while I was sitting in the waiting area, she was moving like crazy!  I felt like the lady sitting across from me could see my belly moving if she had looked!

Food cravings/aversions:  Still a bottomless pit!  I feel like I'm going to have a twelve-pounder with all the food I can consume!  Lots of ice cold water, too!

Morning sickness: Nada.

Symptoms: Acid reflux off and on and of course, lots of aches and pains.

Labor signs:  I don't think so...

 
Belly button in or out:  Pretty much still half and half.

What I miss: I miss sleeping through the night (on my back and stomach), a skinnier body and legs and feet that don't ache all the time.  I'm ready to not be pregnant anymore : )

What I'm looking forward to: My mom is coming into town this weekend, so I'm looking forward to some time with her and my Grandma this weekend.  And, Brad's favorite holiday of all time is this weekend, so we'll be doing something fun!

Size and growth of our baby: Baby now is as long as SWISS CHARD!

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, her lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb.  Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel. Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.