Pregnancy Update: WEEK 36
Size of baby: probably weighs around 6 lbs. and is around 18 in. long (at this point, it's a guessing game, since he could be bigger or smaller, but considering he was right in the middle of the weight range at our 32 week ultrasound, he is probably around average size)
Weight Gain: the time has come in which I do not wish to discuss my weight, but you've come this far with me, so I guess it won't kill me to divulge. BABY and I have gained 33 lbs. now. Why, yes, this IS a 8 lb. weight gain in 4 weeks, when it should have only been a 4 lb. weight gain. I'm blaming water retention on this (and John Hayden--I'm pretty sure he had a growth spurt)! :)
Movement: John Hayden is quite active. Sometimes I wonder when he sleeps! (Oh, and when I was pregnant with Juliette, she never had the hiccups, but he has had them about five times and it's quite interesting! One time when he had them, I think he got mad because he started kicking my ribs, which did not feel good!)
Sleep: the same--still able to sleep most the night at this point
Symptoms: I announced on Facebook a few weeks back that the cankles had finally made an appearance. I was SO close to getting through this pregnancy without any swelling! My feet swell off and on, depending on how hot I get and how much standing and walking I do. I also had to take my rings off, although my fingers aren't nearly as swollen as they were with Juliette. I could probably still wear my rings, but they are just a tad too tight for my liking. The "end of pregnancy" tiredness recently started as well. (My face looks a little puffy in the picture above, but I don't really think it looks like this in person [in fact, Matt just said the other day that I hadn't gained weight in my face this pregnancy], so it might just be the angle or the fact that I took this first thing this morning and was still waking up!)
Cravings: Right now I want a cupcake or some chocolate cake. Or another Little Debbie snack (yes, I've had one already today). But these new sweet cravings have absolutely NOTHING to do with that weight gain this month. At least that's what I'm telling myself and you should all agree with me! :) I also want cereal for breakfast all the time now, and I think that is simply because I CAN'T have it. (I have to take my iron pill in the morning and can't have milk near the time I take it since it hinders its absorption.) This makes me want cereal for dinner a lot, but that's not really possible since I have to feed my family something more substantial than that!
Best Moment of the Month: My women's Bible study group gave me a baby shower and Juliette came with me. They did a great job and everything was so cute. I don't have the pictures from it yet, just the few that I snapped with my camera, so below are pictures of the food table, the diaper motorcycle one of the girls made, the cute cookies, and the adorable wreath one of the other girls made that we will put on the hospital door (and the bedroom door as well). We're also pretty much all ready for John Hayden. We just have to install the car seat and get the pack-n-play bassinet out of storage, which we will do this weekend. We've got a stockpile of diapers and wipes (in fact, I don't have room for any more!) and he might have too many clothes, but I don't really consider that a problem! :) So, we are all set for his arrival in 3 weeks (c-section is scheduled for November 6th) and just hope he stays put until then (so that my maternity leave doesn't run out before the university closes for the holidays. If he came earlier than November 1st, I would have to go back to work before the holiday break begins). My last day at work will (hopefully) be November 2nd and I've already trained the person who will be filling in for me while I'm gone. I'm absolutely positive that because I'm all caught up at work and have everything done at home that the next 3 weeks are going to drag by!