Bump Watch: 37 Weeks

How far along? 37 Weeks... Finally reached full term! 

Total weight gain: About 30 pounds total weight gain!  Supposedly I'll plateau soon and shouldn't be gaining much more... we'll see about that!
Maternity clothes? Lots and lots of leggings (usually only leggings) and stretchy maternity tees with cardigans and belts, like above!
Stretch marks? I may jinx this rounding out the pregnancy, but nothing still!
Sleep:  A little bit more difficult and find myself waking up more times during the night, but still able to sleep through most of the night.  It's just getting up and out of things that's difficult now... the bed, the couch, a chair... I need an invisible rope to cling to everywhere I go!
Best moment this week: My first cervical check!  I say this with half sarcasm and half seriousness.  I was super excited to find out if I had any progress towards labor, but was nervous about how painful I've heard these checks would be.  Needless to say, I left there with no progress of dilation (I was "barely a 1" dilated), 80% effaced and baby was very low.  I also learned exactly where my cervix is located, and let's just say it's not easy to get to right now since, per Dr. Juarez, it is "posterior"!  OUCH!
Miss Anything? Sleeping on my stomach, for sure.  I'm getting a little sick of side sleeping!
Movement: Still wiggling and pushing around in there... squished for room.  A bit of decreased movement only because he's running out of room!  I do feel his practice breathing at least once or twice a day which always makes me smile to know his lungs are getting a good workout and he'll be a pro at breathing when he's out!
Food cravings: Nothing in particular, although Christmas sweets (chocolate, candy, desserts, etc.) have definitely been a binge this week!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!
Gender prediction: No more predicting... it's a boy!
Labor Signs: After my cervical check on Thursday, I've slowly been losing some discharge which I can only assume is my mucus plug.... (TMI, sorry!)  Braxton Hicks, and what I thought may have been contractions was explained to me by Dr. Juarez as uterine spasms.  I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever know what labor contractions will feel like!  I sure hope so... and I sure doubt I won't know!
Symptoms: Feeling even more pregnant than last week which I thought was impossible.  I'm terrified to know how I'll feel at 40+ weeks if I go that far!  Waddling, ligament pain, Braxton Hicks, and plain exhaustion.  I'm also thinking my way of "nesting" is kicking in.  Rather than cleaning everything, I have a weird paranoia of making lists and having a checklist of literally EVERYTHING I can think of, and my mind won't shut it off.  I think this is a mix of my nesting nature as well as a coping mechanism to having the worst short term memory loss ever!  
Belly Button in or out? Definitely not in, anymore.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, and getting a little anxious that we could be having this little guy at any time, now!
Looking forward to: Another cervical check- only to see if there's progress being made!  Christmas is this week so of course that is exciting!  Spending time with family and hopefully getting to see some friends we haven't seen in a while!  Packing the hospital bag (which I've still yet to do, it's on one of my many lists, don't worry!), and putting some last final touches on his nursery so we can take some pictures of that and post those here soon!

Bump Watch: 35 Weeks

How far along? 35 weeks, 0 days 

Total weight gain: Another 5 pounds since my last appt. with Dr. Juarez.. no wonder he said I "was looking healthy!"
Maternity clothes? Mostly leggings, sweats and maternity shirts!
Stretch marks? Still nothing!
Sleep:  Still pretty routine of once a night waking up to pee, but I can still sleep allll the time!  Lots of naps!
Best moment this week: We took our maternity pictures this weekend!  Although it was super cold, rainy and windy, I'm still glad we got them done because I know I would have regret not getting them done later.  Can't wait to see how they come out!
Miss Anything? Being able to get up normally from the couch, bed, or anything where I'm laying around!  I'm already rolling around like a beached whale trying to get up!
Movement: Less movement in the last week which kind of freaked me out... but Dr. Juarez assured me everything is good and that he's growing out of space!
Food cravings: Lots of sweets, especially chocolate! 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!
Gender prediction: No more predicting... it's a boy!
Labor Signs: When I went to my appointment on Thursday, Dr. Juarez asked if I had been having any contractions.  I told him no, not that I knew of.  While we were doing my exam (doppler and palpitation of baby), he said, "Oh! You're having a Braxton Hicks contraction right now." I had no clue.  Now after that appointment, I've noticed a few more Braxton Hicks and they are becoming a bit more intense since the weekend.  Mostly feels like menstrual cramping and it takes my breath away a bit!  But they aren't consistent and I've only had a few, so nothing to worry too much about I hope!
Symptoms: Braxton Hicks, lots of reflux at night, fatigue, feeling extremely full and stretched out!
Belly Button in or out? Stretched really far and sometimes pokes out.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Moments of anxiousness, irritability and loss of patience this week, but mostly happy!
Looking forward to: One more class to take this week (Breastfeeding),  seeing how our maternity pictures came out, and reaching 36 weeks next week, which is almost full term!  

Maternity Photoshoot

We finally had our maternity photo shoot after rescheduling once and almost having to reschedule again due to weather issues both times!  We decided to shoot with Kassidy Baker Photography (check out her website here for some awesome local photography!) and were referred to her by a couple friends of ours.  The first weekend we were supposed to have them taken, it had rained three days in a row, and just wasn't letting up on our scheduled time, so we pushed it back two weeks later.  After two weeks of great weather, the one day of our reschedule came and it was rainy... AGAIN!  Even worse, it was in the low 40's and hadn't been this cold all year.  We decided to cope and bundled up for what I expected to be the worst possible outcome... rain, snow, watery, red eyes and wind to mess up my hair!  I prayed we chose a good photographer in Kassidy, and that she would be able to make these pictures decent enough with some photoshopping!  Needless to say, they came out so much better than I expected and I love all of them!  I'm so happy we decided to take these pictures.  We went back and forth deciding whether or not it was worth taking maternity pictures, and in the end, I figured I would regret not doing it later down the road.  Luckily, I won't have that regret and I'm so happy with the choice of Kassidy to take such great shots!  It makes me sooo excited for her to take our newborn photography once little man decides to make his appearance in the next month or so!!  

Here are a good portion of our maternity pictures to share!!  We took them at the Smith Center when I was 34 weeks and 6 days.  

One of the main reasons we bucked up and took the photos on the absolute coldest day of the year, is because we wanted to use these pictures for our Christmas cards this year.  I ended up with this as our final product to send out to our family and friends!

November Happenings

This month was full of lots of fun celebrations!  During the first of the month, I was showered with love from my friends and family during my baby shower!

For the weekend of my shower, one of my best friends Stacey came into town and stayed with us for the long weekend.  We went out to eat at Tivoli Village one night with our friends, and on Saturday, we spent the day at Lake Las Vegas for the biannual Brew's Best Beer Festival.  We have gone to this beer fest the past few years, and this was my first year obviously opting out of drinking and spending the day as DD!  I didn't snap too many pictures, but did manage to get one of the girls and one of Jason and I. 

I took lots of bump pictures this month!  I think the larger I get, the more pictures I take... I can't wait to see how big it's going to get come 40 weeks!

Feeling really awkward picking out baby shower favors at Total Wine and More.  It was picture worthy to get a shot of my bump surrounded by wine!  I definitely got some stares.... (30 weeks)

31 Weeks

32 Weeks

33.5 Weeks

We attended our childbirth classes this month!  We had 3 classes every Monday night from 6-9pm for three Mondays in a row.  Although it seemed overwhelming with time, it was actually quite worth the sacrifice and we did come out of the classes with some great information.  I was familiar with most of the information given, but it was nice to get an inside scoop on the hospital tips and tricks since the course was taught by an RN who works Labor and Delivery at the hospital we will be delivering at.  If anything, the course eased my mind on what are "urgent" thing to rush to the hospital for and what can wait.  Before the courses, I was constantly nervous about if I was experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions and if I needed to be concerned if I was dilating or not.  After the course, I now know, if it doesn't hurt, it doesn't really matter!!  With all seriousness... it sounds like I'll know when I'm in active labor and when I'm in false labor... so there's no sense in stressing about it until it happens!  We've decided that we do not have a "birth plan".  As contradictory as this may sound for Jason and I, it's better to go in with no plan, rather than having one and being disappointed if something goes wrong or changes (which in all likelihood, will!)  I'm not set on natural labor or an epidural, I'm just taking it as we go.  My "plan" is to go as long as I can without any medical intervention, such as the epidural, but I know I don't get a gold medal for natural childbirth, so I'm definitely not against the epi, either.  We will take the pain as we go, and I'm pretty much expecting to receive the epidural at some point... mostly for the postpartum experience more than anything!  (I'd rather not feel an episiotomy or them stitching me up if I tear).  Thinking about labor too much gives me a little anxiety.  I feel as though I'm prepared enough to know what is supposed to happen, what can happen, and what may or may not happen... and that's all I can prepare for!  Everything else, I'll just let happen as we go.  That's half the journey of labor! 

We celebrated Hudson's 1st Birthday!  The theme of his party was a Mustache Bash, and Jess decorated his party with cute mustaches and fun details.  The cake and cupcakes were adorably decorated, and Hudson really enjoyed everyone singing to just him and then chowed down on his cupcake!

Mustache cupcakes

Everyone is singing to me!?

YUM!

Cute chocolate mustache favors

Jason really wants a mustache :)

Hanging out with the birthday boy!

Thanksgiving was at the very end of this month!  Unfortunately, I came down with a cold the day before, so I didn't feel the greatest preparing for the big day!  Luckily my Mom came over to help, and we ended up with lots of yummy food just as the years before.  Jason's dad also came over to celebrate Thanksgiving, continuing the tradition since we've been in our house.  Although I was sick, I still managed to eat a great amount of food... the best holiday for a pregnant girl!  

Happy Thanksgiving from Harley!

I definitely didn't venture out for Black Friday shopping this year... being 33 weeks pregnant and having a cold don't mix well for a stressful day of shopping!  Yet, Jason and I scored some great deals on Nolan's first Disney/kiddie movies!  We also picked up Ice Age and Monster's University to add to his collection.  We figured we better start collecting now... especially since these Disney movies can get outrageously priced if they aren't on sale!

Finally, I managed to get a quick video of Nolan trying to escape my tummy!  He is constantly moving, whether they are big movements or small ones, and most of the time he's rolling around or sticking body parts out of my sides.  I rarely feel kicks anymore, mostly just jabs and rolls.  I know he is so squished in there, and I feel bad for him... but he has 6 more weeks to stick it out!  Although I think I would be okay if he wanted to come a couple weeks earlier.... we don't want him getting too big and stuck in there! :)