Bump Watch: 40 Weeks... The End is Near... Hopefully!

How far along? FINALLY 40 WEEKS! 

Total weight gain: Total weight gain as of my appointment on Thursday was 31 pounds.  
Maternity clothes? I'm down to about 6 shirts on rotation that still fit properly, and only leggings, sweatpants and pajama pants.  No use in buying new clothes when HOPEFULLY I won't be needing them in the next few weeks!
Stretch marks? Still nothing!  Hooray!
Sleep:  I definitely have a pattern of every 2-3 hours during the night waking up, getting up to pee, and taking a good 15 minutes to get back to sleep.  It takes me a while to fall asleep now, but I attribute that to being at home all day and relaxing, napping, and not doing too much during the day!  Instead of feeling the "last minute" burst of energy before labor, I've been feeling extremely fatigued, like I could sleep all.day.long.
Best moment this week: Getting my prenatal massage at Green Valley Ranch on Tuesday... it was amazing!  I wish I could get one once a week now!  Also spending my first full week of maternity leave catching up around the house, cleaning, relaxing, and not having to worry about anything work related!  And reaching a FULL complete pregnancy of 40 weeks!  But now he can come... please.... come.. soon.....
Miss Anything? Although I love being pregnant and I've loved most of every minute of it... I'm ready to meet this little guy and be UNprego.
Movement: Still wiggling around in what little room he has.  I asked about the decrease in movement at my appointment on Thursday, and Dr. said it's completely normal since he's squished.  It really does freak me out but supposedly everything is okay!
Food cravings: Still nothing in particular but I have moments of not wanting to eat much at all or a ravenous rage of hunger out of nowhere!  
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!
Gender prediction: Better be a boy!
Labor Signs: Minus the fact that we've reached our 40 week due date, and nothing BIG is happening... I'm still experiencing Braxton Hicks more often and lots of menstrual like cramping... but still nothing timbale or consistent!  Hoping that changes in the next few days....
Symptoms: Fatigue, Braxton Hicks, pelvic pressure, cramping, you know... typical 40 Week pregnant symptoms. UGH!  Please get out now!  
Belly Button in or out? Definitely not in, anymore.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Anxious for labor to start... Annnnnny time would be great!
Looking forward to: Getting this little guy out of me!  Hoping that he will decide to get things started soon.  On Thursday, I'll meet with Dr. Juarez again to see what kind of progress has been made.  If I make it until then, we will discuss and schedule our induction, based on the hospital schedule.  SO, hopefully we're looking at a week MAX on meeting this little guy!  I'm really hoping baby will decide to come naturally before we have to induce.  I'm not too excited about the outcomes of induction, a lot of the time resulting in C-Sections and an intense, delayed labor.  So please, baby Nolan, please come in the next few days!  We are so looking forward to meeting you... I know you'll like it much more outside of mommy's tummy than in there!  

December Happenings & the Christmas Season!

December seemed to have flown by, most likely because of the holidays and the fact that I am ALMOST to my due date!  Only 12 more days until D Day, although I'm not sure if little baby man wants to make his appearance soon... He's quite stubborn and doesn't seem to want to leave his warm, toasty home for the last nine months!  We're crossing our fingers that he arrives before or shortly around our due date.  Mommy really doesn't want to be induced and/or go too far over the 12th... he's already so smushed in there, I can't imagine he would want to stay in that much longer!!  We shall see!

Anyways, December started, and I decorated our house for Christmas right away!  This is by far my favorite holiday, but this year was a little bit more difficult to decorate with a big belly in the way!  Luckily, Jason was a good sport and helped with the tree and our outside lights.  It always makes the house feel so much more magical and warm when it's completely decked out for Christmastime!

We got the cutest surprise package from our good friends Dustin and Desa for baby Nolan!  He got his first sock monkey and an adorable Quicksilver outfit he'll be able to sport in the fall.  Thanks, guys!

Harley finally snuggled with his brother!  This whole pregnancy, he's been aware that something is up and there is change in the air, with new toys, furniture, clothes, gifts, etc. coming in for the new arrival, but he hasn't quite shown his affection for his baby brother like I was hoping.  One night, he finally snuggled up close to the bump, while Nolan lightly kicked him right back.  I know they are going to be the best of friends once baby gets here... it just may take a little warming up first!

We took our maternity photos with Kassidy Baker Photography... click here to see!

I reached the "Watermelon" stage of fruit comparisons this pregnancy....  Feeling HUGE at 36 weeks!

My coworkers threw me a baby shower one day this month after cases at work!  It was sweet of them to put together something and it is so great how excited and how much they love Nolan already, too!  Again, we were spoiled with lots of great gifts, outfits and supplies to make life a little easier for our first few months at home!  Thanks to all the girls at HSC for making it great!

I've been taking lots more bump pictures the bigger I get.... at 37 weeks:

37 Week Belly video: Jason filmed this while I was on my side, which is why the angle looks weird... but baby boy was really moving around!

At 38 weeks:

I figured I would post a "real" belly progression picture.... And I discovered I have most definitely dropped this last week.  (33, 35, 38 weeks):

We celebrated Christmas with our family and friends.  Christmas Eve was spent with my mom, as per tradition, and Christmas Day, Jason and I exchanged gifts, both mine and Jason's dad and grandfather came over to visit, and later in the evening we went back to my mom's for Christmas dinner.  I didn't take many pictures unfortunately and really regret not getting any of the bump during Christmastime!  Of course I managed to get some of the fur baby, and the only bump picture is from a few days before Christmas at 37 weeks.  As for gifts, Jason bought me some great things this year!  A mommy-to-be massage at Green Valley Ranch, a deep cleaning for the house, and tickets to go see The Book of Mormon at the Smith Center later this year in June, among a few other things!  Harley of course was spoiled with lots of gifts and treats from Santa and Grandma.  Grandma also spoiled baby Nolan this year... and he's not even here yet!  It was bittersweet to know that this Christmas is going to be the last calm, low-key Christmas with just the two of us.  Next year, we'll have a little one crawling and taking things off the tree... and I can't WAIT!  

Christmas morning

Harley waiting to open his gifts from Santa

Opening his stocking!

Jason enjoying his new headlamp

My gifts from Jason

Jason's gifts from me 

Harley being adorable

We got together with our friends a few days after Christmas, and it was great getting to see the ones we haven't seen in a while!  Bobbie came from out of town and it had been months since I had since her, and we also met up with some friends from college that we hadn't seen in years!  It was great to catch up and to spend some time downtown for dinner and drinks (minus me!)... mostly because we probably won't be doing that for the next few months!

Finally, we celebrated New Year's Eve staying in with the Luks' family.  They had lots of yummy food, desserts, drinks, games and movies with the kiddos.  I enjoyed my drink of choice: apple juice and sparkling cider, and classed it up in a martini glass to feel festive.  I barely made it to midnight because I was so exhausted, but I did it!  And then we ended up staying and chatting for the next couple hours.  Needless to say, we got to bed at 2AM and I was SO exhausted the next day!  

This month, and overall this year, has been such an exciting time for our family, and I can't believe we're finally counting down to just a little over a week before the most important member of our family arrives!  We can't wait to share the arrival of our little dude, and hopefully the next few blog posts will be only that!!  Happy New Year and here's to what 2014 will bring us!

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!