35 Weeks

This week, Chocolate Chip is the size of a pineapple or a spaghetti squash (18+ inches and 5.25 pounds).  The baby's growth from here on out is mostly fat.  He or she is head-down and likely pressing on my bladder.  I think this baby is also putting a little extra pressure on my j-pouch, based on the number of times I've take Imodium in the past week. The baby's hearing is fully developed and he or she can respond to high-pitched noises.  I can't help but think Chocolate Chip will recognize Elsie's screams outside the womb because he or she has definitely heard her ear-piercing shrieks from inside the womb.

I have been feeling a lot of movement this week, and some of it is quite uncomfortable.  It's amazing - and a little strange - to feel a foot right under my ribs or to my side.  When I'm feeling uncomfortable, I try to remember that this is my last pregnancy and I will never feel a baby from this perspective again.  Which is both happy and sad.  

I had an OB appointment at exactly 35 weeks and will now start weekly appointments.  The next one is at 36+5 and will include a nonstress test and an ultrasound (as well as the Group B Strep test and checking to make sure the baby is head-down).   Eric is going to come to his first appointment since the echo ultrasound at 24 weeks - I have been going to early morning appointments and he has been getting the kids to school on those mornings.  

I've been having more cramping than I remember having with my other pregnancies, so I mentioned that at my appointment.  The doctor said it was nothing to be concerned about.  In fact, she said, "At this point - bring it on!"  The more cramping and practice contractions I have, the more my body is preparing for labor.  So it's all good!

We have been doing a lot of work to prepare the nursery.  Eric emptied the closet of all the non-baby items so that I could fill it with baby items.  Then we placed a large Amazon order to get many of the things we still needed to purchase (mattress protectors, a few more blankets, car mirrors, another diaper genie, etc) and have been putting those things away as they arrive.  I sterilized my pump parts and put the finishing touches on my hospital bag.  So we're getting there!  We still need to organize the basement bedroom that we're using as Eric's office and a guest bedroom.  

This weekend has been a little busy because we are celebrating Gavin's upcoming 6th birthday.  We invited 6 friends to go bowling at Val Lanes this afternoon and he had a blast.  Tomorrow morning we are having donuts with Nana, Papa, Haley, and JJ.  It's hard to believe that next year we will have 3 kid birthdays to celebrate!