37 weeks!

Hey, look, I actually put a picture up this time!  Does that excuse the fact that this update is 5 days late?

How Far Along: 

 

I am 37 weeks and 5 days!

 Baby Size:

The baby is 6.5 pounds and 19 to 22 inches, about the size of a watermelon.

Maternity Clothes:

 

Seriously?  Should this question even be asked?

 

Sleep:

Not so hot.

Movement:

Yes, but it definitely is starting to slow down.

Best Moment This Week:

I have almost completed the boys room!  I feel like the baby can come, if he wants to.

Food Cravings:

Still craving some potato skins.  And I love crunching ice right now.  And I really want a snowcone from Ms. Gussies.  But that's, sadly, not going to happen.

Food Aversions:

Meat.  Gross. 

What I Miss:

 

Margaritas.

I have a friend lined up to bring me a margarita after the baby (Meredith, you are the best!).  And I can not wait!

What I Am Looking Forward To:

Our sweet friend and neighbor (her husband is in Bech's program) just had her baby yesterday!  I can't wait until they get home and I can get some sweet snuggles in!

Milestones:

I am (kind of) full term, depending on if you go by 37 or 38 weeks.  I feel like that's a big deal.

Pregnancy Symptoms:

Heartburn ALL of the time.  But I feel like the baby has dropped, so I'm not sure why I suddenly have awful heartburn.

 

Gender:

 

A boy!

Weight Gain:

 

25 pounds.

36 weeks

How Far Along: 

 

I am 36 weeks and 3 days!

 Baby Size:

The baby is 6 pounds and 20 inches, about the size of a large cantelope.

Maternity Clothes:

 

I will wear ANYthing that is comfortable.

 

Sleep:

Eh...

Movement:

Yes, but it definitely is starting to slow down.

Best Moment This Week:

We've gotten to hang out a lot with friends this week, and I've really enjoyed that.

Food Cravings:

Anything cold!  Also, potato skins.  I know, nasty, right?  But SO good.

Food Aversions:

Most savory things and most things meat.  

What I Miss:

 

Margaritas and martinis!  Just being real...

What I Am Looking Forward To:

Tonight I am going on a hospital tour.  It's funny how different pregnancy is with the second kid...I totally put this off this time around.  But I haven't even seen the labor and delivery floor here so I am curious to see what it's like!

Milestones:

Less than 4 weeks!  And I'm now up to weekly doctor's visits, which somehow makes it feel more real.

Pregnancy Symptoms:

Oh goodness...EVERYTHING.

 

Gender:

 

A boy!

Weight Gain:

 

24 pounds.  Which is a pound less than last week.  Which is crazy considering, POTATO SKINS.  Also, I had a milkshake Monday.  So, don't really know why.  But, hey, I am not complaining!

35 Weeks

How Far Along: 

 

I am 35 weeks and 2 days!

 Baby Size:

The baby is 5.5 pounds and 20 inches, about the size of a cantelope.

Maternity Clothes:

 

Yes, and I am hoping they last me until the end.  I may wear the same maxi dress every day the last week or two that I am pregnant.

 

Sleep:

We now have the air conditioning going plus a fan in our room blasting on me all night long.  So the sleep has gotten slightly better!

Movement:

Yup, all of the time!

Best Moment This Week:

It will be Friday, which means 1 month until the due date!

Food Cravings:

As usual, anything cold.  I love ice water, large diet cokes ($1 at McDonald's right now!), greek yogurt, and Caesar salads.

Food Aversions:

Most savory things and most things meat.  

What I Miss:

 

Margaritas.  Doesn't a margarita sound SO good right about now?

What I Am Looking Forward To:

I'm getting a pedicure tonight with a friend!  My toes are looking rough!

Milestones:

Almost a month left!  CRAZY!

Pregnancy Symptoms:

Oh goodness...EVERYTHING.

 

Gender:

 

A boy!

Weight Gain:

 

25 pounds.

Catching up

I feel like my blog needs a non baby/pregnancy post!  

So here is a quick update on the last 4 or 5 weeks:

M   O   V   I   N  G

Well, we are officially moved!  Yay!  We had lots of help and lots of time (we drug it out over 4 days). I am so glad to be done!  

And we are LOVING living in grad housing.  We love meeting all of the new neighbors, who are from all over!  We love having lots of green space to play in, plus a playground practically in our backyard.  Jack keeps telling me how much he loves his new house.

But we downsized a TON.  There wasn't a 3 bedroom available, so we are crammed into a tiny 2 bedroom.  It has been good for us--making us go through everything and get rid of what we don't need/use.

P   L   A   Y   I   N   G

Summers up North really are delightful.  The weather, especially the past two weeks, has been amazing--high 70's and low 80's.  And State College has tons of amazing parks!  So we have been playing outside every day.

This is from the new Children's Garden at the Penn State Arboretum.  I am in love with this little garden.  It has tons of cool features for kids to play in--a wading creek, a cave with a sand pit, a caterpillar to climb on, a hollowed out tree with instruments!

Here is the inside of the tree. 

Also, Jack got called a girl while wearing this outfit.  Really?  Those are smocked pirate swim trunks!!!

I have been trying to soak up fun park time with Jack before he becomes a big brother!

T   R   I   P     T   O     D   C

After the move, Jack and I drove my little brother (who came for a visit and to help us move) down to DC for the weekend.  We also took our extra bed down to my sister and brother-in-law who are moving apartments in just a couple of weeks.

I hadn't been to the Smithsonian zoo since I was young (even though I have been to DC tons of times since then!), and we all thought Jack would enjoy going.

He loved the zoo!  His favorites were the gorillas (because he loves Tarzan the movie).  

This is a great zoo to go to.  They have lots of good animals--pandas, lions, cheetahs, monkeys, gorillas, tigers, etc.  Plus, it's free!  

We also hit up District Taco (a Braden family favorite), Eastern Market, and Ted's Bulletin (how can I resist homemade poptarts!).

P   R   E   P     F   O   R     B   A   B   Y

And finally, I have been doing some prep to get ready for Baby #2.  The boys room is almost all put together, the cloth diapers have been resized to fit an infant, clothes and blankets are washed and put up, and the baby's bag is packed!

All that is left to do is install the car seat, set up the crib, pack my bag, and make some freezer meals!

I haven't really mentioned this on here, but I am shooting for a VBAC this time around.  Bech and I have hired a doula.  My neighbor, who loves yoga, has started doing some prenatal yoga with me.  I am trying to drink red raspberry leaf everyday.  Of course, I make it into sweet iced tea!

So that's what our summer has been like lately!

34 Weeks

How Far Along: 

 

I am 34 weeks and 4 days

 Baby Size:

The baby is 4.9 pounds and 20 inches, about the size of a pineapple.

Maternity Clothes:

 

Yes, and it's the same few outfits.  I have worn the same shirt 3 times this past week (I washed it each time!)...I just want to be comfortable!

 

Sleep:

Ugh.

I either wake up and can't sleep, wake up because I have to go to the bathroom (for the millionth time!), or wake up because my back hurts.

Movement:

Yup, all of the time!

Best Moment This Week:

Setting up the boys room!  

Also, at my 34 week appointment, I went ahead and set up all of the rest of my doctor's appointments.

Food Cravings:

Trader Joe's Wine Country Chicken Salad

Y'all, SO GOOD.

Food Aversions:

Most savory things and most things meat.  

What I Miss:

 

Not going to the bathroom every 5 minutes.  

Not feeling like an 80 year old every morning when I get out of bed.

What I Am Looking Forward To:

Meeting this baby!

Milestones:

We are almost to the month mark...I am ready to have this baby here!

Pregnancy Symptoms:

I was feeling really awful this past weekend, mostly because I had been going non stop last week with the move (and lifted more than I should have) then we walked around the Smithsonian zoo on Saturday.  I typed in my symptoms on google and guess what?  

I'm pregnant.

 

Gender:

 

A boy!

Weight Gain:

 

24 pounds.