34 Weeks

Gonna have to make this week's post very short & sweet due to lack of time.  Things have been moving at warp speed around here & I just know I'm going to blink my eyes and this little one is going to be here!  Six weeks until my due date!  That means I could have her anywhere from 3-8 weeks from now!  That is quite the range!  Haha. 

Here is my growing "bump"...

And for my stats...

How far along?  34 weeks

Baby is the size of a: canteloupe or butternut squash

Symptoms:  All the same GI symptoms (except I don't think I had any heartburn this week, yay!), having to eat smaller meals due to shrinking stomach capacity, backaches (mostly just when I'm sleeping), leg cramps (also when I'm sleeping), shortness of breath, some numbness/tingling in my hands, mild & rare swelling of ankles & feet (thankfully I haven't really swelled much at all this week)...

Sleep:  Not quite as good this week but that could also be because I've had a cold.  It's getting pretty difficult to change my position in bed and then, I'm super stiff when I get up to pee...

Number of times I get up to pee each night:  1-3 depending on how long I sleep, etc.

Best moment this week:  Making progress on the nursery (see "baby preparations" below)...

Miss anything?  Can't think of anything new!  Still thoroughly enjoying being pregnant and not quite ready for it to be over!

Food cravings:  Ummm, I had some really random and fleeting cravings this week but I can't seem to remember what they were... Last week, I just kept wanting okra and sweet potatoes and I got both on Saturday (well, I ate okra three days in a row, hah) so I didn't continue to crave them after that.

Anything making you queasy or sick?  No.

Movement:  Yes!  I can see her moving around in there as I lie here on the couch typing this post.  I tried to video it the other day but evidently, she's a bit camera shy.  Her movement is quite noticeable and pretty constant these days!

Stretch marks?  No, yay!  Crossing my fingers that it stays that way!

Belly button - in or out?  I guess I'd have to admit that it's finally out.  It can still be flat at times (like right now) but the top part is often poking out a bit.

Wedding rings - on or off?  Still on!  I haven't really noticed much in the way of swelling in my hands and fingers at all.

Mood:  I have to admit I've been a lot more on edge this week.  I've had several crying "spells" that came on suddenly without much warning at all.  The stress level has been pretty high around here since we've just been very busy.  So thankful for my hubby who, for the most part, is very patient with me!

Looking forward to:  Continuing to move along with the nursery and other preparations for baby...

Baby preparations:  As I mentioned last week, my parents came into town this past weekend to help paint the nursery.  We got all the painting done as well as the crib and changing table put together.  Since then, I've also painted a little accent table to use beside the glider and arranged the furniture in the nursery.  There is still lots to be done before it all comes together but I promise I'll post pictures soon.  I'll probably dedicate an entire post just to the nursery!  As well as nursery prep, I've been preparing to buy all the things that we did not receive as gifts.  I've got several coupons/discounts so now, I'm trying to figure out where I should buy each item to get the best price/value.  My mom bought me a Vera Bradley diaper bag which should arrive on Saturday.  I'm sooooo excited!  I also ordered a crib bumper and skirt that should also come Saturday.  Lastly, I ordered some prints off Etsy to hang on the wall.  I can't wait to show them to you.  I got them custom made and they are so stinkin' cute!  They shipped today and should be here in 3-5 days.  It's like Christmas in January!!!  Hahaha. 

What baby is up to this week according to Babycenter.com:  Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (about the size of a cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.