37 week journal

Dear baby girl,
We're getting down to the wire here! You're officially full term, and we're so ready to meet you! That said, aside from the no sugar thing, having you happy bouncing around my uterus is much easier than having you outside. I bought the most adorabllllleeee outfit for you to wear home, so please don't be too big for it! I also packed some (sorry but not quite as adorable) outfits in case you're too chunky for the newborn outfit.  The wanting to dress you in cute clothing mania has apparently already started.

Yesterday I got lots of practice with my new little frog wrap....wrapping Newton.  I need to work on getting my rails tighter, but it was fun and he's shockingly cooperative. I feel like he's going to run away any time he seems a baby wrap now though.  Wait until we get a ring sling. He's going to love that thing...until you take it over.  I feel much more confident wrapping you now though.

How far along: 37 weeks aka...we can discuss your eviction notice at any point now.

Size of baby: Winter melon (no idea what this actually is, but basically I'm wondering how you fit in there)
Average size: 18.9-20.9 inches, 6.2-9.2 lb.
Baby’s inhaling, exhaling, sucking, gripping and blinking.
(I just noticed at the length and weight don't change for the duration of the pregnancy, although they just give you weirder and bigger fruit)

Gender: girl

Movement: Sometimes you move constantly--usually in the evening. Today you're being pretty chill. You're still getting the hiccups at least 1-2 times a day, which are pretty darn cute.

How I'm Changing: This belly...it's just ridiculous at this point.  I keep walking into things...and people with it.  Also, my ribs on the right (since you still won't get out of there) are sort of really stretched out. Sometimes when I lay down my belly is really crooked, especially when you start sticking your butt up.

Maternity Clothes: I have no choice. I can still wear yoga pants though!

How I'm Feeling: Tired and completely unmotivated. It takes me all day to empty the dishwasher, and I've started asking dad to run easy errands for me.  When I went to the mall this last weekend with my friend, I got a bit too dehydrated and had a ton of contractions for half of the trip, into the night. I had to reassure my friend that I wasn't going into labor (alas...).
My hands and feet are feeling swollen some days, but I actually think that cutting out refined sugar really cut down on the inflammation.  I hate that I couldn't resist eating a cookie on NYE and killed my glucose for the day, and my hands and feet started hurting again.

Sleep: I've been getting 2-3 hrs at a stretch, but I can go back to sleep pretty easily.

What I miss: energy to do things like clean my house!

What I'm Eating: Lots and lots of protein. I just wanted to eat soup and crackers the other day...and couldn't.

Cravings:  chocolate. Sugar free chocolate pudding seems to work.

Best Moment this week: 
This has been a really big couple of weeks! Last week we had Christmas, and this week we were blessed to welcome the New Year with our close friends.  Dad is having fun introducing people to my tummy (you).  It's a little embarrassing, but what the heck.

On Tuesday we actually had excellent appointments getting your sonogram taken, and then our midwives appointment.  This sonographer found out that we hadn't actually gotten to see your face or anything (just lots of ribs and heart), so she turned on the 4D picture and showed you to us and oh my god...you are SO cute/chunky and SQUISHED.  I <3 it.  I think I really needed to see your little face.  It just made my week.

After that appointment we went to the midwife and I got to ask all of the questions that had been bothering me all week, like can we deliver at the center?, and what their procedure for gestational diabetic women are, and what are the procedures at the hospital. Basically, my blood glucose levels are being controlled very well by diet, and there is no reason at this point for me to have to deliver by my due date (sometimes they freak with GD babies b/c they assume they're huge).  Everything is on as planned...you just need to decide that it's time to get out.


Love,

Mom

And to my readers, here is your reward.  A picture of my own personal chunk ball.

She was wedged between her arm, and something else. Dad thinks she looks like an angry Buddah.
I think you're adorable!!!! Such perfect fat cheeks and adorable lips.

That bump is all your butt, kid...just thought I'd put that out there. And, it's blurry because dad can't take pictures on the fly.