40 weeks +5 - Am I really writing this post?

How far along: 40 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: A small pumpkin - He is looking to be around 8 pounds according to the midwife on Wednesday. Total weight gain: 34 lbs. Exercise: 1 prenatal yoga class (hopefully my last one!!), walks around the neighborhood with Matt, and a walk in the Wissahickon with Mike and Kim and the niece and nephews. Maternity clothes: Whatever fits! Sleep: I took a couple of naps that were too late this week (around 4 or 5pm) and had a difficult time sleeping at night, but it's all relative. Any sleep is good sleep at this point. Best moment(s) of this week: Just taking some time to get out of the house and read at Barnes and Noble, knowing that these quiet times alone will be few and far between in the near future.  Miss anything: Being able to roll over. Movement: He is getting pretty aggressive in there and feels like he is getting stronger. His kicks are pretty strong all over the place, so hopefully that's a sign that he wants to get out! Food cravings: Water, Lemon flavored sparkling water from Trader Joes, Mango Mochi from Trader Joes Symptoms: Hips and pelvis soreness, fatigue, frequent bathroom trips, almost every hour! How crazy. Belly button in or out: Out, but soon to be in? Crossing my fingers. Wedding rings on or off: I don't really try to take them off anymore. Looking forward to: This may be obvious, but I'm looking forward to meeting our baby boy, and sharing his name! We've been waiting for this little guy and can't wait to begin our lives with him outside of my belly. 
**Prayer Request: I have an appointment scheduled for Monday to do a Non-Stress Test and an amniotic fluid check, and if both come back normal, they will let me go another week before they would induce. Please pray that our baby boy would come on his own without induction or C-Section. Our desire is to have a natural labor, and we know we have to do what's best for the baby, but don't want to feel pressured if something isn't necessary. 

39 weeks and 5 DAYS! - It could happen any day!!

How far along: 39 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: A mini watermelon - He is looking to be about a little over 7 pounds according to the midwife on Wednesday. Total weight gain: 34 lbs. Exercise: Swimming (more floating than swimming), 1 prenatal yoga class (a little rough this week with the heat and new poses), multiple walks around the neighborhood with Matt Maternity clothes: Same as before, tank tops and shorts - anything to stay cool. Sleep: My energy level is basically depleted by mid afternoon, so I typically nap for about an hour around 2pm, which leaves me still tired enough at bed time. Best moment(s) of this week: My sister-in-law having her baby! He was born Friday night, his name is Cole Harper  Roth and he weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces. Yay for the Roth family! Miss anything: My cooler self. I am at least 5-10 degrees warmer than I usually would be b/c of the little heater inside my belly. Soon enough this heat wave will be over too, and that will help with the heat factor. Sure am thankful for A/C. Movement: He was kicking my ribs last night which was a new sensation, and his legs have now moved back to my right side, so he's still enjoying what space he has left! Can't wait to see what movements he makes outside the womb! Food cravings: Can't get enough cold water, Toto's pizza, Cucumbers from our garden, and homemade black bean burritos. Symptoms: Swollen feet and hands from the heat, fatigue Belly button in or out: There was a point in time this week that b/c of how he was positioned, I saw a glimpse of my old belly button! It was just how I remembered it. :) Wedding rings on or off: Permanent fixture to my finger. Looking forward to: Hopefully not a next baby appointment, but a delivery! Due date is on Monday, July 22nd!! 
And last but not least... a collection of the weekly pregnancy photos.. It is wild thinking that I was showing so much at 20 weeks, but looking at myself now, it was only the beginning. :) What a journey.

38 weeks - Getting so close!

How far along: 38 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: A pumpkin! - He is looking to be about 6 3/4 pounds according to the midwife on Wednesday. Total weight gain: 33 lbs. Exercise: A hike in the Wissahickon with my yoga friend Ali, 1 prenatal yoga class, and a 5 mile walk with Matt today - Phew! It's getting humid around here. Maternity clothes: Tank tops and shorts mainly - what a relief to not be pregnant in the winter - there would be too many items to wear! I'm glad I get to keep it simple.  Sleep: Still doing pretty well here, a little more difficult to roll over *imagine having a bowling ball attached to your stomach* but able to fall asleep once I get there. Best moment(s) of this week: Hanging out with two pregnant friends! Katie from the Bradley class we were taking, and Ali who is from the prenatal yoga class I go to. Such fun to meet and hang out with soon-to-be Mom's in the area! Miss anything: Nothing at the moment - just feeling thankful this week! Excited that I'm nearly 39 weeks pregnant and still truckin' along, getting out of the house, walking, etc. It's been an enjoyable pregnancy overall, and I'm truly thankful to say that. Movement: He's running out of room for sure! His legs are now on the left side only and I feel his little feet sticking out my side often. I feel like he's getting lower, but only time will tell! Food cravings: Still cold water, Mexican street corn - we've had that about 3 times this week (Thanks Kim!), Popsicles Symptoms: Swollen feet and hands after a long walk or standing for a long time, frequent bathroom breaks Belly button in or out: You know it's out. Wedding rings on or off: Stuck on... oops. Looking forward to: Next baby appointment on Wednesday and of course meeting our baby boy - could be any day!!
*P.S. - Next week look for a photo collage of all the weeks combined - so fun to see the changes!

37 weeks - Full Term!

Only a couple more weeks!

How far along: 37 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: A Bunch of Swiss Chard - He is looking to be about 6 1/2 pounds currently according to the midwife on Wednesday.  Total weight gain: 31 lbs.Exercise: No prenatal yoga this week due to 4th of July. :( Matt and I have gone on a few neighborhood walks and with his 4 days off we have been completing a lot of indoor/outdoor projects! Kayaking again today - we definitely took it a little slower this time, due to the 90+ degree weather! Maternity clothes: Matt's Adidas shorts are really coming in handy. Sleep: Getting a good night's sleep still, at least feeling rested each day, but come around 3pm I am ready for a nap. Best moment(s) of this week: Organizing the basement (I love organizing) and having 4 days off in a row with Matt. So thankful for our time together, especially as the days are few with it just being the two of us. Cherishing every bit of it. Miss anything: Not being sweaty. *see symptoms below Movement: He is a mover and a shaker! I'm not sure if he gets uncomfortable when he has hiccups or what, but he   seems to move around in many lumpy positions when hiccups are happening - I can't wait to see what his little movements are like in his early days of life on earth. Food cravings: Cold water, black bean burritos, cucumbers, watermelon Symptoms: Some rib soreness, swollen feet and I'm a sweaty mess all the time. Gender: At this point, I think we've waited so long with the name that we will wait to reveal on the day he is born! Mwhahaha. Belly button in or out: It is a little strange to have to wash what was previously the inside of your belly button, in the shower each day. Wedding rings on or off: On. Looking forward to: Next baby appointment on Wednesday and of course meeting our little guy, whenever that may be!

36 weeks - Maternity Photo Shoot!

How far along: 36 weeks and 6 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: Honeydew Melon Total weight gain: 30 lbs.  Exercise: 1 day prenatal yoga, walk around the neighborhood with Matt, a hike in the Wissahickon with Rachel and lots of going up and down the stairs as I get the rest of the house organized before baby comes! Maternity clothes: I'm ready to wear some regular clothes again! My maternity cycle of clothing is wearing thin... especially with the warm weather we're having. One pair of shorts isn't really cutting it. Sleep: I wake up about 4 times now to go to the bathroom, but it doesn't seem to interrupt my sleep much. I'm normally not a morning person (love sleeping in until at least 9) but now I'm ready to go by 7:30 or 8, which is pretty exciting because I never thought I would be able to do that without feeling worn out. Baby is training me well! Best moment(s) of this week: Going to the Kutztown Folk Festival and trying some Dutch treats, getting awesome maternity pictures taken by Sheryl, and having a great baby appointment on Wednesday where my midwife said everything looks good and that he is average size. Keep on cooking little guy!

Miss anything: This doesn't have much to do with pregnancy, but more with living far away from my closest friends and family. I miss the deep relationships and the ability to spend time with people I have a history with. I don't know if that will ever get easier or not... Movement: All the time, and lots of hiccups. Hoping for a strong, healthy boy! Food cravings: Watermelon, cold water, salad, ice cream :) Symptoms: A little swelling this week when we were outside in the heat at the festival on Saturday - my feet and ankles ballooned up a little, but once we got home and I was able to lay down it was much better. Gender: I think we've got the name! But still not revealing it... :) Belly button in or out: So out.  Wedding rings on or off: On, but only swollen day, I didn't have a choice, there was no way they were going to budge. I had sausages for fingers. Looking forward to: Baby appointment on Wednesday and Matt having a 4 day weekend! Woo hoo!