36 Week Update

36 Week Belly Picture

I am up to 6 stretch marks!! I was so happy because I hadn't gotten any more and then this weekend I woke up and it seemed like they just appeared out of nowhere! I swear I woke and they were just there! I also feel like my belly doubled in size! I feel a ton of pressure. My contractions have continued, however there is no progress on their occurrence, they come and go as they please. Baby boy has become quite the kick boxer, he jabs my ribs day and night and I have determined that he set up camp right on top of my bladder! I have to go to the bathroom about every 15 minutes however it's only a few drops! (Very Frustrating because I feel like I have to go ALL THE TIME). I am also proud to announce that I officially feel pregnant!!! I had been so blessed to have a great pregnancy however week 36 sure turned it around! I have a hard time sleeping now, not because I am uncomfortable but because I seem to have insomnia, I need help getting out of bed or getting up from the sofa, I even had to waddle a few days this week because my back was hurting pretty bad! My nesting finally kicked in, I have been scrubbing our shower every morning, ohh and I really have to hold back from yelling at Mark to come and help my off the toilet! (It is very hard to stand up now). My hands and feet swell up by the end of the day, my entire body is extremely itchy, I carry some aveno lotion with menthol in my purse now and rub it on throughout the day! Still drinking TONS of water and eating lots of Watermelon and Nectarines. My appetite seems to be fading. For the past few days I really haven't felt like eating anything other than fruit, water and fudge bars. My belly button is officially out and Mark gets a kick out of playing with it! My wedding ring and engagement ring are both put away now.

I also had my 37 Week appointment this morning and guess what! I am a CHEERIOS already! (Check the Dilation picture below) Everything at the appointment went great. I am up 19 lbs, I had my Strep B exam done and they also checked on any progress and guess what??? I am 1 Centimeter Dilated already and 60% effaced! Of course my doctor said I could be like this for a while (which is fine with me). Everything else looks great, the baby's heart beat was 152 bpm. I am just amazed that I am a cheerios already... Holy cow, I can't even imagine being a bagel!

This week was also the onset of friends and family starting to place bets on when this little man will make his grand appearance into our lives! Everyone seems so eager to have him here already. The earliest bet is for July 11th which is right around the corner and the latest is for August 3rd! (Although mommy feels he will be here right around his due date) or at least that is what I am hoping for, I have grown so used to thinking he will be here on July 28th. But who knows, only he has any say in the whole thing! :) Mark and I are finished with all of the shopping for him, we even went out and got baby gas drops and infant Tylenol. We are set, we organized some cabinets in the kitchen and put all his bottles and feeding stuff in one cabinet, his clothes is finally organized by size, with all of the newborn and 0-3 months clothes washed and put away. His socks, burp clothes, wash clothes, bibs, blankets and sheets have all been washed and put in his dresser. The bassinet is now in our room along with a recliner that Mark went out and got me so I can breast feed in our room at night. Mark has also been busy trying to set up the video system up in his room and hook it up to all our TV's so we can watch him from any room. Our Hospital bag is done and by the door, I still need to get the one for the baby together however, I want to go get a memory book to take to the hospital so I am still waiting to put his little bag together. The carseat will get installed this weekend and that should be the last thing for us to do. Then we will be playing the waiting game! :)