36 Weeks

August 5 - 11

How far along: 36 weeks

Total weight gain: About 32 lbs.

Maternity clothes: Starting to wear more dresses and skirts- the pants just aren't comfortable anymore.

Sleep: About the same... lots of middle of the night bathroom visits

Best moment this week: Back to school for teachers! The new computers in my classroom are GREAT! Too bad I'll only be there to enjoy them for a couple of weeks (they better still be nice when I get back!).

Gender: Girl

Labor signs: I think I've had a few Braxton-Hicks contractions... I don't really know exactly what I'm feeling for

Belly button: Pokes through all my shirts

Cravings: Watermelon :)

What I miss: Being able to do things on my own- it's so hard to get my classroom set up when I can't climb up to hang posters or carry heavy boxes/books.

Stretch marks: Mitchell is amazed at the fact that my stomach is huge and I only have a couple of small stretch marks- thanks for the good genes Mom and Dad!

What I am looking forward to this week: Seeing everyone at school and getting things set for my sub. I'm definitely ready to meet Madison, but preparing everything at school is the one thing I'm still worried about!

35 Weeks

July 29 - August 4

How far along: 35 weeks

Total weight gain: still around 30 lbs...

Maternity clothes: yup- but I'm nervous that my maternity dress pants won't fit anymore by the time school starts back!

Sleep: Usually wake up about once or twice per night for a bathroom break- otherwise not bad

Best moment this week: August 3 was our Freshman Academy Retreat at Roper Mountain Science Center. I'm starting to get excited about school starting back- and it was great to meet my long term sub!

Gender: Girl

Labor signs: Having some back pain... still haven't noticed any contractions...

Belly button: All the way out

Cravings: Fruit?

What I miss: Not bumping into things with my stomach- it's always in the way!

Stretch marks: Nothing new

What I am looking forward to this week: Starting to get my classroom ready!

34 Weeks

July 22 - 28

How far along: 34 weeks

Total weight gain: about 30 lbs... depends on the day

Maternity clothes: yeah... and getting lots of wear out of my yoga pants and big t-shirts

Sleep: So thankful I'm a heavy sleeper or I would probably be waking up a lot more than I am.

Best moment this week: The hospital Lamaze class was actually a lot better than I expected. The instructor was really good, and had lots of tips from her own pregnancies. I was also REALLY excited when my new Baby Hawk mei tai carrier got here- yay! I can't wait to use it!!

Gender: Girl

Labor signs: Still haven't noticed any contractions... but my pelvic muscles and ligaments are definitely stretching- painfully stretching.

Belly button: Definitely out- poked right through my dress at church... that's a nice look

Cravings: Not really... I've been trying to avoid a lot of junk food, so I guess ice cream would be my biggest craving lately

What I miss: The earlier, pain-free weeks of pregnancy... I have officially hit a part of pregnancy that is not so much fun. I'm not liking all this back/hip/pelvic pain and nasty heartburn :(

Stretch marks: Nothing new

What I am looking forward to this week: Spending lots of time in the pool to get all this weight off my hips and back!

33 Weeks

July 15 - 21

How far along: 33 weeks

Total weight gain: about 28 lbs...

Maternity clothes: definitely getting my money's worth out of those maternity jeans :)

Sleep: starting to wake up more during the night... and the terrible heartburn is back- boo

Best moment this week: The natural childbirth prep class we took was really great. We got lots of information on birth positions, relaxation and breathing techniques, etc. Our doula was also able to come for the afternoon portion of the class to talk about hospital procedures and how to avoid interventions. I can't believe we have only about a month and a half left!!

Gender: Still a girl (I hope!)

Labor signs: No, but I'm starting to get a little lower back pain- still haven't felt any contractions though.

Belly button: I think it's officially out

Cravings: Still not big on cravings

What I miss: My memory... I can't seem to hold on to a thought for more than about 30 seconds

Stretch marks: Nothing new

What I am looking forward to this week: Lamaze class at the hospital, my last week in Charlotte...

32 Weeks

July 7 - 14

How far along: 32 weeks

Total weight gain: Let's just not talk about that...

Maternity clothes: Yup- although I have found that sweats and bigger shirts (including some of Mitchell's) are becoming more comfortable.

Sleep: Still pretty good

Best moment this week: Meeting with the doula we decided to use :) After everything I have read and watched about natural birth in a hospital, I decided that it would be REALLY helpful to have a "advocate" there with us to help us out and give me some pointers to make the labor and delivery as "easy" as possible (I don't know if you can use the word easy when talking about labor- haha). She is really nice, and we are both excited to have someone to help us have the birth we want.

Gender: Girl! (Madison Elizabeth)

Labor signs: Nope

Belly button: Still going in and out depending on how full I am- haha

Cravings: Nothing specific this week... I have been drinking a TON of water though

What I miss: Being able to take my wedding rings off easily- my fingers are starting to swell :(

Stretch marks: Nothing new

What I am looking forward to this week: We start the weeks of classes- we have a baby care class on Monday, infant massage on Tuesday, and CPR and prenatal class next week!

31 Weeks

June 30 - July 7
Ahh- so bad about updating this on time...

How far along: 31 weeks

Total weight gain: 27 lbs

Maternity clothes: Mostly wearing yoga pants and t-shirts lately... a nice benefit of spending most of the day in the apartment!

Sleep: Not too bad- wish the dogs would let me sleep in a little more in the mornings

Best moment this week: The 4th of July was definitely a high point. We got to see one of Dave's baseball games on the 3rd, then drove back to Greenville and spent the next day at Mitchell's sister's house for a BBQ and hung out at their pool. The fireworks downtown were pretty awesome :)


Gender: Girl! (Madison Elizabeth)

Labor signs: Nope

Belly button: It popped out on the 4th, then seems to have gone back kinda flat again... it's weird.

Cravings: Fruit- especially strawberries lately

What I miss: Being able to bend over easily- it is getting harder and harder!

Stretch marks: Maybe one...

What I am looking forward to this week: Finishing washing all the cloth diapers and putting them away. That is one of the last things I still have to do to get ready!

30 Weeks

June 23 - 29

How far along: 30 weeks- 3/4 of the way there!

Total weight gain: 25 lbs

Maternity clothes: Yes, and some of the elastic on my maternity pants is starting to get tight!

Sleep: Pretty good- still having very strange dreams...

Best moment this week: I really didn't do a whole lot this week- mostly just relaxed. It was good to see Mitchell (and the dogs) after being in NJ for a week. We also found a really cute dress for Madison- and got it for half off!

Gender: Girl! (Madison Elizabeth)

Labor signs: Nope

Belly button: So close to popping out...

Cravings: Not really

What I miss: Not having to deal with doctors all the time and their ridiculous policies

Stretch marks: Maybe one...

What I am looking forward to this week: July 1- because then it will be just 2 months until Madison is born! I'm so excited :)