37 Week Bumpdate

She's dropped some more and I can breath easy! 

Total Weight Gain: 26

Symptoms:  Stretch marks. It has happened. But with my tummy so tight and so many contractions every day, it makes sense. I'm really surprised at how un-bothered I am. With all of the changes happening, it feels like not a big deal in exchange for helping create a human. And they are light (please pray that they stay light and my heart stays relaxed about it!)

Size of the baby:  We're taking guesses. 6-7 lbs are the guesses right now. Plus side: apparently my hips could easily handle a 9 pounder!

Sleep:  This week I have had nights of 3 hours of sleep and nights of 10 hours of sleep. So if you see me in town with a tired look, it's probably pretty legitimate ;) 

Best Moment Last Week: Joseph and I finally took some cute pictures together with this belly bump. And I got to spend a whole afternoon with my mom getting my nails done, shopping, and basically playing hooky from life. Hey, there are perks to labor false alarm days ;) 

Movement: Plenty, especially between contractions. Poor things doesn't like getting squished!
And for all of us who thought she dropped last week, this week she has dropped even more! As in, I have like 4 inches of waist!

Cravings:  Great Harvest muffins, soup, milk, cheese. 

What I Miss: 2nd trimester comfort. Seriously. But I wonder if it isn't a blessing that the end isn't the most comfortable part. Birth is looking better and better with each passing day. 

What am I looking forward to:  Heather's baby shower tonight! 
And our birth class this weekend. It will be good to take some time to prepare. 
And hitting the 37 week milestone so that people can stop telling me that it's really better if the baby stays in longer (remember people, I really don't have control over this! lol).
And getting a few last minute projects out of the way before E comes. 

Milestones: I received our baby book in the mail this week! It's been so fun starting to write in it. I'm also looking forward to printing these blog posts to keep inside the cover. 

How is Daddy?  Helping me with my organizational nesting cheerfully all while balancing a big load with work and school and baby on the way. 

36 Week Bumpdate: the 9th month

36 weeks! Some days I feel tiny and some days I feel huge :)

Total Weight Gain: 25 lbs

Symptoms:  So emotional. The things I tear up over make even me laugh (aka ABBA's Dancing Queen coming on the radio. Not. Even. Kidding). Also starting to really notice my body's practice contractions. It's pretty amazing to watch it prepare. 

Size of the baby:  Healthy and ready to meet the world whenever she so chooses!

Sleep:  Taking some herbs and that has really, really helped. 

Best Moment Last Week: Wrote my birth plan. Finished my nursery (pictures below). Washed the littlest clothes and blankets. Boom, boom and boom!

Movement: Hiccups. This week Evelyn has had hiccups a couple times. I used to hear that and not think it sounded that remarkable, but, guys, it is SO precious!! 

Cravings:  I had my first intense one. I woke up from a nap last weekend NEEDING a pancake with peanut butter and strawberry jam on it. Not even sure my eyes were open yet before I stumbled into the kitchen and started making my little buckwheat pancake. :)

What I Miss: Being able to keep my due date clear in my head. Somehow over the last couple weeks it has turned into a "due season" and therefore I answer with things like "Well, anytime between now and Thanksgiving." Why I can't go back to the auto "November 14th" is beyond me.

What am I looking forward to:  Baby shower this Sunday! Oh man, I can't wait! And then I'm throwing a shower for a dear friend on Friday. So much celebrating to come!

Milestones: Hello full term! I've made it to the I-can-safely-birth-at-the-birthing-center milestone and that feels great. 

How is Daddy?   Handing out loads and loads of hugs when I get weepy and exhausted. I'm so thankful he encourages me to slow down. 

And here are some pictures of the nursery! 

I've been dreaming up this room since before we even found out we were having a girl. I did the majority of it over the last couple weeks, while my mom was out of town (half to surprise her, half to see if I could do it on my own- we always decorate together), and love how it all came together. 

This is super budget-friendly nursery- free crib (Thank you Montague's!), childhood bookcase and dresser, gifted bedding, 1 gallon of paint to take the walls from white to warm, stenciled E with a borrowed projector (because vinyls are not very reasonable), Draping wall using fabric from our wedding, black button wall- 1 yard of fabric for coverage, Chandelier using beads from our wedding and a broken lamp shade for the ring base, foam board valance with 1 yard of fabric, and spray painted lamp with a shade covered in old lace. 

Besides the valance and button fabric and some paint, I pretty much just bought the baskets in the bookcase. Bonus: they were on sale! Most of the decor I already had and all the colorful blankets are so decorative stacked up. 

I'm particularly in love with this striped valance. (Tutorial) 

It takes me back to our Europe trip.

These buttons are actually bar stool samples I saved when my parents closed their store 6 years ago. I thought they could be fun in a nursery some day.

 And I was definitely right :) 

35 Week Bumpdate

Total Weight Gain: 23.5 lbs

Symptoms:  Did you know nausea can come back in the third trimester? That's fun. Just tack it on to the tiredness. All of that combined with the heat that still sticking around in OR is definitely making me very ready to get this baby out. 

Size of the baby:  The size charts are really starting to vary at this point. 18 inches and 4.5 lbs is the average. But from this week on out, nothing is really accurate (since babies are born between 17&22 inches long and 6-10 lbs..) Basically, she's good sized and can come out almost at any time :)

35 Weeks big! 

Sleep: Almost non existent. 6 hours a night is a good night. 5, not bad. 4 is where we really get teary. Pushing through. Choosing joy. Looking forward to this part of this season being done. 

Best Moment Last Week: Going to Bauman Farms with Joseph. It was so fun to go on this date I have been looking forward to since the spring. Only funny thing was I had always pictured it in sweaters and boots. Instead, we were sweating it out in T shirts and shorts. Rolling with the season! 

Movement: Evelyn's little kicks are getting higher! I can't believe how much she has grown

Cravings:  Quiche. Green smoothies. Pumpkin treats (but isn't everyone thinking of those in October?). Milk.

What I Miss: Being able to fall asleep on my own before 2 am. 

What am I looking forward to:  Finishing the major nursery projects this weekend! Look for pictures in the near future :)

Milestones: Realizing that every time someone reminds me to enjoy where I'm at, it's okay. It doesn't mean I was spilling discontent. And also I think I've realized with going from a couple to parents, you just can't know what you're going to miss until it's really changed. And that's okay too. Grace covers. I am enjoying these moments and so excited for the next ones too. 

How is Daddy?  Helping me get our little home ready. We got the balcony cleared! (check off my nesting list). We're almost all moved in/organized, and that feels fantastic. 

34 Week Bumpdate

Pardon the bathroom selfie. Done is better than perfect :)

Total Weight Gain: 23 lbs

Symptoms:  Insomnia still rolls on. And the naps still roll on. And the lower back pain is getting combated by yoga. Okay, that's a little whiney. Mostly, when I've had some decent sleep the night before, things are lovely. It's harder to remember that when I'm sleep deprived. 

Size of the baby:  The size charts are really starting to vary at this point. 18 inches and 4.5 lbs

Sleep: Less solid, that's for sure. It's harder to get comfy and I get woken out of a deep sleep by this little mover. I guess this is getting ready for a newborn kind of schedule. But keeping up with my bedtime routine of a bath and then stretching, even when I think I'm tired enough not to need it, is mostly resolving the crazy-late nights. 

Best Moment Last Week: Painting Evelyn's room. And having lots of people over for tea dates or dinner. It's been a blessing enjoying all the friends and family that are so close! 

Movement: Better question: When is she NOT moving? 

Cravings: Pizza. This week it feels like the healthy cravings are all gone and what I really want is just pizza for every meal. lol. Thankful my life isn't ruled by my cravings! 

What I Miss: Sleep. Are you sensing a pattern this week? ;)

What am I looking forward to:  Getting this nursery finished. The goal is by the end of next weekend! 

Milestones: I've hit that glorious "nesting" phase. I'm actually enjoying and looking forward to all the little projects I want to finish before Evelyn's arrival. I was starting to get nervous it was going to feel like a list of chores until the very end, but I'm feeling inspired and oddly energized by it all. 

How is Daddy?  Joseph started classes this week for his apprenticeship! He's rockin this balance thing and helping so much in finishing up our home organization. Almost everything has a place now :)