37 Weeks

37 weeks (5/28)

I have made it to full term! This little girl can come out any time, the sooner the better!  I am sure when I am up several times a night with her I will be wishing I could but her back in for a while. At my appointment this week I saw a different midwife since mine was on vacation. She is pretty good at guessing baby's weight, although she said she is much better at guessing when baby is actually born haha.  She guessed Kinsley would weigh around 7 1/2 pounds when she was born.  I can handle that! Sunday Chris, Ashley and Ryann came for dinner. We all guessed weight and date Kinsley would make her grand appearance. Anyone else want to guess? While they were here we played at the park and Chris (my husband, it gets very confusing) quizzed Ryann on her shapes. Chris drew what he thought was a circle but Ryann called him out on it, it was actually an oval. It was so funny!
Monday was Memorial day. We didn't have any plans so we decided to have a date night. We saw Men in Black 3 and went to dinner at Longhorn (I love their strawberry pecan salad). It was nice to have a night out with just the two of us. Part of me is sad to think that those days are very numbered, but it is also exciting to know we have a new adventure ahead of us.

date night (5/28)

The picture is blurry and my face looks really round but oh well. I keep trying to convince Chris to shave his beard before the baby comes. I told him she wouldn't like it! Haha. 

If Kinsley was ready to come out, Wednesday would have been the day to do it. I did all the old wives tales that day. My mom and I went and got pedicures and manicures (part of her mother's day gift). The guy who did my feet did a really good massage and rubbed the spot that is supposed to induce labor.  Then we got some delicious chocolate and had dinner with a bunch of ladies from church at Carlos O'Kelly's (spicy food). Then we went to watch Chris play softball and it started to storm and we all had to run to our cars. So I guess she just isn't quit ready yet.



How far along: 37 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I only gained a 1/2 pound this week! I might just count it as a zero weight gain since the pounds number stayed the same, just the fraction of a pound changed. Woohoo! I could use a few more weeks like that!
Maternity clothes?: uh-huh
Stretch marks?: Nothing :)
Sleep: I have been so thirsty in the evenings, I end up getting up several times in the night to pee.
Best moment this week: Date night. Might be the last one for a while :(
Movement: Yup.
Food cravings: I craved fried chicken this week. I got some from KFC, it was ok but really greasy.
Gender: GIRL!
What I miss: My ankles. I definitely have cankles!
Milestones:  Full term!


From Babycenter:

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)
Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

36 Weeks

(one day past) 36 weeks (5/22)

This week was better. 4 more weeks, I can do it! I had another appointment yesterday, nothing too exciting. My GBS was negative, which means I don't have to get antibiotics during labor and I can go home at 24 hours if I want. Yay!
I am starting to feel a little less stressed. Things are getting done around the house and getting ready for Kinsley's arrival. This week Chris's mom came over and helped me put up the tree decal (thanks Kay!). It was a lot more work than I thought it would be but it turned out really cute! I have a few more decorations I want to add and the nursery will be done!

I love it! In the corner is the mobile Tera made for me. The colors go so perfectly!
Kim (my midwife) is out of town next week. She told me to behave until she gets back. I'll do my best!

How far along: 36 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I gained 1 1/2 pounds this week. I was really hoping to have just one week where I didn't gain anything!
Maternity clothes?: Yup, they are starting to get a little short.
Stretch marks?: Still nothing
Sleep: I do like that medicine! Don't worry, I only take it a couple of times a week and it is perfectly safe for the baby!
Best moment this week: Getting the tree decal on the wall. Love it even more!
Movement: She likes to stretch out. I can feel her back on one side of my stomach and her feet poking out on the other. Braxton hicks are more frequent (especially now that I know what I'm feeling), I have had a couple that hurt just a little bit.
Food cravings: Taco Bell
Gender: GIRL!
What I miss: My muscle. I didn't have much before but now I have zero!
Milestones: 4 weeks left (that's different from one month!)


From Babycenter:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position.

35 Weeks

35 Weeks (5/14)

Each week is getting harder and harder. Being super busy at work isn't helping much. My only complaint is MY FEET HURT! They feel bruised and hurt to walk on. Tuesday at work was a rough night. Meconium amniotic fluid exploded all over me during a delivery and it was so busy. I barley sat down my whole 12hr shift. Wednesday when I woke up my feet were so swollen! I am hoping the next few weeks are not quite so busy or I may not make it! I had 3 people tell me this week I looked like I was about to pop! When I tell them I have another month they say "you won't make it another month". Although I really hope they are right, I am going smack the next person that says it! I have gone from an XS to an XL scrub top at work and my wedding ring is a little snug. I guess that means I am getting close to the end.
Ok, I'm done complaining. :)  Last week I gave clues for the baby's name. Almost everyone has guessed it, I really should have made the clues harder.  For those of you who are a little behind I will fill you in. Her name is Kinsley. Her middle name will be the same as mine, Michele. I really like it and hope she does too!
Tuesday I had my first weekly appointment. She checked me for GBS (group B strep) and checked my cervix (Sorry if that's too much info for you. You'll get over it!).  My cervix was closed, which I figured it would be. But, I was 50% effaced and definitely vertex (head down). Woohoo! As long as she stays that way we'll be in good shape.
Here is the latest craft project:

Burp cloths

They are burp cloths. I think they turned out really cute! I used some white wash cloths and hand towels I had laying around and sewed on some flannel. There are 6 small ones and 3 bigger ones. That should be enough.... I hope.
I also got my tree decal in the mail last week. I love it and can't wait to get it on the wall! I will put pictures up as soon as I get it on the wall!

How far along: 35 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Well, I only gained 2 more pounds instead of 3 or 4. She needs to come sooner than later so I don't pass my second goal weight of 45 pounds. I'm creeping up there!
Maternity clothes?: Yup
Stretch marks?: None yet.
Sleep: Good when I take the medicine, not so good when I don't.
Best moment this week: Getting the tree decal in the mail. Love it!
Movement: She has slowed down a little. Less somersaults and more nudges and stretches. I guess some of the "movements" I was feeling were actually braxton hicks. Who knew.
Food cravings: I bought mint oreo cookies this week. They are so good dunked in milk!
Gender: GIRL!
What I miss: Bending over. I tried to paint my toes, it wasn't too easy. Pedicures from now on!
Milestones: One month left!


From Babycenter:
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

34 Weeks

34 weeks (5/7)

We decided to give our family a few clues on Baby I's name. We really thought it would take several days and few more clues for them to figure it out. No, they all figured it out almost immediately! So here are the clues we gave them: it is a small city in Kansas, it has 7 letters. I guess we should have started with one clue at a time. So, go for it! Any ideas? If you already know don't ruin it for everyone else.
I made some adorable headbands I found on Pinterest. One style I made out of elastic and the other I made from an old T-shirt. The flowers are made out of felt and turned out really cute! I hope they fit her head.  I'll find out soon I guess!
Tuesday I have an appointment then start weekly appointments after that. Yikes! I am a little worried, she feels like she is laying transverse (sideways). Hopefully she figures out how she is supposed to lay soon before she runs out of room!

How far along: 34 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I have been gaining about 1.5 pounds a week, but this week I really gave in to all the sweet cravings so I'm sure I gained 3 pounds just this week.
Maternity clothes?: Yup
Stretch marks?: None yet.
Sleep: I took the medicine to help me sleep last week when I had to work two days in a row, it was awesome!
Best moment this week: Telling our family Baby I's name. I think they like it, I hope she does!
Movement: Still pretty constant and seriously painful sometimes. I am sure I will miss it when it's gone so I will just enjoy it!
Food cravings: I made chocolate chunk brownies(oh my goodness these were so good! I will need to buy more!) with ice cream on Sunday and mini fruit pizzas on Monday. I probably should back off on the sweets for a few days.
Gender: GIRL!
What I miss: Being able to make it through a night shift without my feet hurting. They feel bruised by morning.  Ok, I really need to quit complaining! I have a ways to go!
Milestones: I can deliver at St. Francis! Our NICU takes babies as young as 34 weeks, so Baby I can stay at St Francis.

From Babycenter:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies

33 Weeks

33 Weeks (4/30)

I am defintely feeling the time crunch! Chris and I got the nursery all organized and put back together, most of Baby I's clothes have been washed and put away, and we bought a few necessities this week. Things are starting to come together but I feel like I am running out of time fast!  She will be here before we know it! Oh, we decided on a name (I think) but you'll have to wait a while longer to find out! :)


How far along: 33 weeks
Total weight gain/loss:  36 It's small so you can't see it! :)
Maternity clothes?: Mmhmm
Stretch marks?: I may luck out!
Sleep:  I talked to my midwife about my lack of sleep especially during the week. She gave me some medicine that will hopefully help. We'll find out.
Best moment this week: Getting things ready for baby I!
Movement: Constant. Lately she has had hiccups. They were cute at first and now they are just annoying.
Food cravings: I am going to make fruit pizza next week!
Gender: GIRL!
What I miss: Moving easily. Starting to get to the uncomfortable stage.
Milestones: Another week closer!

From Babycenter:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.