36 weeks

How big is the Baby?
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his 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 his 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 he's in a head-down position. But if he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly (via babycenter).

How Life's Changing
Life is changing...big time! The countdown is on with only 4 weeks to go until I reach my due date! I know I say this every week, but I really cannot believe how quickly time is flying by! There still feels like there is so much to do and not enough hours in the day!

Little things are starting to get harder and harder. One of the hardest things I do over the course of a day is put on my socks and shoes! It is hard to lean over when your stomach is hard as a rock and the size of a soccer ball! ;-) I seriously huff and puff while putting them on! Ha! Oh, and sometimes I need Nate to help pull me up off the couch! Pathetic!

Over the past few weeks I have been experiencing a good amount of Braxton Hicks contractions. Not painful at all, but a little weird feeling! ;-) However, it seems that I was not only experiencing those, but I was also experiencing some real contractions without even knowing it!!!

I went to the Doctor earlier this week (I will now be going weekly until the little man arrives) and found out that I am already 2cm dilated and 60% effaced and she could feel his head...so he's most definitely head down! I could hardly believe it. My OBGYN said I could go into labor tonight, tomorrow, on my due date...pretty much it's a crap shoot! Ha! I've known people who walked around 4cm dilated for weeks and still went past their due date!

No matter what, it has given me the kick in the pants that I needed to get stuff done! This week we installed the car seat base in my car (I was shocked at how easy it was), washed more baby clothes/blankets, and started the long process of "organizing" the nursery. We also received all of our beautiful fabric (bumper pads, crib skirt, quilt, curtains, and pillow case) from Connie Stowers! Oh. My. Word. it is beautiful. Seriously, I could just stand in the nursery and stare at it.

The crib is all decorated now, but the curtains won't be hung until this weekend and hopefully that will lead to pictures being hung/switched out. I am hoping to have a "finished" nursery by the end of next week. Hoping is the key word,

However, here are a couple bedding pictures I couldn't resist. Please realize the iphone camera does the bedding/colors no justice at all!!

in the morning light...colors a little more accurate

up close

How I'm Feeling
The reality that we could have a baby any day now is kind of freaking me out! I have to remind myself I could still be pregnant for 4 +/- more weeks, but the thought that I could have the Lil Nugget any day now is somewhat freaky. Oh Lord, you sure do like to keep me on my toes! ;-)

In general, now that the nursery is coming together I am starting to feel a lot better about things...more settled, but there is still so much to do.

Pregnancy has been such a roller coaster ride of emotions for me and God has taught me/showed me some huge lessons, like...
Learning to trust and have faith in God and his plan for our lives (even when nothing makes sense), experiencing the miracle of growing a human (I mean, really...how cool is that??), growing closer to Nate and being reminded why he will make such a great Daddy, seeing God provide for us and the Lil Nugget in small and big ways, being reminded that we have great friends and family who love and support us, did I mention learning to trust? ;-) That has definitely been my biggest lesson from all of this.

Pregnancy Milestones
* This week we had Maternity pictures taken...and we love them!
* Work baby shower today (Friday) - my co-workers are the best!
* Baby is making progress...2cm dilated / 60% effaced / and he's head down
* Nursery is coming together!! Yay!
* Total weight gained: 33 pounds (don't judge me)