; 39 Weeks ;

Baby's now the size of a watermelon!
Baby's brain is still developing rapidly, and his skin has taken on a paler shade thanks to a thicker layer of fat around the blood vessels. (Don't worry; he'll change color again soon after birth.) He's now able to flex his limbs, and his nails might extend past his fingertips.  Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

Pregnancy Highlights

Due Date: May 6, 2011 
Total weight gain: 30 lbs.
Cravings: still anything chocolaty or spicy
Sleep: not really getting anymore than I have been.........probably less than ever
I can't live without:  Lance & Brayden; they make each day amazing & make me smile just because :)
I miss: nothing really
I am looking forward to: meeting our beautiful little boy very soon
Milestones: I have started to dilate all on my own & that is more than I ever did with Brayden
Exercise: lots of walking & stair climbing are still going on
Diet:  not much of an appetite
Maternity Clothes:  pants yes - shirts a mixture
Movement: yep!!
Gender: Boy; Colton
Labor Signs: braxton hicks are coming often & when I was checked at the doctor this past Thursday I was 2 cm dilated
Belly Shots:

39 Weeks w/Brayden

Any suggestions that anyone has (that might have worked for them) on how to get things to progress more would be greatly appreciated!

; 38 Weeks ;

Baby's now the size of a watermelon!

The last bits of vernix caseosa (the white goo keeping baby's skin moist) and lanugo (downy hair) are slowly shedding into your amniotic fluid. Baby's head is about the same circumference as his abdomen, and his head could be covered in an inch or so of hair. Your baby has really plumped up. He weighs about 6.8 pounds and he's over 19 1/2 inches long. He has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold his hand for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.  Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If he's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If he's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time he's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

Pregnancy Highlights

Due Date: May 6, 2011 
Total weight gain: 29 lbs.
Cravings: anything chocolaty or spicy
Sleep: not really getting anymore than I have been.........probably less than ever
I can't live without:  Lance & Brayden; they make each day amazing & make me smile just because :)
I miss: being able to bend over to do simple things like pick up toys or clean up around the the house with out feeling like I am going to fall over
I am looking forward to: hopefully Colton's "on time" arrival in the next few weeks
Milestones: I am "full term" now so we are just waiting & getting ready for his arrival
Exercise: lots of walking & stair climbing have been under way & hopefully this will get things going with Colton's progression (I walked 3-4 times a day with B & still had to be induced a week late) but I am going to try to stay positive & pray that he comes all on his own
Diet:  lots of chicken, fresh fruits & veggies
Maternity Clothes:  pants yes - shirts a mixture
Movement: yep!!
Gender: Boy; Colton
Labor Signs: braxton hicks are coming often but that's about it; went to the doctor yesterday & they didn't check me but said next week they will for sure & I am keeping my fingers crossed
Belly Shots:

; 37 Weeks ;

Baby's now the size of a watermelon!

Your full-term (yay!) baby is gaining about 1/2 ounce a day and getting his first sticky poop (called meconium) ready. He's also brushing up on skills for the outside world: blinking, sucking, inhaling, exhaling, and gripping (it's getting strong!).  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.  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.

Pregnancy Highlights

Due Date: May 6, 2011 
Total weight gain: 28 lbs.
Cravings: peanut M&M's & spicy everything
Sleep: yeah, this is just getting worse & worse; I keep thinking that I am going to get at least one good nights sleep because of exhaustion but NOPE!!
I can't live without:  Lance & Brayden; they make each day amazing 
I miss: this week I actually missed red wine
I am looking forward to: hopefully Colton's "on time" arrival in the next few weeks
Milestones: I am officially considered FULL TERM
Exercise: lots of walking & stair climbing are going to be happening in the next few weeks to hopefully get things going with Colton's progression (I walked 3-4 times a day with B & still had to be induced a week late) but I am going to try to stay positive & pray that he comes all on his own
Diet:  lots of chicken, fresh fruits & veggies
Maternity Clothes:  pants yes - shirts a mixture
Movement: yep!!
Gender: Boy; Colton
Labor Signs: still having braxton hicks but was checked last Thursday & nothing was going on
Belly Shots: 

; 36 Weeks ;

Baby's now the size of a honeydew!

Baby's skin is getting smooth and soft, his gums are rigid, his liver and kidneys are in working order, and his circulation and immune system are basically good to go. His lungs are the only organs that still need to fully mature, but every day he gets a little closer to breathing on his own. Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds 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.

~Pregnancy Highlights~

Due Date: May 6, 2011 
Total weight gain: 27 lbs.
Cravings: sweet & spicy
Sleep: what does this word mean???
I can't live without:  water; I have been so thirsty lately 
I miss: being able to move around without losing my breath
I am looking forward to: being "full term" next week; there is a huge amount of comfort in knowing that he will be ok if born early (even though I am sure that he will NOT come early)
Milestones: nothing major this week
Exercise: back to walking with Brayden 3 days a week & I am getting back to the stairs this week too; my leg & feet swelling has started to get worse so I am hoping that it will continue to help
Diet:  lots of chicken, fresh fruits & veggies
Maternity Clothes:  pants yes - shirts a mixture
Movement: he is a mover & shaker!!
Gender: Boy; Colton
Labor Signs: braxton hicks
Belly Shots: 

35 Weeks ; Only 5 More To Go

Baby's now the size of a honeydew!

From now on, baby's growth is mostly in the plumping up department -- though he won't get much longer, he'll put on a pound or more of baby fat before birth. (He's about 15 percent right now and will be about 30 percent by full-term.) His hearing is totally developed (tip: baby responds best to higher pitches), and if he really is a "he," his testes have probably completed their descent.  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.

~Pregnancy Highlights~

Due Date: May 6, 2011 
Total weight gain: 25.5 lbs.
Cravings: spicy foods & mexician as well but I am not as hungry as I used to be so I guess I have less room in there
Sleep: I sleep about 4 hours a night so it stinks
I can't live without: my boppy pillow; when I do sleep I have to have it to get comfortable
I miss: peeing like a normal person; I am to the point right now where if I have to go I better get my booty to the bathroom
I am looking forward to: OB Tour on Tuesday & I can't wait to see the maternity photos that CK Photography took yesterday (I will be posting the ones from last Sunday hopefully tonight or tomorrow)
Milestones: we are now at weekly appointments
Exercise: I didn't do much of anything this past week because I was exhausted, the weather sucked, & I just didn't feel like it but I will get back into the groove of things
Diet:  I am not really hungry so when I a making myself eat I am eating very well; compared to earlier in my pregnancy; lots of fresh fruits & veggies
Maternity Clothes:  pants yes - shirts a mixture
Movement: he is a mover & shaker!!
Gender: Boy; Colton
Labor Signs: braxton hicks
Belly Shots: 

34 Weeks ;

Baby's now the size of a honeydew!

Baby can recognize and react to simple songs...time to start practicing your lullabies! In fact, baby will recognize frequently sung tunes after birth and probably find them soothing. Less cute news: He now urinates about one pint per day. Get the diapers ready!  Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average honeydew) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his 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

~Pregnancy Highlights~

Due Date: May 6, 2011 
Total weight gain: 24 lbs.
Cravings: spicy, spicy, spicy & now Mexican (homemade chicken quesadillas to be exact)
Sleep: is getting worse & worse if that is even possible at this point
I can't live without: my hubby, son, & our pups; they all keep me smiling & on my toes when I am not "feeling it" or things get to crazy
I miss: being able to bend over with out feeling like I am going to pass out
I am looking forward to: Maternity photos, OB Tour next Tuesday (my insurance switched hospitals) & appt. next Thursday
Milestones: nothing major to report
Exercise: walking 3 mornings a week & I have been walking our stairs every night
Diet:  I am really trying to eat healthy & am actually now craving veggies!!
Maternity Clothes:  pants yes - shirts a mixture
Movement: he moves a good bit during the day but when I climb into bed at night he goes bananas
Gender: Boy; Colton Lee
Labor Signs: braxton hicks
Belly Shots: (these photos are getting worse as the weeks progress; I actually think I am going to stop putting my face in them & just do my belly)

31 Weeks ; Butternut Squash

Baby's now the size of a squash!

Baby's going through major brain and nerve development these days. His irises now react to light, and all five senses are in working order. (He won't pick up anything from his nose until after birth, though -- smell is transferred through air, not amniotic fluid.)  This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy. 

~Pregnancy Highlights~

Due Date: May 6, 2011 
Total weight gain: 21 lbs.
Cravings: spicy, spicy, spicy & of course sweets
Sleep: I have no idea what the meaning of this word is anymore
I can't live without: my body pillow
I miss: putting my shoes on without losing my breathe
I am looking forward to: getting his nursery organized & his bedding put in there this weekend 
Milestones: nothing major this week but I did hear his strong heartbeat Thursday at my appt.; 150's & strong!!
Exercise: walking 3 mornings a week & I have been walking our stairs every night
Diet:  I have been eating much better & have gotten on a health food kick; I have been trying to really cut back on sweets but some days are harder than others
Maternity Clothes:  pants yes - shirts a mixture
Movement: all day & night & it is the BEST feeling in the world
Gender: Boy; Colton Lee
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks started just yesterday
Belly Shots: (again I can't figure out why hubby takes such awful pictures)

Me at 31 Weeks with Brayden  

29 Weeks & A Butternut Squash

Baby's now the size of a squash!

Baby's energy is surging, thanks to white fat depositing beneath his skin. And since he's growing so fast (weight will triple by birth), things are getting kind of cramped in the womb.  What all this means for you: Get ready for some more kicks and jabs to the ribs. Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

~Pregnancy Highlights~

Due Date: May 6, 2011 
Total weight gain: 19 lbs.
Morning Sickness: none
Cravings: everything & anything but still mainly spicy everything & sweets 
Sleep: is bad & I am really feeling the effects of the lack of it
I can't live without: my body pillow
I miss: breathing normally
I am looking forward to: getting some work done in his nursery 
Milestones: we saw him on Tuesday for the last time until I hold him in my arms; he is PERFECT!!
Exercise: walking the mall (outside since it has been so nice) 3 mornings a week & I have been walking our stairs every night
Diet: I have been on the "see-food" diet again this past week
Maternity Clothes:  pants yes - shirts a mixture still
Movement: all day & night & it is the BEST feeling in the world
Gender: Boy; Colton Lee
Labor Signs: None
Belly Shots: