36 Weeks

This past week was unique as it was sandwiched between Christmas Day and New Years Day. Being a part of the holidays made it go so much faster! The big change this week is that I'm starting to feel heavier and more uncomfortable. I can't complain too much because I sleep just fine at night (and during naps!), but during the day I feel like I'm out of breath all the time and move so slowly!

We had a great appointment with the midwife Helen. She said everything seems great, and from feeling the baby she would guess Aubriella is about 6 1/2 pounds! Yikes... that is a little bigger than I wanted to hear. Helen said if Aubriella goes full term she will be about 8 1/2 lbs. I'm trying to remind myself that the estimates are often off. Helen offered to check my progress, but I declined. No need for an additional exam that won't tell me much. To hear that I am not dilated or effaced would be a little disappointing, and to be told that I was starting to show progress would just make me anxious. So for now I'm doing my best to be patient and trusting that Ellie will come when she wants to!

This week I noticed the first little stretch marks. They are barely noticeable so I'm not too upset yet. Everyone has been shocked when they see me this week, and is telling me my stomach has grown. I can tell too because my belly button is getting flatter and flatter- it is barely an innie! Even though I feel huge, I sometimes forget how much my belly sticks out, and frequently get stuck between chairs or hit Jose with my stomach! He always says I "belly bump" him. The most humorous story (to me anyway!) is when my stomach accidentally bumped his elbow as he was drinking wine . The bump forced his hand to clank the glass against his teeth! Oops!

On Monday I told the midwife that I haven't felt any braxton hicks. Later that night when Jose and I went for a walk, I started feeling cramping. When I'd stop walking, the cramping would stop. Not sure if those were practice contractions, but I definitely felt something "happening."

Now that we've hit 36 weeks, Aubriella can make her appearance any day and be healthy. I'm hoping she stays in until at least 38 weeks for optimum lung development, and to give me a chance to wash her clothes, but I can't help but hope she is here sooner rather than later! I can't wait to meet her!!

We didn't take the weekly picture for week 35, and somehow I forgot to post about week 34 and 33! Here are the pictures from that week

Week 33

And week 34