thirty-seven fortieths

20 Weeks

25 Weeks

30 weeks
35 weeks
36 weeks

37 Weeks - January 7, 2012

Baby fruit size: Watermelon, YIKES.

Milestones: 37 weeks is considered full term, so this week comes with a lot of relief and the sudden sense that this little guy could arrive at any time. He's gaining about half an ounce each day and spending his time practicing for the outside world - "breathing" amniotic fluid, blinking and possibly sucking his thumb.

Sex: Boy

Sleep: One weekend morning last winter, I remember lazily rolling over to face Ed and declaring, "Our bed is the most comfortable place on Earth." One year later, it's torture. To describe my sleep as tossing and turning is too graceful. Grunting and flopping would be more accurate.

Stretch marks: While shopping for nursing bras last week, I found myself half-clothed in a dressing room with 3-way mirrors for the first time in months. This resulted in the discovery of my first stretchmarks on my lower back. Which then resulted in a shopping spree much longer than intended.

Weight: 19 pounds for me. 7ish pounds for Eddie.

Food cravings: Orange juice. 1-2 gallons a week. I also had Chipotle for dinner 4 nights out of 7. It would have been 5, but they were closed on New Year's Day.

Food aversions: Nothing.

Other symptoms: My appetite has returned and I'm feeling hungrier all the time. Good news, because that means he's dropped and is no longer squashing my stomach! Bad news because it means he's now resting on my bladder. So when I thought my water broke at work last Friday afternoon while stuck on a call at my desk, I was wrong. Turns out I had just waited too long to go to the bathroom. Pregnancy is quite dignified.

Movement: Still moving a lot. My mom said she noticed we all got very calm and quiet leading up to birth, like we were resting for the big event. If that's the case, he's not coming any time soon.

Best moments: Prenatal massage. An hour long foot rub from Ed. Finishing washing and prepping all Eddie's clothes, blankets and cloth diapers.

What I miss: Being comfortable. My out-of-town family.

What I'm looking forward to: Last week of work before maternity leave. Finally completing the nursery (only 2 small things left to do). The upcoming arrivals of 3 friends' babies, all due in the next 1-2 weeks.

Reading: Your Pregnancy Week by Week, What to Expect When You're Expecting, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and The Nursing Mother's Companion.