38 Weeks (Last Update!)

How Far Along: 38 weeks!

Size of Baby: According to Baby Center, Tristan should be roughly 6.8 pounds and over 19-1/2 inches long.

Picture of Baby:  None, but picture a newborn baby in a lot of goo!

38 Weeks: There's a newborn baby boy inside of me, just ready to come out!

Weight Gain: I'm thinking my weight has plateaued, so I'll just say that I gained an even 20 pounds during this pregnancy.

Belly Pic: Here you go! (Don't mind the mess of Christmas-ness behind me).

Sleep: Not good. Need more. The end.

Best Moment of the Week: Having my sister and brother-in-law visit for Thanksgiving, and being able to share these final days of my pregnancy with them. Of course, every time Sister tried to feel Tristan kick, he shied away. I'm sorry, Sister!!!

Movement: Even though he's still moving around quite a bit, I can tell his activity level has died down a bit. I've read and been told this is normal towards the end of a pregnancy because the baby simply has no room to move!

Symptoms: I am tired all the time. And, moving around has gotten hard. Things like shifting from side to side in bed and getting in and out of a car have become awkward and, I'm sure, very awkward looking. I've noticed that I don't like to stand or walk around as much as before. If there's a chair, this mama is gonna sit! Heartburn is still there, and you better believe Thanksgiving feasts don't help in that area. :) Oh, and my hands have started to swell. The wedding ring officially came off a couple days ago. That didn't make Aaron very happy, but man, it sure felt good to take it off! I was suffocating my ring finger!

Food Cravings: I still cannot believe I had no serious cravings this pregnancy.

What I Miss: My energy.

What I'm Looking Forward to: Meeting my son in a week!!!

Weekly Wisdom: Rest up!

Milestones: I get to meet Tristan in ONE WEEK!!! This time next Friday, I will be laying in my hospital bed, holding Tristan with Ella cuddling by my side and Aaron wrapping his big arms around us all. Oh, gosh, I can't wait!!! My heart will be so full, I truly think it just may explode!

10 Thoughts on 10 Days Left

Rewind to my last ultrasound appointment (on Friday, November 18th).

Tristan is measuring right on schedule at roughly 6-1/2 pounds.  My blood pressure is right in the healthy range it's been for the entire pregnancy - approximately 110/65.  Everything going just great (despite feeling questionably so!).

So, because Tristan and I had another great appointment, my doctor decided he didn't need to see me until c-section day. Instead of the typical weekly ultrasound appointments during the last month of pregnancy, I've only had an appointment every other week. I feel quite proud about this! My body didn't fail me. Tristan's a beast. Yay!

And, my doctor, being the feisty spitfire that he is, decided to push the hospital's buttons and get that Friday, December 2nd, c-section delivery. If you remember, my original delivery date was set for the 2nd, but the hospital I'm deliverying at won't schedule a c-section before 39 weeks (even 38 weeks 6 days!), so I got bumped to Saturday, the 3rd.

Well, my doctor's reasoning was that at midnight, I'm officially 39 weeks. So, if we schedule the c-section for later in the day on the 2nd, the hospital would be outright ridiculous to argue over a few hours.  Well, the hospital bought the argument, and my surgery time is set for 4:00 on the 2nd.

And yes, if you do the math right, that's in 10 days!!!

So, with all that said, I will leave you with 10 random thoughts that are racing through my head at t-minus 10 days:

1. What is my son going to look like? Will he be a spitting image of Aaron? Will he have my dark hair? Will I have a blue-eyed boy?
2. I know my doctor will be late (he's notorious for that), but just how long will I have to nervously wait for him to arrive at the hospital.
3. I really hope Tristan will still fit the newborn Christmas outfits I got from Mom's Club (a mom's group at church) around Christmas time.
4. Is Aaron going to stay the first night with me at the hospital?
5. I need to make sure our camera batteries are fully charged!
6. I'm so going to cry when Ella sees her baby brother for the first time. Heck, I'm near tears right now just thinking about this first meeting.
7. I need to buy Ella some big sister gifts so she remembers how special she is, despite all of us doting over her new brother.
8. The thought of going under the knife is really starting to unsettle my nerves. I wish I could be put under, but I wouldn't miss my son's birth for anything. I'm praying I don't let the nerves ruin the experience for me, though. Having gone through it with Ella, I have much anticipation, since I know what  to expect.
9. I really hope I don't have to share a room the days after Tristan's born. I really want privacy for my family and I to fully soak in our beautiful baby boy.
10. This is going to be the best holiday season EVER!!!

37 Weeks

How Far Along: 37 weeks (and 2 days)!

Size of Baby: At Friday's ultrasound, Tristan measured 6-1/2 pounds. He's also a bit over 19 inches, head to heel. Wow!

Picture of Baby:  None, but picture a newborn baby in a lot of goo!

37 Weeks: He's full-term and ready to rock-n-roll.

Weight Gain: I gained 3 pounds the past two weeks, bringing my grand total to 20 pounds. Not too bad.

Belly Pic: Well, if there is truth to what everyone is telling me, I'm doing some last-minute bubbling out. Even Ella exclaimed, "Wow, Mommy! You've grown!"

Sleep: Not good. Need more. The end.

Best Moment of the Week: It was nice to have Aaron at Tristan's last ultrasound before he's born. My doctor said he sees no reason for me to come in next week, so the next time I see him will be Tristan's birthday! :)

Movement: He's predictably active at certain times and predictably inactive at others. He seems to really enjoy kicking my right rib cage, though.

Symptoms: I'm Braxton Hicksin' it up all the time now! I told my doctor that, and he said, "Well, go into labor. I'm on call!" He didn't seem too concerned. I time them, but they are inconsistent, so I know labor isn't imminent. At times, though, I really feel like he's going to come any day. Other than contractions, heart burn has resurfaced. I'm popping Tums all night, and although they give a little bit of relief, they just don't cut it.

Food Cravings: I'm craving food, in general.

What I Miss: Good, solid comfortable sleep.

What I'm Looking Forward to: I think you know the answer to this question. :)

Weekly Wisdom: Pack your hospital bags early! Which reminds me, I should probably finish packing mine.

Milestones: Tristan made it to be a full-term baby. Atta boy! :)

36 Weeks

How Far Along: 36 weeks!

Size of Baby: Tristan is more than 18-1/2 inches long and over 6 pounds!

Picture of Baby:  None, but picture a newborn baby in a lot of goo!

36 Weeks: Tristan is 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. Tristan swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, that will form the contents of his first bowel movement. (Information taken from BabyCenter's website). (Wow, super gross weekly update!).

Weight Gain: Yes.

Belly Pic: I think I look the same as last week, although my mom did say I'm really bulging out now. I feel it, too. I feel Tristan dropping, but yet he's still kicking my ribs. He's everywhere in there!

Sleep: Ugh!

Best Moment of the Week: Just the interaction I've been having with Tristan. We are seriously "one," and I have this inner sense of when he's going to move, if he's sleeping and for how much longer, if he will like what I eat or not. I can even lightly touch my stomach and he'll respond. If I push certain spots, he's sure to respond with a vigorous jab, as if to say, "Yes, mom, I'm still here. Now lay off!" :) He's very predictable in his movements and behavior. Hopefully it'll be the same when he's finally here.

Movement: Shake, rattle, roll, baby!

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contractions! Yikes! And, exhaustion by the end of the day. Moving around like I used to is just not happening, and I LOVE how Aaron is realizing it and has totally picked up on so many things. He sees me trying to do little things, like carry a full laundry basket across our house, and he's like, "No, let me get that!" I love him!

Food Cravings: I'll eat whatever is put in front of me, but unfortunately morning sickness has paid me for another visit and has been making it difficult for me to keep my breakfast down for the past couple weeks. It's no fun.

What I Miss: Good, solid comfortable sleep.

What I'm Looking Forward to: My ultrasound on Friday. This is the first one in four months that Aaron's able to attend. The last one he went to was when we found out we're having a boy. It'll be a big family affair!

Weekly Wisdom: Rest up! A clean house only lasts for so long until it's messy again, so don't put effort into it. (And pray your husband understands). Tristan needs me to rest, and when I'm too active, I can feel the toll on my body, with major cramps, contractions, tightness and discomfort.

Milestones: One more week until Tristan is considered "full-term." Full-term babies are born between 37 weeks and 42 weeks. 20 more days until my life changes. :)