38 Weeks

How far along?  38 weeks. D, I'm ready for you!
Baby Craun's size:  A pumpkin. There's seriously a pumpkin inside me. I'm feeling extra large today.
Total weight gain/loss:  Down a pound from last week so I'm at 23 pounds total gain now.
Maternity clothes:  Mostly yes. My belly is starting to get so huge that the final hold outs of normal people clothes probably aren't going to fit next week.
Stretch marks?  No
Sleep:  Small doses with bathroom trips and some mean contractions in between. I didn't sleep much last night between being hot, the bathroom, and not feeling well.
Movement:  Lots still. He's become a little less aggressive (he probably has no room!), so I'm feeling fewer jabs to my ribs now.
Symptoms:  Nesting, if you consider that a symptom, was in full force Saturday. I helped Brian clear out weeds and vines and old mulch on the north side of our house. We got almost everything cleared out! Other than the nesting, I'm still pretty swollen all the time. Even my nose is fatter!
Labor signs?  The intense contractions are happening more often now. As of Monday, no change in how dilated I am. Boo again. I was pretty crabby on Monday because of this.
Food cravings:  Nope. Although a juicy peach sounds really yummy right now!
Miss anything?  My un-puffy body/face.
Belly button in or out?  The top part is sticking out a bit more but that bottom part is still in so my belly button just looks really weird.
Wedding rings on or off?  The wedding band is holding strong, but instead of being a little loose like it always was, it's now a little tight. If I swell anymore I don't know if I'll be able to get it off!
Nursery progress:  Mom gave us the peepee teepees that she made on Sunday, so I guess now the nursery really is complete. I'm hoping that these really do prevent D from peeing on us when we change his diaper. We'll see!
Best moment this week:  I got almost everything for work that I should get done before the baby comes done this week. Now I have the luxury of doing the things that I wish I had time for!
Weekly wisdom:  This is really testing my patience. I'm so ready for D to be here that sometimes I'm pretty crabby because I can be super inpatient, especially since I've been stuck for 3 visits now at the same place in pre-labor. Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy my last days of freedom - how am I free when I can barely get up from the couch by myself?!
Looking forward to:  Next weeks doctor's visit. Please let there be progress by then!

37 Weeks - Full Term!

How far along?  37 weeks. He's officially full term.
Baby Craun's size:  He's the size of a watermelon. Holy bigness!
Total weight gain/loss:  24 - I'm super swollen again this morning so let's hope it's that again
Maternity clothes:  Mostly
Stretch marks?  No
Sleep:  No different from last week; however, I've discovered that sleeping in my own bed is much better than sleeping in a hotel's bed. The last two nights, I slept like a rock during the times that I did sleep.
Movement:  All the time. It doesn't seem to phase Coco when she gets kicked by him. Hope that transfers to when he's here, and that they become buddies. It's funny to feel him hiccup too.
Symptoms:  Heartburn, some nausea when I have a contraction, some LOTS of swelling - I have the fat pregnancy face now!
Labor signs?  My Braxton Hicks contractions really suck. They hurt pretty bad, but I'm a weenie. I've had a few real ones that are like stop-me-in-my-tracks painful. At my doctor appointment on Monday there wasn't any change from last week. Boo. Apparently he's content in there.
Food cravings:  No. I'm just making myself eat whatever Bri decides to make mostly. Nothing really sounds good.
Miss anything?  Carefree traveling, like there ever was such a thing with Mitch Jr. that I'm married to :) But any inkling of carefree traveling is gone now. When we went to Cedar Falls this weekend, we had to drive separately from Jamie and Mark because my doctor said last week that if I feel any contractions we need to get back to DSM just in case. And that required bringing the hospital bag (good thing I already had this ready) and everything else we'd need, just in case. Once D gets here, then we'll be packing all his stuff - diaper bag, pump, bottles, clothes, bibs, toys/books, etc. I'm very thankful for the extra pack and play so we won't ever have to haul that to Sergeant Bluff!
Belly button in or out?  Sticking out just a little bit more.
Wedding rings on or off?  Off
Nursery progress:  Mom finished the pillows for the bench so now it's officially done.
Best moment this week:  My surprise shower by my wonderful teammates! Great cupcakes, great gifts, and best of all great company. I have the best teammates ever and they are seriously the only reason I like my job some days!
Weekly wisdom:  Pregnant women can't shrink back into the crowd and go unnoticed. Sometimes I don't want to have to socialize (especially if I'm in pain!), but everywhere I go someone has to stop to talk to me. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, I'm just kind of missing the times when I don't have to fake a good mood to talk to a stranger.
Looking forward to:  Monday's doctor appointment. REALLY hoping things are further along then.

36 Weeks

How far along?  36 weeks (28 days until D-Day!). His 30-day eviction notice was served on Monday.
Baby Craun's size:  He's the size of a coconut, who likes to settle his feet in my right ribs. 
Total weight gain/loss:  19.5 lbs total.
Maternity clothes: Yep. My belly's getting pretty big so I'm down to limited options.
Stretch marks?  Nope.
Sleep:  Pretty decent until about 4:00, and then I toss and turn until 5 or 6. Then Brian gets up and I don't fall asleep again until 6:30ish, and then it's time for me to get up. I miss my sleep. I love it when people tell me to get as much sleep as I can now - really?! I didn't know that. Aside for instituting nap time at work, how do you propose I get this sleep?
Movement:  Lots still. At Bess' birthday lunch on Saturday everyone was staring at my stomach because he moves around so much after I eat. As Lauren said, it looks like I have an alien in my stomach. This is why when I first found out I was pregnant all I could think of was Space Balls. I'm also pretty certain that he'll like hip hop/ R&B because every time I listen to 99.9 loudly he starts moving. Hopefully he'll have some sweet dance moves!
Symptoms: Heartburn, swollen cankles and fingers (though much better than last week!), plus difficulty sleeping, breathing, getting up from laying down, picking up things from the floor
Labor signs?  Continued contractions.
Food cravings:  Some more red velvet pancakes from I-Hop. Mom, Dad, Brian, and I went there on Sunday and those things are so good!
Miss anything?  Sleep and all those other things I was missing last week.
Belly button in or out?  No change from last week.
Wedding rings on or off?  Wedding band on, engagement ring off.
Nursery progress:  Grandma Hindy (as Laney calls her) finished the cushion for the bench (see behind me in the picture)! It turned out awesome, even though she doesn't think so. Given the fact that she didn't have a pattern, it's pretty amazing, because I could never do that. I think it looks way better than anything we could have bought for like three times the amount of money.
Best moment this week:  I know that I'm nearing the end of pregnancy so I'm really savoring those times when he's moving around a lot. Last night, after Brian was feeling D hiccup, Brian said something along the lines of that's so cool that I get to feel D moving all day. And it really is! I think I'll miss that.
Weekly wisdom:  Family is so important to me, and life is too short to miss big, important moments (like weddings) because you don't like something they did/are doing related to that big moment. I just don't get it, and I know that I don't ever want to live my life like that. I want to make every effort to be there for those big moments.
Looking forward to:  Next week's doctor appointment to see if I'm dialated any further!

35 Weeks

How far along?  35 weeks (only 35 days till d-day!). Time is FLYING!
Baby Craun's size:  He's the size of a butternut squash. He has almost reached his full length, and from here on out he'll just be packing on the pounds (hopefully not too many).
Total weight gain/loss:  19 lbs. I gained 3.5 lbs this last week! I was feeling pretty miserable about it but the doctor said yesterday that it was likely due to the onset of swelling, so that made me feel a little better. I didn't think I went too crazy with the Easter candy last week.
Maternity clothes:  Yes. Although a few normal people clothes are still miraculously fitting.
Stretch marks?  Nope!
Sleep:  Yes please. I whined to Brian last week that all I want is sleep. Well that's not going to be happening in the next like year.
Movement:  He's moving all the time! Some of the jabs are starting to hurt a bit. Doc said yesterday that he's right in the position he should be.
Symptoms:  I'm swollen all the time. We went to the bar for a friend's birthday party Friday night, and I was there for only about an hour. My ankles were kind of sore (like how they feel after a really long run) and I looked down and couldn't see my inside ankle bones! Ick! I'm having a harder time get deep breaths and cramping is starting. This weekend marked the first time I absolutely disliked pregnancy (mostly because I was extrememly jealous of the gals' trip to KC), but I feel less down after my doctor visit yesterday. I'm ready for him to be here.
Labor signs?  I'm having stronger contractions, but nothing major. And I'm starting to worry that I won't know when I'm actually going into labor. I'm sure I will but still. I also have this huge fear that my water is going to break at work...
Food cravings:  Lemon or pink champagne cake balls from Bekkwiths. Lauren brought them over last week and I want more! They're so good! I've also been eating a ton of cereal - Kix, Golden Grahams, Captain Crunch, sometimes Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles, and Honey Bunches of Oats. We go through a lot of cereal and milk.
Miss anything?  Sleep, running, Jimmy Johns Beach Club, my brain, allergy meds (thank you sinus issues for arising just as I'm reaching the "I'm done" phase), sun dresses, cute shoes
Belly button in or out?  OMG the top part is sticking out just a bit and the rest is nearing flatness. No me gusta.
Wedding rings on or off?  Totally just wearing the single band now.
Nursery progress:  Almost done! Dad came over Saturday to fill the holes, Bri painted Sunday, and then the final two pics were hung (see behind me). All that's left is for Mom to finish the cushion and pillows.
Best moment this week:  Spending time with the gals on Thursday and Friday, and my mom on Sunday. Also, I finished my last course toward becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst on Friday!
Weekly wisdom:  Brian's Grandma Mary passed away yesterday, and it makes me so sad that she was so close to meeting her first great grandchild. I think this is one of the instances that I can truly say that she is in a better place, but I wanted so badly for D to meet her. God has a plan even though sometimes we might not understand it. I need to be patient and know that D will come when he's supposed to, and that however delivery goes and whatever D is like will all be according to plan.
Looking forward to:  Strangely, my weekly doctor visits. I love hearing his heartbeat (145 yesterday), and it's very reassuring to be told that things are going so well. Hopefully that continues!