36 weeks - 1 week until "Term"

Happy Birthday Grandpa-to-be (again) George!!

One piece of exciting news today - Our hospital doesn't have a NICU, so if you go into labor prior to 36 weeks, they transport you about an hour away to a larger hospital that does have one. However, at 36 weeks and later, they'll deliver at our hospital. We've reached that week this week... yay for not having to travel more then 5 miles to the hospital!

We're getting so close to meeting our baby... we're incredibly anxious but I'm so nervous I won't have the courage to say no to an epidural as I have planned. Chip will be amazing though coaching us through, so I'm not worried about that, I really just want to avoid being stuck to one position and numb... fingers crossed.

How far along? 36 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Total net + 21. Yep, broke the 2o lb mark and that means that in the last 2 weeks I've gained 5lbs! Yikes, hopefully I don't get a talking to at the Dr this week.
Stretch marks? I think I found a new one developing on the side of my bell, which wouldn't surprise me with how sore/tight my skin has felt.
Sleep: Again, I think relatively well.
Best moment this week: Realizing how much I had saved at BRU this weekend. I said it before, I'll say it again. I. AM. AWESOME. HA!
Movement: They say the baby slows movements down as it moves out of room. Well... "they" are a bunch of dirty fibbers!
Gender: Still thinking boy despite another girl dream last night. Chip is holding strong with baby being a girl
Labor Signs: Still just practice Braxton-Hicks - we should keep it that way for another 1 week at least! Really only 6.5 days, Baby S --- stick it out for at least that long, please.
Food Cravings: None really, I love picnic foods and have gotten another weekend of enjoying it at a baby shower Sunday - perhaps that would explain my 2week 5lb gain. Eek.
Belly Button in or out? Consistently just the top, perhaps that's how I'll know when baby has "dropped" when we see that the bottom of the button is finally out too.
What I miss: Not having to blindly shave, tie my shoes, bending over, being able to get off the couch without help, etc... etc... etc...
What I am looking forward to: Meeting Baby, obviously!!!! This will not change until the baby comes.
Weekly Wisdom: We've had a rainy summer.. as a result, we have a LOT of mosquitoes... and all day long too, not just in the evening. When you're pregnant, you have more lovely blood coursing through for them to feast on - so when you're at your husband's softball game, make sure to wear long pants so you don't look like you've been attacked from the shins down. But I'm not speaking from experience or anything.
Milestones: Hmmm....... the baby book says baby is almost 6 lbs, but we know our chunker was that big a couple weeks ago. SO, we'll just patiently wait for next week's milestone when baby is considered term and is welcome to join us at that time.
Shout outs to new followers: Hello to blogger, Kerri.
Baby Brain Moment of the Week: Still dropping EVERYTHING, let's hope I don't do the same with baby!
Wedding Band Status: I took my engagement ring off and am just wearing my wedding band. I could still wear it, but with my band being so thick, my engagement ring sits higher up my finger, where it's a tad bigger. So we'll call this a precautionary removal :-( boo, I LOVE mine.
Weekly Belly Pic: Mom thinks I've dropped... I think it's just the funky pattern of the dress. See my lime kayak, "Kiwi" in the background. Poor thing has been very neglected this summer, I've only paddled once :-(