Round 2: 36 Weeks

How far along:  36 weeks.  Sunday marked one month until my due date.

Baby Size: 

Weight:  Still hoovering around the 30lb mark with a little fluctuation on either side of that.

Symptoms:   

• Restless legs
• Braxton Hicks
• Like I said last week I'm super grumpy with Rob all the time.  I feel like he's mean to me and says things that he doesn't need to say and make me cry.  It could be the pregnancy hormones though
• Reflux
• I'm totally waddling now
• Constantly out of breath
• I'm struggling to tie my tennis shoes when I wear them. 
• I'm getting hit with serious exhaustion.  Like full body can't even get up off the couch tired. 

Maternity Clothes:  Tops are 99% maternity.

Sleep:   Up every hour to every 2 hours.  I can't even nap because Eleanor has decided she doesn't like naps anymore.

Cravings/Food Aversions:  I just want to live off of chocolate.  Like 70% of my diet is chocolate related. 20% Cereal or oatmeal and the rest is dr pepper and 'real' food.

Belly Button:  It's out and Rob is constantly remarking to me and others that my turkey timer is done.  I want to be like...(see gif below) 



Rings on or off: On, but feeling a little snug

Gender:  Feeling the boy vibes this week but I still feel like it's a girl.

Name:  Still need to figure out a girl middle name. 

Movement:  Baby had a really quiet Sunday and it continued through Monday morning so I called my office and they had me head into the hospital for a little bit for monitoring.  I was getting a few bumps or little movements here and there but nothing like I normally would get after doing all my usual tricks (laying on side, drinking ice water or drinking juice etc...).  I've mentioned that this baby does have pretty quiet periods but because this was lasting longer and was less movement I called.  After some monitoring, an ultrasound (which would have been nice but I really didn't get to see the baby because it was quick and hard to see) and more monitoring they decided baby was looking good and sent me home.  Movement has been a little more normalish since then.  

Stretch Marks: Yes. 

Best moment:  Getting stuff done.

Looking forward to:  Spending a few weeks with Eleanor before this baby shows up.  I'm done with work now and while I'm nervous about money since I won't really be working for a long time and even when I do it will likely only be one day a week, right now I think Eleanor needs that time with me before things change forever. 

Nervous about:  If I need a c-section how I'm going to deal with changing diapers for Eleanor.  I change her on the floor but getting up and down will be really tough and I won't be able to lift her to the changing table.  She doesn't really have an interest in potty training so she won't be in a month. 

What I miss:  Not being so cranky, not being out of breath.  The occasional glass of wine.


Labor signs: So many Braxton Hicks.  And while I was hooked up to the monitor the other day at the hospital I was having some real contractions (sporadic though).  The first few I didn't feel, but then I realized that some of the ones I thought we Braxton Hicks actually probably were real ones.  I've had a few (again maybe a couple a week for the last few weeks) that have been very painful and they probably were real ones.

Appointments:  Next week, and then every week until baby comes. 

Misc. 



To Get

• New pump parts
• Ring sling
• Newborn diapers
• Size 1 diapers 
• Gripe water
• A baby book
• Receiving blankets (we used this as burp clothes) or burp cloths
• New bibs
• Pacifiers (just a few in the smallest size)
• Some fleece sleepers
• Bottle brush
• Gas drops
• Petroleum Jelly
• Hand sanitizer. 
• Big sister gift for Eleanor (shirt, book, doll, dry erase markers-random but she loves the ones she got at Christmas).  I already have some stuff for her. 

To do:

• Wash clothes/nursing pillow covers/car seat cover/rock n play cover/newborn cloth diapers
• Check Snuza Battery
• Hang up wall art, and shelving in Eleanor's big girl room
• Clean closet in Eleanor's big girl room and move her clothes into there, get extra hanging storage
• Install car set bases
• Sanitize bottles/pacifiers/pump parts
• Wash playmat
• Clean baby bathtub
• Make freezer meals (but first I have to make freezer space)
• Raise crib height back up
• Call insurance about breast pump 

There must have been some nesting going on this week because I wanted things done and wanted them done now!

We moved Eleanor into her big girl room.  I was really sad about it and still kind of feel sad/guilty etc...  I'm sure that they are totally normal feelings and she's done okay with it, but I feel sad still. 

The Eleanor Update: 36 weeks

Eating: 

She had an asparagus spear and loved it.  She spent the entire dinner time eating or gnawing on it.  We tried pureed turkey and she seemed to do okay with it.

We also had tacos one night and gave her a little bit of tomato, ground beef and onion.  She really liked the tomatoes.  

I am guilty of giving her Veggie Straws.  They probably aren't the worst

 thing she could be having, but there isn't much nurtritional value in them, if any.  They are easy for her to hold, probably feel good on her gums and let me eat lunch so I do what I do.

Sometimes I feel bad though when she doesn't get 'real' food.  I understand she's mine with just breastmilk, but I think it's good that she is exposed to other flavors.  I wouldn't say we are picky eaters, but we aren't very adventurous.

She's bit me a few times with that little tooth of hers.  Ouch!

Sleep:  
Naps are getting better.  She usually will take a pretty good (at least an hour, often 2 hour) nap in the afternoons, but the actually time varies.

There have been a few nights where she's woke up crying and sits herself up and I know she's not going to put herself back to sleep after that.  

Last night she fell asleep at 7:30/7:45, slept about an hour and woke up crying. Rob went in there, got her back to sleep and back in her crib successfully.  Then she stirred around about 4 am, I fed her but she didn't fall back asleep until almost 6.  If I put her in the crib she screams and in bed with me she plays around.  I usually just keep her in bed with me because I'm to tired to stand.

I am thankful that Rob is able to put her back to sleep.  It's been a lot less stressful on me because I am not having to keep going in there and doing it.

Misc:  
She's going to have a second front tooth pop through really soon.  I can see that little white sliver at the top.  I just noticed that yesterday so I think it will be through in the next few days.

She's also going to be crawling soon.  She can get on her knees and move forward but only once before
falling.  When she does it twice I'll count it.

We went to an open house this weekend.  I left the diaper bag in the car and just grabbed the clutch with a diaper and a few wipes.  She had a massive blowout.  Of course.  Trying to change her in a strangers bathroom and then having to walk back to the car (which was a little ways away because it was a combined open house) with her just in a diaper wrapped in my sweatshirt was pretty funny.  I kept the big bulky bag with me after that.

It was a busy week for her.  She saw my parents, my sister, brother in law, nephew, brother,  Rob's mom, Rob's grandparents, Robs sister and my other nephew and niece.  She only didn't see Rob's dad and my brothers daughter.

Yesterday was Father's day.  Eleanor 'made' him a card and shirt (and she has a matching one).

She's developed a love for the door stopper

36 Week Update

How far along:  36 weeks

Baby Size: 

Weight:  It was back up this week.  Gained 2lbs, total of just under 35.

Symptoms:   

• The restless legs was really bad this week. Like up for hours in the middle of the night bad.  I even stopped drinking caffeinated pop because I think that triggers it, but it didn't make a difference.
• Sciatic nerve pain.  It was awful over the weekend.  I couldn't stand up, sit down (although once I sat down it was okay), or really walk without limping.  Tylenol and the heating pad were my friends. 
• I have been so grumpy lately.  I don't have patience at all.  And really it's just with Rob.  But I've decided not to use pregnancy as an excuse and I'm going to be a happier person.  Read why here

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Maternity Clothes:  I bought a couple of tank tops on clearance at Kohl's.

Sleep:  I had a few 2 1/2 hour stretches Friday and Saturday night.  That was nice.

Cravings/Food Aversions:  Chocolate

Belly Button: It's kind of out

Rings on or off: Off.  Occasionally my wedding ring will fit, but I've given up on it.

Gender:  Girl

Name:   Eleanor Rose

Movement: Yes, I feel her all over.

Stretch Marks: Yep.  Stomach, hips, back. 

Best moment:  I don't really have a specific moment.  We were with family on Sunday and it was kind of crazy to realize that the next time we would see most of them would be after the baby is born. 

Looking forward to:  We have the hospital tour tomorrow. 

Nervous about: For the first time I'm actually starting to get nervous about the actual labor process.

What I miss:  Walking without pain


Labor signs: Just lots of BH.

Appointments:  Down to weekly appointments.  I have one this Thursday.  Last week I made 5 appointments.  I'm really hoping I don't need the last one since it is after my due date.  

Misc.  At my appointment last week I hadn't really made any progress in terms of dilation etc...  I know that things can change really quickly so I'm trying not to be bummed. 

We have almost everything that we need.  I realized the other day I didn't have burp clothes and then in a moment of brilliance realized I had plenty of receiving blankets I could use instead.  Money saved! 

And I'm pretty sure I passed the Group B Strep test.  My results were posted online and it said 'not isolated' which I wasn't sure what it meant until I asked my birth month board and they said it was a negative!