34 Weeks

 

 How Far Along: 34 weeks

Size of baby: Size of a large cantaloupe- length is about 17.5 inches and 4.5 lbs.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm now up to 134. Had a dr appointment today. I think I've hit the really depressing part- where the scale seems so high and knowing that I've still got at least a month to gain. I'll probably hit 140 before it's all said and done, and that's a lot for my little 5'2 frame. :(

 

Maternity Clothes: Lets just say I've already retired some maternity clothes that I started out in.

 

Gender: Girl. Still a girl.
   

Movement: Elyse isn't slowing down yet. I've actually gotten several really cool videos this week of her moving around, lumps of baby gliding under my skin.
 

Sleep: Terrible. Just terrible. When I lay down my left cheek slowly gets numb and then starts radiating pain down my leg. So I pretty much just toss and turn all night. On a non-pregnancy related note, Evan has woken up twice this week for whatever reason and cried to be rocked at about 2 AM. That's not helping.
    

What I miss: Feeling skinny. And sleeping.

 

Cravings: Not really any.

Symptoms: The itchiness continues. It's created a nice little mottled effect across my belly. The aching of my muscles and searing stretch of my skin continues also. I now remember why I called a truce at 39 weeks last time, I couldn't take the stretching any more. But, that's not an option yet. I've also had some real contractions, as well as an increase in Braxton Hicks. How did I know they were real as opposed to BH? My belly has always made a very specific shape when it comes to BH, and these were different. Plus I felt really nauseous during them and the pain was in a different spot. All of the above, plus hormones that have gone ca-razy and patience that are nonexistent make me a JOY to be around. I have to say, this last week of pregnancy alone has probably been harder than the last 8 months put together.

 

Best Moment this week: I hate saying that I really can't think of one, it makes me feel like I'm ungrateful or something, but this past week has been difficult enough to push all of it out of the way. I did try to get some belly pictures with Evan after taking my bimonthly picture (I always take it while they are napping, which is why I haven't had any "helpers" in the pictures like when I was pregnant with Evan. I left the tripod up till they were awake). Forever ago I'd seen a picture of a pregnant mom with her young daughter comparing the size of their bellies and when I found out I was pregnant this time I immediately thought of that picture and wanted one with my girl. Of course it didn't turn out quite like I'd hoped, but it was a 2 year old and a timer you have to get up to reset each time. Hey...no one cried! I'll count that as a win anytime it comes to forced picture taking!

 

All the other 50 billion shots I tried to get are of her looking at the camera- the blinking light of the timer was much more interesting than her Buddha belly!