Pregnancy Update: Week 34

How far along: 34 weeks, 0 days. That number is kind of surreal. Can we really be at 34 weeks already? Why yes we can, and we are!! Due date is 6 weeks from today. Amazing. Still taking progesterone to prevent pre-term labor. Probably have another week or more of that (I'm hoping for a little more just so I can finish the prescription).

How big is baby: Approximately 4 and 3/4 pounds (about the size of a cantaloupe) and 18 inches long. I believe the boys were roughly 19 inches long at birth, so this baby is already getting close to the same length as his or her older brothers.

Cravings/Aversions: no changes here. In other words: nothing.

Belly Button: Still flat. Guess baby isn't done baking yet.

Movement: the gymnastics continue.

Leg cramps: still continuing. It's a drag. Especially when you're having a doozy of a cramp, your two year old is in bed with you, it's 7 A.M. and your husband's phone goes off, so he leaves you in pain to go check the phone. Yep, that was a fun morning.

Sleep: Some nights are better than others. 'Nough said.

Weight gain: I think we're up around 17 pounds gained now. At 34 weeks, I'll take it! Especially considering I was up 44 pounds at this point when I was pregnant with the boys. 17 sounds great!!

Appointment: None this week. Actually this is my last week with no appointments at all!! Next Monday I start weekly visits. The week of my birthday I add in twice weekly NSTs. Ah the joy!

The Big Brothers: I could say so much here! But I'll try to keep it brief.

First, we're starting to say more than one word at a time. It's still very little, but small steps are good. We have "Bye-bye, Daddy" and "Bye-bye, Mommy" as well as "bye-bye, dada [truck]" and "bye-bye [insert any other type vehicle here they know how to say]." Substitute those same phrases with "Hello" as well. They have been saying "Police" when they see a police car, but I finally got them to say "police car" together. However, now Peter has changed how he says police and has dropped the "car." Whatever. We're still a work in progress.

The day care drop off is swinging back to being a somewhat pleasant experience about 80-90% of the time (it's truly like a pendulum). We went through a long period of crying and clinging to mom when I dropped them off in the morning. We seem to now be in a period of hugs and kisses and then off to play. It makes drop off so much easier.

Mattresses for the boys beds were delivered on Saturday and they were so excited. The boys and I weren't home at the time so they didn't know anything about them until we arrived home later that afternoon. They saw them, climbed right on, and didn't want to get off. I had to change diapers so I managed to coax them off, but as soon as they were changed they went back to playing on the beds. I went to wash my hands and came back to find that they had managed to get their blankets and one stuffed animal out of their cribs and had brought them to their new beds in their new room. We hadn't decided yet if we would put them to sleep on the beds right away or not. I wanted to get bed rails, but Hubby didn't see a need for them. So with the boys so eager we went ahead and made the beds and they slept in them Saturday night. We haven't had a single issue. None! No one has fallen out of bed (yet!), they don't get up during the night (yet), and they stay in their beds in the mornings until I come in to get them up (for now). I'm really surprised at how easy this transition was! Not only that, but the bedtime routine became a LOT shorter. I'm so glad the rocking chair is in the baby room and not in the boys' room. What a relief!

Saturday (while the mattresses were being delivered) we went to "Treat or Treat" at a local Catholic Church. There were a lot of craft vendors there and all had bowls of candy to hand out to the kids. The Shriner's train was there and as soon as we got off the shuttle bus the boys saw it. "Choo choo, choo choo!!" Guess what the first thing we did was? We also saw some goats and llamas, there was live music acts and a local Irish dance group did some performances, plenty of food to purchase, and kids games to round out the event. There were several inflatables as well, but my kids have no interest in inflatables, so we skipped those. It was a fun day, although pretty darn cold. I think they especially enjoyed riding the shuttle bus (we had to park at a nearby Baptist Church and there was a shuttle bus (from an Episcopal Church) taking people back and forth. [Very ecumenical event, apparently.]

Names: I have mine picked out. ;)

To Do List: I'm currently ignoring this. Probably can't do that much longer.

Breastfeeding class: Okay, so this was on my to-do list, but I took the class just last night. I'm so glad I did!! The instructor is actually a lactation consultant at my hospital and I was able to chat with her some after the class. But during the class, I listened, asked a ton of questions, mentioned my previous experience (or lack of, to be more accurate), and took a lot of notes. Lots of notes!! I wondered what the first time mothers in the room (which was everyone but me) thought about all the notes I was taking. I felt like I did nothing but take notes. Anyway, I feel like I can see all the reasons now why breastfeeding didn't work the last time. A whole host of factors. I'm really, really praying for a much better outcome this time. In chatting with the instructor afterwards she gave me some pointers for dealing with the hospital which was very helpful. I also elaborated with her a bit more on my previous experiences of pregnancy and she told me about the many changes that have taken place at the hospital since I last delivered there. All positive changes! She even gave me the name of a nurse to ask for (if I'm able) who is extremely supportive of natural birth. Overall, it was a good night! Part two of the class (pumping and returning to work) will be next week.

Prayers: Currently keeping several people in prayer. My prayer buddy A, of course. Several other friends who are dealing with tough pregnancies and pregnancy issues. For friend R's daughter R who will be facing yet another surgery soon, for friend J's daughter E who is having a bunch of tests done this week and next and is also dealing with asthma issues (she's only a year old), and for all moms who have children going through tough ordeals at such young ages. I also would like to ask for prayers for me as we approach the birth of this baby. If you can say a quick prayer for us for things to be successful, for the birth to go as natural as possible (as long as the baby is safe and there are no complications), and for supportive and encouraging people around me during labor and the birth itself. Oh, and also for a more successful breastfeeding experience. Thanks!

That's all for now. Looking at about 6 more weeks! Hard to believe!

Oh, and Happy Halloween!!