Only 4 More Weeks

36 weeks is here and I am excited--to say the least!! Here are the updates:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely he's in a head-down position. But if he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly.

So...wow! Technically I am 9 months pregnant right now, and I have to say--things are going pretty great! My only complaint is my lack of sleep from tossing and turning. I am for the most part unable to get comfortable while laying flat. And I really miss sleeping on my stomach! Other than that, smooth sailing. I'm plagued with heartburn of course, but it's nothing that a little Zantac doesn't help.

Here is a blanket that I got as a baby shower gift. It was just a plain yellow fleece blanket so I bought some zebra print fabric and appliqued it on with my sewing machine after I freehand cut out his name. I think it turned out pretty good!!

And finally, here is a picture of the changing table my friend Sara got for me. It is the same model as the crib and it matches it perfectly! Now I am just looking for the right baskets to put underneath on the shelves.

Things are going well with us, other than the fact we still haven't sold our house. We've had several lookers, but of course no one serious. The only thing we have left to do to our next house is get the rest of the carpets cleaned. Hopefully we can get that done this week or next. I'm so proud of Nick for how hard he has worked on getting it ready for us. He moved out all of the furniture that was in there BY HIMSELF--we're talking china cabinets, couches, chairs, dressers, vanities, a hospital bed--all because no one else would help him. I tried, but obviously I am in no position to be lifting furniture! I did get the door for him though.

Tonight is our last childbirth class, and this one is about baby care. I can't believe it's already been 7 weeks since we started them! Tomorrow is my big doctor appointment--she is going to do the swab for group B strep and check for dilation!! Keep your fingers crossed! I'm partly hoping that all these hours I've been working is getting things going :)