37 weeks....3 weeks to go!

We are in the home stretch! Just had our final birthing class, continuing with weekly Dr. visits and finally getting around to getting those "last minute" items. I have a list of things to pick up this week, including some stuff for the hospital. Once we have all those, we'll pack our bags and place is by the front door...I guess?! We're definitely getting excited. Just tonight I thought to myself, "Ok, baby, today is not really the best day, I'm not ready". Not that I have any control over it. I found it rather humorous!

Here's an updated of sorts. We had our midwife appt yesterday. Heart beat was 147 (a lot higher than the last few times!) blood pressure and weight for me were good and everything else looked good. We haven't opted to find out how dilated or effaced I am, at least not yet. Maybe at my appt next week?!

My legs have started giving out in the groin area, pleasant right?! When I'm walking it feels like I get a mini charlie-horse, which has made walking uncomfortable at times.

I'm a little hungrier than I was a few weeks ago, which makes sense being that the baby is putting on lots of weight toward to end. I usually have my first dinner around 6ish and a second one (ok, maybe just a good size snack) around 8:30pm or 9pm.

Sleeping is still ok. I'm up much more than I was in the past, thanks to the new urges to pee every 15 minutes or so. I went from getting up twice in the night, to getting up three or four times. For now I'm just thankful that I can get back to sleep.

Below are some belly pictures! More to come last this week or early next week!!

Kidney Update

Our Ultrasound was moved up a day so that Austin could join me, and I'm so thankful it was. We got to see our little nugget again, much harder to see the baby when he/she is so big, which kind of surprised me. Anyway, on to the good news, they said that everything worked itself out. The Baby's kidneys looks great and are within normal range of size for his/her growth! Thank God for answered prayers, for all your prayers and for the positive thoughts sent our way!!! This entire time I've said that we weren't worried about it, and I truly felt that way, but wow, when you actually hear that it's all cleared up there is this amazing sense of relief I didn't realize I was holding on to. Now I don't have to worry about setting up an appointment to meet with someone before we deliver to go over what will happen the week after we deliver, just one less things to do, which is a nice feeling. I'm so thankful and grateful that everything is corrected!

As for the rest of the appointment, well the baby is head down and facing my back, which is just where he/she should be. So much so, that we couldn't get a clear picture of his/her face at all!! Which is ok with me, if it means he/she is in position.

The Baby's heart beat was 140 and he/she is weighing in at 6lbs 5oz. Looks like we could have an 8 pounda on our hands!

So for now we are done with ultra sounds. Only three more visits to the Dr's office, unless of course we are a week late.

We're getting close to the end. Thanks so much for sharing in this journey with us! What a blessing to know that Baby Stutz is already loved by so many friends and family members.

More belly pictures to come soon...and maybe a picture of the room cleaned and organized (if I get some energy this weekend!!!)

Is it just me or is this belly getting bigger???

So it's official, everyday I think my belly is bigger than the day before! I keep thinking there is no way it will get any bigger than this and sure enough, I wake up and BAM, there it is. Everything is becoming more difficult to do. Even washing dishes, I have to stretch to get past my belly.

My girlfriend Jessica sent me the sweetest text today, and at just the right time, when I was feeling swollen, larger than life and like I waddled like a duck. She simply said, "You make pregnant looks good". Seriously, you have no idea how bad I needed to hear that at just that moment (right after changing into workout clothes and attempting to tie my sneakers, which wasn't a pretty sight!). Thanks Jess, you really made my day!!

The Ultrasound for the baby's kidney has been moved. We are now going in tomorrow at 4pm, this way Austin can go with me. We're excited to see the little nugget. If they take any good 3D pictures I'll be sure and post them. Hoping they can't get a good picture of his/her face due to the fact that he or she is facedown and ready to go. We'll see.

Dr. Appt

I had my 36 week check up yesterday. Everything went well, I'm measuring at 36 weeks, the Baby's heart beat was 135, not as active as he/she used to be with less room in the belly, and everything else looked good. She'll start checking to see if I'm dilated in a the next week or so! We have the final kidney ultrasound this Friday, that's in advance for the prayers and positive thoughts for Baby Stutz. We are stressed or worried at all, but it would be nice to hear that it's all cleared up!

Will post again soon....

More Belly....

Here's the belly from this morning!! Hoping to drop soon...

Pack-N-Play

We were blessed to have Auntie Karen and Caroline get us the Pack-N-Play! They picked out great colors that we just love. The new features are the changing table and sleeping basket, which is perfect, since we have it set up in our room for the baby to sleep in for the first few months. Diapers are all packed in there and I'm in the process of washing the blankets for the baby now. Slowly we are getting there.

Another Day, a bigger Belly

Well, the belly is really starting to pop out now! I went to a baby shower for a girlfriend's sister today, and multiple people said, "finally"!!

Enjoy!

Morning Belly...

I think I might be reaching that point, where you wake up everyday and think your belly is a little bigger! How fun and exciting to know that Baby Stutz is growing to the point where he/she is just about ready to come and meet the world. Here are a few pictures from this morning, it's the first day I wasn't running late, maybe getting up early actually helps with that.

Anyway, enjoy. I will try to be more productive at posting updated belly pictures from here on out!

Hospital Tour

Austin and I went on a tour of the hospital this past week, one more thing to check off the "to do list" (along with the birth plan, which has been finalized!). It was interesting to see the rooms, hear about visitation hours and all that good stuff. So, I think we are ready.....oh wait, we still have to pack our bags!

Waddle...

I feel it coming on, it is only a matter of time until I'm waddling everywhere I go!

Sneakers and Weddings Rings

I haven't started to swell, at least that I notice, which is nice. My wedding rings are still on my finger, but at the first sign of swelling I'm sure I'll take them off. I don't want to be that person that has to have her wedding ring cut off her finger. NO, Thank you anyways, I'll just plan on taking it off ahead of time.

As for the sneakers, that's another story! I can still get them on, well just about. It takes a lot longer and isn't the most comfortable, but I can see my feet, so that's a good thing, right?

5 weeks to go!

I can't believe we are past the 5 weeks remaining mark! It seems like the time is just flying by. There are still some things that we have to get, but nothing that we NEED at this point (at least I don't think so). We had our 35 week family circle meeting, which went well. The Baby's heart rate was between 135-145, which was a lower than before and suggests that the baby was resting! My blood pressure, weight, urine and everything came back normal and right on track. We have appointments on a weekly basis now.

Belly at 35 weeks

Here are a few pictures from this week! The baby bump is growing! Baby Stutz is moving around all the time, which can cause me to be a little uncomfortable, but nothing that isn't manageable!