38w1d

What I am going to miss about being pregnant:
Just being pregnant- I like to feel special ;-)
Feeling the baby move inside me
Knowing that I am nurturing a life
Looking at and rubbing my big belly

What I won't miss:
Waking up to pee or take a Tums every 2 hours!
Feeling so big and bloated
Having a hard time rolling over in bed
My leaking boobs (of course I still won't get over this when pg is over!)

Oh and no sign of stretch marks yet!

37w4d

On my online due date group there was a post about what you were doing a year ago and what you hope to be doing next year. A year ago I was in a very dark place. I went to see the RE in early January and was scheduled for an IUI in February. Right now I would have been in the middle of my cycle- so that means we conceived our first about a year ago. I just realized that I took my first positive HPT on Feb 16, 2006. My official due date via u/s for this child is Feb 16, 2007. How incredibly ironic and a little bittersweet. I also had the level II u/s for this child on my original due date- it's crazy that it has worked out like this.

Now that I've realized these parallels I don't know how I feel. A little sad for my loss, but I know that I wouldn't have this child had I not lost the first one. I'm really surprised I didn't pick up on this before and am only now realizing it. I am so thankful to God that he gave me this child and in a strange way I am thankful for the road that I had to take to get here. I don't know if the joy I feel would be the same had I had to travel a different way to get here. And I know that I would not know the same peace that God can give had I not had this experience. I just hope to never forget.

On a more pg related note- I am having some PMS-like cramping today in my lower uterine region. So I'm not sure if that's BH or not. I know it's not real contractions b/c it only hurts low, not all over and through my back like the real ones. It is rather exciting b/c I hope it means that my body is getting itself prepared, although now that I've realized this about the 16th I would really like to deliver then. (But of course I will be ok with whenever as long as he/she is healthy!)

As for a boy or a girl- I think it is a girl. I still tend to call it he a lot, but I just have a girl vibe now. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking since we are having so much trouble thinking of a boys name!

37w1d

The shower was really nice. In fact so nice that I felt bad that they spent so much money on it! The weather was a little icky, but still most everyone was able to make it. There were about 23 people there and a lot of my friends were able to make it from far away. It was really nice to see everyone there and catch up. We got lots of stuff and I felt much more prepared after I got home! We finished getting some stuff this weekend and I think we pretty much have everything now, so if he/she comes early we should be ready!

Physically I'm still doing really well. My body feels much more tired, but not unbearable. And I've actually been able to get a lot done at home at night, b/c I'm not as tired as I was. Biggest complaint- heartburn is killing me at night. I'm waking up every 2 hours or so b/c of it. So I roll over and pop a Tums and try to get back to sleep. Luckily Tums still works ok, but just not long enough!

For the most part the baby is really good to me! I've only had it jab me in the ribs a couple of times and I can sleep through all the movement at night. When other people complain about the movement it is hard for me to relate. He/she doesn't move a ton and isn't beating me up too much. I really like being pregnant. Emotionally I've been fine, much better than when we were trying and physically it has not been that hard either. I think I'm really going to miss it. I'm scared about having a baby to take care of. Since the pg has been so easy I'm worried I will have a very fussy baby. I feel so clueless about babies. I'm really worried I will screw it up!

I am so tired of all my clothes! I don't fit into all of them anymore and I just stare at my closet and don't want to wear anything in it. I have a decent number of clothes, but just none of them appeal to me anymore and with 3 weeks to go I don't want to buy anything new.

I can't believe I only have 3 weeks left. It has gone by so fast and I'm sure the next 3 weeks are going to fly by. I still don't really feel like I look that big (even though I've gained 30 lbs!). I have dr appts every week now so I'm definitely nearing the end. If I went now the baby would be considered at term. I don't think I've really felt any contractions. Maybe one here or there, but nothing major, of course I don't know for sure that I would even recognize them!

35w4d

I was sick most of Christmas break. Not fun at all. I started coughing on Christmas Eve and then 2 days of being away from home with little sleep pushed me into a full blown cold. Luckily it was just a respiratory thing. Coughing and a runny nose- not anything with my stomach. It just drained me of energy and I had a very difficult time sleeping b/c I was coughing so much. It hung on for 2+ weeks, but luckily I am finally starting to get over it. My OB said it takes twice as long to get over an illness when you are pregnant. As long as I'm not sick when I deliver I suppose it's ok! I had a terrible dream one night that my water was broken and I woke up terrified! Luckily it was just from me sweating :-)

I noticed about 2-3 weeks ago that it's getting much harder to wipe after I pee! My arm has to go around my belly to get there and it need to be just a smidge longer. I'm really not as big as I thought I'd be at this point though. I thought I'd have a huge tummy, but it really doesn't stick out that far especially with my boobs concealing it a little.

Since I was sick over break I didn't get much of the baby related stuff done that I wanted to. I feel pretty unprepared for baby's arrival- especially with only 5 weeks left! I have a shower this weekend so hopefully after this I will be able to finish getting all the stuffy we need and finally be ready to go. I had been putting off buying too much stuff to wait and see what we got at the shower. There is just so much stuff to get for a little one!

I've been having increased heartburn lately, especially at night while I'm sleeping. It will actually be bad enough that I wake up in the middle of the night and have to take Tums. Luckily Tums will suppress it, so it's only bad for a short time. I'm also feeling a lot more tired, but I'm not sure if that's totally due to the pg, or also due to the cold. I'd say in general this past week or so I've started feeling heavier. Like my body is just tired of supporting the extra weight. I suppose carting around 24 extra pounds will tire you out more!