37 Weeks

Yay! Baby Lisk is considered FULL TERM!! His systems are developed enough to sustain himeself outside of the womb, it's simply a waiting game, now. He is over 6 lbs and about 19 inches tall, the size of a honeydew melon. His lungs keep getting ready to breathe and his reflexes are kicking in. He keeps inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid as his lungs prepare to make their grand entrance into the world. His reflexes are quite strong, if I put my finger in the middle of his palm, he would grasp it. :) 

Baby is getting too big for pictures!

Dr. Update: Well, I was supposed to go to the doctor on Thursday but they rescheduled because of the weather so I ended up going on Friday. Ever since I was 35 weeks, I've been getting checked every week and this week there was no big change in dilation or anything. :( Bummer! Although I don't mind keeping baby in there for a couple more weeks, I still wanted to hear there was more progress but oh well! She also did an ultrasound to see how big baby is and he's measuring about 6 lbs, 10 ozs right now so he'll probably be about 7 1/2 lbs by the time he's born. It was a quick visit but we go next week again, so that's ok. I hope I can be a little more dilated then. I may set up an induction date next week because I can't have big babies and I want to avoid a c-section as much as possible. So, hurry and get your guesses in here, you don't have much longer! 

How far along: 37 weeks

Total weight gain: 36 lbs

Maternity clothes: all the time!  

Stretch marks: you better believe it. 

Sleep: it all depends..some nights I sleep better than others. I still take my naps during the day, though, so that I feel like I'm getting enough sleep. I'm still tired most of the time. 

Best moment this week: doctor's appointment, SNOW!, (finally) getting to meet my nephew, Gerrit, and seeing my sister and brother-in-law. 
Symptoms: contractions (a couple every hour), stretch marks (awesome -_-), pelvic soreness, backache, fatigue/exhaustion, insomnia, and ankle pain. 

Miss anything: sleep and energy, of course! I do still miss sleeping on my belly and being able to get out of bed/couch without a struggle or getting out of the car. But thankfully when Heath is home, he'll help me up. :) 

Movement: oh yeah! I feel it all..he's running out of womb! ;)  
Labor signs: Braxton-Hicks contractions, pelvic discomfort, back & hip soreness. 

Food cravings: I guess I would say Applebee's this time..thank goodness Becki went with me. 

Started showing: I am huge. I've never been this big. I had one lady even walk passed me and say "oh wow"..and I was just standing there like 'yeah, just housing a human, here, no big deal!'

Belly in/out: sticking out more and more..
Mood: tired and uncomfortable. I'd say my mood is ok, though. I'm seriously ready for Baby Lisk to arrive but I know that I need to keep him in for a little while longer because of his lungs..so I'm sticking it out. 

Looking forward to: Baby Lisk arriving! ;), Doctor's appointment next week! 

Gerrit sitting on his cousin! 

36 Weeks

Baby Lisk is growing like a weed! He is closer to 19 inches and about 6 lbs right now, which is about the size of a papaya. Baby is producing meconium, that lovely tarry substance that will make up his first poop, and all of his organ systems are basically developed, besides his digestive system. He won't start full digestion until he starts breastfeeding. After this week, he will be officially carried to term-the rest is just fat. He is consuming his lanugo and the vernix caseosa, both of which make up the meconium. Baby probably has an adorable little head full of peach fuzz. :) 

Baby Lisk hasn't arrived yet so you still have time to guess on when he'll make his arrival, here. I love to see all the guesses! There will be a prize for the winner so make sure to get your guesses in! :) 

Dr. Update: We had our doctor's appointment on Wednesday and all is still well with baby. My belly is still measuring right on track and he's nice and low..getting ready to come! She said my cervix is still a funnel but I'm dilated at 1-2 where baby's head is and 3-4 at the opening..so I'm progressing! Yay! She also said that my cervix is really thin and pliable. So, baby can pretty much come any day now! :) I don't he'll actually come anytime soon, though..just my personal feeling. She mentioned she was on call all weekend so if we needed her, she'd be there. So, if my water breaks or have some consistent contractions- to the hospital we will go! Our next appointment is next Thursday so we'll see if I've dilated anymore, then. :)

How far along: 36 weeks

Total weight gain: 32 lbs

Maternity clothes: all the time!  

Stretch marks: you better believe it. 

Sleep: not good at night but I've been taking naps during the day because otherwise I would be a zombie. It's the only time I actually get some sleep. 

Best moment this week: doctor's appointment, SNOW!
Symptoms: Braxton-Hicks contractions, insomnia, fatigue/exhaustion, hemorrhoids, and stretch marks. 

Miss anything: sleeping regularly (my cycle is all sorts of messed up) and energy. Getting up without a struggle, and sleeping on my belly (especially now that my back/hip pain). 

Movement: oh, of course. There are a lot of times where I'm feeling his little knees, feet, hands, and elbows.   
Labor signs: Braxton-Hicks contractions, pelvic discomfort, back & hip soreness. 

Food cravings: nothing significant, I don't think. Still some BBQ pulled pork and Mexican. 

Started showing: Um..I'm a whale. 

Belly in/out: sticking out more and more..
Mood: irritable, lately..which I'm sure is because I'm worn out and tired. But I try..I try to be in a good mood. 

Looking forward to: Baby Lisk arriving! ;) and getting some more pictures done on Saturday. :)

35 Weeks

Baby Lisk is starting to move from his breeched position in my uterus, down into my pelvis as he's getting ready to be born. Most of his organ and skeleton development is complete, although they are getting further strengthened and refined as the day draws near. As he enters the homestretch, he's mainly still piling on that baby fat. He's between 18-19 inches and 5-6 lbs, the size of a bunch of carrots, he's getting close to the size he's going to be at birth! Yay! I can't wait to see his cute, sweet face already! :)

I've been battling a cold this past week which isn't the most enjoyable thing in the world..but I guess I should be kind-of used to it by now. It might just be a cold but I swear, these colds are getting worse and worse. I feel like I'm developing a sinus infection or something! :/ I just really hope I start to feel better before I get to head to the hospital because I just can't imagine giving birth while feeling like crap would be very fun. 

If you would like to guess as to when Baby Lisk is going to make his arrival, you can do that here! :) 

Doctor Update: Had our doctor appointment today and everything is still looking good! Baby Lisk is still measuring right on track. She did end up doing the Strep B test today and then checked to see if I was dilated at all. I have a tilted uterus/cervix, so it's kind-of hard to check in the beginning. But she said my cervix is like a cone right now..I'm dilated to 1 where Baby's head is at and 2 at the opening. My cervix is still closed so I don't think baby is going to be coming anytime soon. She said I can get checked next week again (I start going weekly, now..the end is near!) if I want to or I can wait until my 37 week check. I'll probably get checked to see if I've progressed at all, though. :) 

How far along: 35 weeks

Total weight gain: 31 lbs

Maternity clothes: all the time..it's the only things that fit!   

Stretch marks: yes :( still using belly butter, which smells amazing!

Sleep: non-existent now-a-days! 

Best moment this week: getting our taxes filed, going to our doctor's appointment, 
Symptoms: Braxton-Hicks contractions, stretch marks :(, shortness of breath, insomnia, hemorrhoids, 

Miss anything: sleep and energy! (which is also non-existent now a days because I'm sick. :()

Movement: a lot more recently! 
Labor signs: Braxton-Hicks contractions & my hips have been more sore lately, especially when I lay on them for a while. I'm not sure if it's the mattresses or if it's because Baby is starting to move down! 

Food cravings: nothing too significant..just sweets, Mexican, and BBQ. 

Started showing: Yeah, I'm still a whale.

Belly in/out: sticking out more and more.
Mood: pretty good lately..just being sick doesn't help with my crabbiness and frustration. 

Looking forward to: I have no idea..not a whole lot going on this week. I guess my next doctor's appointment? I'll start to be checked which is a yay and nay for me! I like knowing if I've dilated and everything but I do not enjoy the process of it all. I'd say Valentine's Day but I feel like it's such a dumb holiday. It's just another day to me. Heath and I might do something but we definitely don't go overboard or anything. 

34 Weeks

Baby Lisk is measuring in at somewhere around 18 inches, the size of a cabbage, and weighs in the neighborhood of 5 lbs. His lungs, brain, and central nervous system is getting stronger as he's using my antibodies to help construct his own (maybe that's why I'm sick again?) The vernix caseosa is covering his body as he gets closer to delivery day. He's also peeing up to a pint a day and preparing that tarry meconium for his first poop. (Gee, thanks bud!) Only 5-6 more weeks until little Baby Lisk will be joining this crazy world and even crazier family! :) My body is starting to prepare for when Baby Lisk decides he wants to come and peeing has become a more frequent occurrence. I have yet to pack my hospital bag, though, so I feel like I should start doing that, too. 

How far along: 34 weeks

Total weight gain: 29 lbs

Maternity clothes: all the time!  

Stretch marks: yep, still using my belly butter but not sure it's going to do a whole lot now.

Sleep: I've been able to get a little more sleep lately because Braxton and I are both sick so I've been making him take naps. :)

Best moment this week: this week- nothing really going on. Going to go spend the weekend with Mimi, Papa, and Aunt Becki since Heath is going off hunting again. Maybe some maternity pictures?
Symptoms: swelling, Braxton-Hicks contractions, fatigue/exhaustion, frequent urination, restlessness, and trouble sleeping. (Pretty much all the normal symptoms).

Miss anything: same as before- energy and sleep! I just feel tired all the time and just doing like one thing really wears me out. :/ I think this baby is getting quite big in this belly!

Movement: depends on the day..some days he doesn't move a whole lot and then other days, he doesn't stop moving! I can definitely feel him up in my ribs more now, though, which isn't very comfortable. 
Labor signs: just the lovely Braxton Hicks contractions.. 

Food cravings: BBQ always sounds delicious! (pulled pork sandwiches, please!)

Started showing: I'm flippin huge! 

Belly in/out: yeah, slowly sticking out more and more!
Mood: it's been pretty good, lately, actually. I just get irritated and frustrated a little more quickly, now. 

Looking forward to: seeing more of our maternity pictures and spending time in Chattanooga with family. Our next doctor's appointment!! 

33 Weeks

Baby Lisk is almost at his birth height and keeps putting on fat. He's getting huge! He's between 17-19 inches tall (which doesn't surprise me because his feet are constantly up in my ribs) and he's about the size of a cauliflower blossom. He's weighing between 4 and 6 lbs and will be putting on about half a pound a week until he's born. He's beginning to keep his eyes open while he's awake. His brain is still developing further everyday! He's almost ready to join this world! :)

How far along: 33 weeks

Total weight gain: 27 lbs

Maternity clothes: that's my wardrobe.  

Stretch marks: yes, and I've been using my belly butter but I really kind-of doubt it'll help too much now. 

Sleep: still don't get a whole lot of that.

Best moment this week: getting our maternity pictures done. :) getting to spend time with family in Gatlinburg this weekend!
Symptoms: nothing really "new"..just the usual shortness of breath, slight swelling, Braxton Hicks contractions, aches and pains.  

Miss anything: energy and sleep!!!  

Movement: not a much since he's running out of room but I can say that he's still a wicked awesome kicker!  
Labor signs: just the lovely Braxton Hicks contractions.. 

Food cravings: sstill BBQ! 

Started showing: most definitely. Such a silly question.. 

Belly in/out: yeah, it's really starting to poke out there..
Mood: it's been a little touch and go, lately. I've been a little more moody and easier to irritate but I try to not let it ruin too much of our days. :/ Sorry, hunny!  

Looking forward to: getting our maternity pictures done, our next appointment.