36 Weeks

How far along? 36 weeks

Baby size: Honeydew, 5.78 lb, 18.66 in (crown to heel)

Total weight gain/loss: I went to the doctor last Thursday and have now gained 28 pounds :/  I have been holding a lot of fluid this week, so hoping that is the reason for the gain.
Maternity clothes? Yes, but I am still finding new outfits from my closet that I can put together with non-maternity clothes.
Stretch marks? No, so far so good.
Sleep: Sleep has been good and bad this week.  Monday night, I woke up at 2am wide awake and knew I was no where close to going back to sleep.  I had a lot on my mind with all the things I needed to do to prepare for the baby and to prepare to be out of work.  I knew I needed to wash my hair and shower for work Tuesday, so I went ahead and took a long shower  at 2:30am and just spent time in prayer talking to God about life and where He is leading our family.  Then I dried my hair and went and sat in the rocker in Emersyn's room and prayed some more for her health, a safe delivery, her salvation, being the kind of mom He wants me to be, and just thanking him for such an incredible blessing!!  Then I headed to the couch to prop my feet up on pillows to try to go back to sleep.  Tuesday night I slept hard all night... so hard that Daniel had to move to the couch because he said my snoring woke him up haha.  You can't help but to snore when you are sharing your lungs with a baby.  Wednesday night I was up at 2:30 again, wide awake.  I didn't shower in the crazy morning hours, but just headed to the couch, got on Pinterest for  a while and then when to sleep.  The rest of the week was the same, good nights and bad. 
Best moment this week: We had a very productive weekend.  Saturday we had a yard sale at our home from 7am-noon and did pretty well.  Then I went for an hour prenatal massage that my sweet husband gave me for Mother's Day.  It was heavenly : )  Then we went to Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby in Greenville to return our duplicates and purchase most of the remaining items we really need before she arrives.  Today after church and lunch we started putting together baby items and washing the bedding.  I also got the house cleaned except for mopping.  I told Daniel that there are very few things that make me happier than a clean house.  He thinks I'm crazy and I'm not sure he will ever understand :)  Thursday, I had a doctor's appointment.  My blood pressure was good and the baby's heart rate was 131 bpm.  Way lower than last time, but the doctor said that was good that you want to see a variation in the heart rate.  They checked my cervix for the first time, and I am showing no signs of going into labor anytime soon.  I am at a zero and no thinning has occurred.  I am praying that she isn't too late... don't want a Halloween baby, so if you have any "old wives tales" to help let me know.  I had to have blood work taken, got the TDAP shot, and had the Strep B test.  I was very disappointed to hear that I will not have another ultrasound.  Back at 30 weeks, they told me I would have two more ultrasounds before delivery: one at 32 weeks and one at 36 weeks (which would be next week when I go to the doctor).  Apparently they counted the unscheduled ultrasound they did on me when I fell as one of the last two, and I told them not to count it because I was by myself and wanted to have other people with me for my real scheduled ultrasounds.  Plus the ultra sound tech we really like did not do the ultrasound when I fell and she was on vacation for our last ultra sound, so I really wanted just ONE more :(  Maybe they will change their minds...
Miss Anything? My ankles and being able to bend over with ease.
Movement: She is still very active.  The doctor told me Thursday that I should begin kick counting from now until delivery.  Once daily I should time how long it takes her to kick 10 times.  I told her if I lay down and am relaxed and quiet, she will kick 10 times in a minute :)   Also, her kicks are not only single movements, she rolls.  I can watch my stomach completely change shape as she is changing positions.  Several times this week she has literally felt like her feet are underneath my rib cage.  It is pretty uncomfortable especially when sitting.
Food cravings: Pretty much the same.  I enjoy bread and sent Daniel on a bread run one night last week because we were out of bread.  I also love fruit, ice cream, water, apple juice, cheese, chicken, potatoes any way, popcorn, and peanut butter.
Anything making you queasy or sick: I love salads but the aftermath is still not good.  They are hard to digest and swell me up immediately.  
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Gender: It's a Girl!!
Symptoms: My throat has been burning as bad as it did during the first trimester.  I have been keeping gum in every afternoon and evening to try to relieve the pain.  I have also been swelling more this week.  Monday, I had a meeting at school from 8am - 11am where I was sitting in a chair the whole time.  I literally watched my ankles/feet grow.  I worked until 8 Monday night and then had Open House Tuesday night so was not home again until 8pm.  My feet just got bigger because I had no time to lay on the couch and prop them up.  Wednesday night I decided to skip our small group Bible Study because I was beginning to worry about how swollen my feet were.  I got home from work at 5 and kept my feet propped high on 3 pillows from 5 until 8.  I only got up to use the bathroom (which was like every 45 minutes).  By bed time I could actually see my ankle bone again, but they were still not back to normal and have not been since. 
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Looking forward to: Having some "down" time.  I am ready to hold my baby girl, be at home, and not worry about anything but taking care of our little family.  I still have not packed my hospital bag yet!!  I don't know why I am procrastinating that so much?!!

** I will post maternity pictures next week.  We are waiting for the disc of images to be ready.