38 Weeks

How far along? 38 weeks

Baby size: Pumpkin (how appropriate!!), 6.80 lb, 19.61 in (crown to heel)

Total weight gain/loss: I went to the doctor today and have gained 31 pounds.  So sad to reach the 30 mark :(  At least there are not many more weeks to gain weight!!
Maternity clothes? Yes! 
Stretch marks? No 
Sleep: Sleep has been so-so.  I think that is just a part of it at this point.  I usually wake up several times in the night either needing to use the bathroom, sweating, or needing to switch sides.  Thankfully, I have been able to go back to sleep pretty easily every night this past week except for last Monday night when I woke up at 2:30 and stayed awake the rest of the night.
Best moment this week: Enjoying the perfect fall weather this weekend!!  We had a wedding to attend Saturday at the Cliffs at Glassy where Daniel used to work.  The mountains were beautiful and so was the sky and weather.  Then Sunday, we went on the annual McDowell mountain trip with Daniel's family.  We stopped in downtown Saluda for a picnic at the park and then headed up to Hendersonville, NC and made several stops at apple/pumpkin places.  Fun family time and a tradition I cannot wait to share with Emersyn next year : )  I also enjoy going to my doctor's appointments right now because I like hearing where I am on the process leading up to delivery.  My blood pressure, pulse, and other routine things were good.  Emersyn's heartbeat was 121 bpm, which they said was very normal.  The heart rate drops as they drop lower into the birth canal.  I have not dilated any more than 1/2 cm, but they said her head went from a -2 to 0 station, so she is a lot further down.  The doctor told me that he would estimate next week would be the time and to make sure I am ready with my bags packed (opps!! got to get that done).  I questioned why I had not dilated any more since last week, and he said first time moms do not need to rely completely on how much you are dilated because it could all happen fast in one day.  The main thing to note was that her head was steadily moving down and progressing for delivery.
Miss Anything?  Shaved legs... it's just not worth the struggle right now.  I've been trying to wear pants and leggings as much as possible to avoid shaving them.  One day I picked out a long dress to wear to work, but once I put it on, I realized it had a slit on the left side up to my knee.  I quickly shaved only my left leg before work haha.  So today when I went to the doctor, I completely forget about tidying up my legs and had a pretty smooth left leg and a pretty hairy right leg.  The joys of pregnancy!!  I'm sure my doctor understands and has seen worse : )
Movement: She is still very active at night and in the afternoons when I get home from work.  She can make my stomach look very lopsided making it obvious to tell which side her rear is laying on at the moment. 
Food cravings: Still love bread and milk the most.  I also love any kind of noodles or pasta, fruit (we bought a bag of Gala apples from the mountains and I have been eating one every day), and desserts I have been craving more this week.  Also at the mountains, we bought several apple treats that were very delicious!!  My favorite to buy are always the apple cider doughnuts, but I also bought a small fried apple pie to eat and Daniel and I shared an apple slushy at one place and a hot apple cider at another.  Then I bought an apple fritter to take home with me for a treat after my late night of parent conferences on Monday.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Staying away from salads, tomatoes, peppers, onions, okra, broccoli, etc.  Things that I know are just not worth the digestion issues they cause.
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Gender: It's a Girl!!
Symptoms: My throat is still burning in the afternoons, a lot more pressure below when standing, and my feet are staying pretty swollen even after being propped up.  I tried to wear flat closed toe shoes to work today, but they just did not fit.  I am still having to sport my flip flops because there is plenty of room for my swollen feet in them.  I have also been having more Braxton Hicks contractions. 
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Looking forward to: Having a weekend with NOTHING on the agenda.  I want to just enjoy time with Daniel (I think we are planning a date night for Friday), enjoy time being at home and relaxing before our lives completely change!!

Wedding at the Cliffs at Glassy

 My parents in front of the chapel.

 Me with my parents

 Just the two of us... but not for long : )

 Overlooking the mountains

 Daddy and Mama... soon to be Pappy and Mimi

 

God's beauty!!

McDowell Family Mountain Trip

Our nephew Matt picking out his pumpkin.

 Big as a pumpkin!!

 The whole crew!!

 Our niece Addison having fun at the park.

 Our niece Emma cheesing it : )

 If only my pumpkin belly was still this small!!

 Making memories with my sweetie!

 Daniel and his great aunt Jessie

 

My father-in-law playing a trick on me.  He said for us to stand together to see whose belly stuck out the most.  As soon as Daniel went to take the picture, he sucked in his belly!!

 Glad our little pumpkin is not THAT BIG!!

Love spending time with him!!