36 Weeks: Honeydew Baby

Happy thirty-six weeks!  Thirty-six week fetuses usually weigh in at about six pounds.  They start to shed their downy lanugo layer of hair along with the creamy vernix caseosa that has been covering their skin.  These substances mix in with the amniotic fluid, which the little one then swallows and uses to form meconium.  LB's head is down in preparation for labor and according to Alex, her bump has definitely dropped this week. 
    
We spent this weekend organizing things for Harper's arrival.  We installed the car seat and car accessories after watching an instructional video or two :)  We worked on the nursery which is almost finished pending a few last minute deliveries.  We also started packing our hospital bags.

    
Honeydew baby

   
 Happy Memorial Day!

      

We are super excited about how the wall above the crib turned out.  We will have to take pictures and have them printed as soon as Harper is born so we can fill the picture frames with her cuteness!

  

 We are still waiting for the curtain rods to be delivered before we can hang the curtains.  We are really happy with how nice the mirror looks above the dresser.  Once the final pieces arrive for the nursery, we will post pictures of the finished product.

   

Our hospital bags are mostly packed!  We have snacks, shower shoes, little toiletries from Target, nursing pajamas, slippers, and all the essentials.  My diaper bag is also ready to go with several potential outfits for Harper to leave the hospital in.

  

 The car seat fits nicely in the Edge!  There is a vehicle seat protector under the car seat and a retractable window shade on the door.  The mirror is all set too!

 

   

 We made a car diaper station with our cute little Chevron Changing Pad from Aunt Sarah and Kaylyn, baby wipes, Desitin cream, and changing liners.  We just need to throw in a few diapers.  

    
We are a few steps closer to being ready!  Next weekend, we plan to make a bunch of freezer meals so that we don't have to worry about cooking when we bring the little girl home :)

35 Weeks: Coconut Baby

We are thirty-five weeks today!  LB is similar in size to a coconut and busy packing on the baby fat.  Our goals for this week are to finish the nursery, pack a hospital bag, and figure out how to work a car seat.  I have not had any painful contractions, but we want to be ready just in case the little one comes early.  My schedule over the next five weeks certainly does not bode well for my plan of making it to July 1st.

  

 Hello coconut baby!

Last Camp Before Baby

Alex and I decided to go camping one last time before Harper arrives.  We went to Jordan Lake, along with everybody else in town.  We were lucky to find a spot by the time we got to the park.  Our site wasn't directly on the water, but we could see and hear the lake easily.  We made pimento cheese burgers and our favorite Ghirardelli dark chocolate raspberry s'mores.  We had a great time relaxing in the woods and talking about our exciting future to come!

  

Next time we go camping, we will need an extra little chair!

    

 Camping was definitely the perfect way to spend my first day off in nearly three weeks!

   

 We are obsessed with pimento cheese burgers.

    

 Good morning breakfast on the stove :)

34 Weeks: Butternut Squash Baby

We made it to the next big mile stone as far as obstetrics is concerned!  After thirty-four weeks, steroids are no longer given for fetal lung maturity.  LB's lungs are still not ready, but if she made her debut early, it would no longer be as detrimental.  Only three more days until we have a day off!

 

Thirty-four weeks picture with our little tree :)

33 Weeks: Durian Baby

We are thirty-three weeks today!  Fetuses at this gestational age are similar in size to a durian fruit and usually weigh nearly four and a half pounds.  Their bones, except for the skull, are starting to harden.  They keep their eyes open more often now while they are awake.  The durian fruit, which I have never heard of, is apparently regarded as the "king of fruits" in Southeast Asia.  After reading about it, it is definitely not something I would like to try.

    

I am back on labor and delivery this month which means the hours are much longer, but I finally get to operate again.  Today was day nine of a nineteen day stretch :(  Makes me really sympathetic for our patients who ask for excuse notes from part time jobs for the "miseries of pregnancy," not.

  

My scrubs are getting a little snug!

  

   

Happy thirty-three weeks!