It could be any day now - offically 37 weeks!!

Baby Hunter is allowed to arrive any day now!!! I am 37 weeks certified. I am juuuuuust about 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Although he is head down, he is still very high and hasn't dropped yet. (He was actually quite low a month ago when I was contracting, so he kind of slipped right back up again). It could still be another 5 weeks if he decides to be late, but lets not hope he wants to stay in THAT much longer. :) He is getting to be quite pesky in my belly and I think we are both feeling crowded. Not much room for EITHER of us to grow or to be wiggly!

I am still having pains in my left butt, but I have been diagnosed with the lovely sciatica every Mom seems to get! It can get quite painful, so some days I can hardly walk on it, but today is a good day! I am going to get some things done while I am pain free.

So happy we are loaded up on snacks and freezer items right now! We can hardly fit anything else in both freezers (or cupboards). I just did a giant batch of White Chicken Chili and made up some homemade pizza doughs too, along with a shipment of 20 pounds of yummy all natural Zaycon chicken strips coming on Saturday - so I think we will be ok for a few weeks! ha ha. I'm a planner, but lets see how far all this really gets us.

Plus, the nursery is pretty much done! I will have to post pictures here soon. Brandon has quite the collection of Cookie Monster stuff for his shelf now. Plus, I hung the Hunter name banner and cleared out some boxes. We also got some matchy bins for the storage unit and his Seahawks wall is just the cutest thing I ever did lay eyes on! But, the beloved alphabet wall will be a work in progress. It won't be done by the time Hunter is here, but I am ok with that! I am have a few letters done and friends have been so nice to donate some too!

I was in a really goofy mood while Brandon was taking belly pictures. This is how it usually goes before we actually get a decent picture! That last picture I dedicate to my niece Aurora, who does that 'smile' in every picture.

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How far along? 37 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: + 40 pounds
Pregnancy symptoms: Sciatic nerve pain off and on
Sleep: I am sleeping better these days!
Best moment this week: Feeling ready for the baby. And getting lots of down time and rest with Brandon.
Miss Anything? Moving without sciatic or back pain. I used to be so active.
Movement: Still kicking like a maniac, but he actually has calmed down a bit. There is not much room for him to move in there!
Food cravings: CHOCOLATE anything, donuts, cereal and anything snackie.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Smell of bacon still!
Have you started to show yet: My belly is in the ugly stage - it is alll baby!
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! Buuttt, will definitely say what's on my mind.
Looking forward to: Baby Hunter being here! I will always have something I want to do, but we are ready!
Stretch marks? I have a few around my belly button and on my butt! ha ha.
Wedding rings on or off? OFF, but around my neck so ON! :)
Labor Signs: Just about 2 cm dilated, 50% effaced. Baby is head down, but still VERY high. I am having Braxton Hicks contractions at least once a day.
Belly Button in or out? Almost not even there it is so out - but you can still see it through my clothes.
Last Doctor Visit Update: Lynne says I am allll baby! She is hoping he will come a bit early since he is feeling big. (Oh geez). I was also tested for Group B this last visit - I haven't heard anything, so that's a good sign!

35 weeks - I still have lots I want to do!

Wow! 35 weeks today right on the New Year and we are off to a great start. Everything has been pretty smooth these last two weeks. *Thank goodness!* We had a wonderful Christmas with everyone and both Brandon and I got plenty of rest! And do you see those adorable bow ties? My Missy girl was so nice to remember that I was wanting some matching bow ties for my boys! She even got me a red scarf so I can be matchy too. I think they will be perfect for our first family photos and for the baby blessing. So sweeeeet.

And let me tell you - Hunter has been BUSY these last few days. I'll feel one of his legs kick out and my whole leg will spasm, lol. It hurts! He is my strong little fella. :) I have also noticed a few Braxton Hicks contractions. I don't feel them, but sometimes I feel my stomach and it's hard as a rock! It's pretty weird - I am getting a little nervous thinking about the real ones on the big b-day!

I've had a few pregnancy 'moments' too. I wrote this on Facebook the other night: "Pregnancy fail: Cracker in one hand and an SD card in the other... I may or may not have just tried to eat the SD card. heh heh - oops!" It almost happened, ha ha!

I also put ALL the baby clothes away! They are washed, hung, folded and snuggled safe in their spots. Plus, Brandon pretty much has his Cookie Monster shelf done. He is so proud of it. Isn't it the cutest? Maybe it just needs some more cookies on it... or maybe not. I might eat those too. But I am still feeling like there is still so much I want to do! The baby's room is completely functional now, so that's good. We have clean clothes and sheets, diapers, wipes... I just want to finish all that frilly mommy stuff . ;) - I really need to start cracking down on that alphabet wall and I need to put the rest of the misc. boxes in the room away.... Hang a few more shelves, put up my knobbies for cute clothes and hang curtains. Important right?

Oh and I was hobbling again! I did something to my left leg - maybe it's just my sciatic nerve or the muscles around my pelvic bone stretching out, but for a good two weeks, I could not walk on it well at all! I literally was walking like a penguin. It was pretty embarrassing. As long as I didn't aggravate it too much, I could get around all right to do basic tasks. I am feeling better today, but it was getting frustrating being house bound. But Brandon would be proud of me - I'll collect a bunch of 'things to do' and sit in my little spot so I can get stuff done with out straining myself too much.

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How far along? 35 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: + 38 pounds (ooops!)
Pregnancy symptoms: I have had some sciatic nerve pain.
Sleep: About the same: I have good and bad nights - I still have trouble breathing and turning off my brain at night. I just want to think about the baby!
Best moment this week: Spending some down time with Brandon and getting some nursery things done together.
Miss Anything? Putting on a seat belt and getting in and out of the car with ease. 
Movement: He KICKS me so hard! ha ha - takes me a minute sometimes to catch my breath. Little monster.
Food cravings: Chocolate milk, chocolate, slurpee's, cereal, yogurt ... (see why I am gaining?)
Anything making you queasy or sick: Just the lingering smell of bacon still!
Have you started to show yet: I get the 'Congratulations!' comments all the time now. 
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, reflective, but I am still speaking my mind more than I should.
Looking forward to: Finishing more of the nursery
Stretch marks? I might have a few around my belly button!
Wedding rings on or off? OFF, too tight and uncomfortable
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks contractions have started! Nothing else yet.
Belly Button in or out? Outie - pokes through my clothes.
Last Doctor Visit Update: The midwife Lori says the baby is head down, but has not dropped yet. He is measuring right on schedule!