Last growth update...

At least while he is on the inside! We are finally up to watermellon, and it sure feels like one!

We had an appt yesterday and everything is looking great. No dilation yet, but marshmallow is looking wonderful. He is measuring a few days ahead and while the new u/s machine didn't show a weight measurement the midwife guessed about 6.5ish lbs. We finally got preregistered at the hospital and went and got our carseat so all the little pieces are falling into place nicely.


On week 37 your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world, meaning careful refinement of blink, suck, inhale and exhale. As you worry about birth, consider what its like for little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than at any other time in life.

Belly progression

There is no hiding this belly!

Month 8

Only one more update to go after this one!

Baby's senses are continuing to improve, when light peeks through your (extremely) stretched stomach those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dialate. Baby can now recognize and react to simple songs, time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth is starting to slow and you may notice baby descending into your pelvis by the end of the month.

33 wk appt

So we had a little excitement this morning...
After I got up and was puttering around the house this morning I noticed some bleeding. Not a ton, but it went on for several hours and was enough to make me nervous. We had an appointment scheduled for this evening anyway, but after about three hours I decided to call in just to check. The nurse spoke with our Midwife and they agreed that we needed to come in a little earlier. Since our Midwife was out of the office until 3:30 she had us come in as soon as she got back to the office.
(Of course as soon as I called the bleeding stopped!) They had me stay down as a precaution, but thankfully when we got into the appointment everything looked good. Baby is just barely under 5lbs and his head is pressing on my cervix, but everything looked wonderful!
Next appt is in two weeks...
Much love!

Christmas Card

We went on Saturday morning down to Union Station to take pictures for our Christmas card- been meaning to for weeks and just keep having things pop up, but it finally got to the point where they *had* to be done or we wouldn't get them out on time.

So of course Sat. morning it decides to start dumping snow! We still got a few pictures (along with some cute ones for Diddi's card), but it was bitter cold and we ended up being a little late for the Fikstad family party. Thankfully it seemed everyone else was running a little late also, so we didn't miss anything.

Party was fun, food was great, we finally got a picture of Grandma with her kids and enjoyed visiting with everyone.

Next appointment is Wed. and it is scheduled late enough in the day that we are hoping H will be off work and able to make it. He hasn't yet met the midwife, so hopefully he can this week.

I will update later, but here is a sneak peek at our Christmas cards (being printed right now!).

Getting close...

So much is going on and I have been a total slacker at updating the blog, sorry everyone!

We had our first baby shower last weekend. Howard's aunt and two cousins generously threw us a family shower and it was wonderful! We got very spoiled with gifts, a ton of diapers, super yummy food and great company. It was so nice of everyone, and we were so excited to be remembered! We will be having our friends and other sides of the family shower in January, and will keep everyone updated as it gets closer.

Down to the final stretch now, and our appointments are every two weeks for the next month, then they will go to weekly. At the appointment Tuesday the midwife told me that Marshmallow is measuring at 4lbs already and that he is 'cerebrally enhanced' (he has a big head!). She also said that the pains I've been feeling are not Braxton Hicks (practice) contractions, but are most likely real contractions. Nothing to worry about unless I start having 5-6 an hour, and right now I'm having 5-6 a day. But at least I know what to be on the lookout for!

Movements have definately changed in the past week or so. He is not 'punching' nearly as much, but is stretching and pushing a lot more. Movements are very strong and more batched together. He will go crazy stretching and turning for 10-15 minutes and then be quiet for hours... So far his busiest times seem to be when I first wake up, right after breakfast and as soon as I lay down at night. It is really fun to just lay there and watch my stomach contort like crazy- you can see a several inch difference where he is stretching or turning. Very cool!

The nursery is almost done. The basics are mostly in place (except for the bedding) and there are just a handful of decoration things that still need done. Enough little things to putter on for a couple weeks, but nothing big enough to cause any stress!

Thanksgiving was very nice. We only had 7 people there, and everyone brought something, so things were very low-key and relaxed. The next big activity will be our annual Christmas Party on the 19th! Actually every weekend between now and mid-January is booked, but our party is the only thing in the near future that will require much effort from me!

Hope everyone is doing well, love you all!

Month 7

Month 7!
Baby's energy is surging thanks to the formation of white fat deposits under the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs tipped you off yet?) Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles- though, as you have probably noticed, they don't necessarily coincide with your own! Also this month, all five senses are fully functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developements.