Week 37

Highlights
Size: a watermelon! She is still gaining about 1/2 an ounce each day.
What baby is up to: She's practicing some skills: inhaling, exhaling, sucking, gripping and blinking. She's getting her first sticky poop (called meconium) ready for her first diaper.  If she were born today, she would be considered full term, but that doesn't mean she is finished growing or completely reading for life on the outside.  Fat continues to accumulate on her, forming the kissable dimples in those cute elbows, knees, and shoulders, and adorable creases and folds in the neck and wrists.  She is also practicing pivoting from side to side, which would explain why I feeling her completely on one side on day and the on the other side the next day.

At my doctors appointment this week I am still 1 centimeter dilated, but 25% effaced.  His says that things are looking good and we are progressing along.  Only two more weeks until she should be here :)!!!!  I have had the last of my baby showers and I think that Mackenzie is one lucky girl and she is pretty much set with everything she will need.  We have been very fortunate to have wonderful family, friends, and co-workers who have spoiled Mackenzie.  Josh has been busy putting everything together and turning our house into a place fit for a baby princess. 

Week 36

Highlights
Size of baby: honeydew melon.  Still measuring in at about 20 inches and probably weighing in at about 6 pounds.
What baby is up to: She's getting closer and closer to being able to breathe on her own.  Her skin is getting smooth and soft and her gums are rigid.  Her liver and kidneys are in working order. Circulation and immune systems are basically good to go, too.  Though the digestive system is ready to roll, too, it hasn't really gotten a workout yet since all of her nutrients has been given to her through the umbilical cord. 

I have been going to the doctor every week for my checkups.  He says that everything looks great and the baby and me are healthy.  At this appointment he checked me and I am 1 centimeter dilated and he doesn't think that we will make it to our due date of January 26th.  I am hoping that we will make it to the end, but she will come whenever she is ready.  She has been moving a lot and I have felt some pressure and some hardining  of different parts of my stomach.  The doctor says all if these symptoms are normal and its just my body getting itself ready for the amazing journey we are about to go on!!

Week 35

Highlights
Size of baby: honeydew melon.  She could be as tall as 20 inches and could weigh in at about 51/2 pounds. 
What baby is up to: She is gaining about a half a pound weekly.  Now, her hearing is fully developed, and she responds best to high-pitched noises. Her brain development continues at a mind-boggling pace, making her a little on the top-heavy side.  She has turned to be in a head-down, bottoms-up position in my pelvis by now.  Her head is still soft and will remain that way throughout labor to make it an easier decent for birth.

Week 34

Highlights
Size of baby: a honeydew melon.  She could be as tall as 20 inches and weigh in at about 5 pounds. 
What baby is up to: She's recognizing and reacting to simple songs, which we all know that she's only getting a few words of each song, because of my wonderful voice and remembrance of the lyrics!! She's also urinating about a pint a day, which would explain why I am going more and more often too.  Her fingernails have grown to probably reach the tip of her tiny little fingers by now.

Week 33

Highlights
Size of baby: she is the size of a honeydew melon.  She should  weigh about 4.2 to 5.8 pounds and measure about 17.2 to 18.7 inches. And she may grow up to a full inch this week!  She is averaging about a pound a week now. 
What baby is up to: She's keeping her eyes open while awake.  She's also starting to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing.  Her bones are hardening and she's going through (more) major brain development-- to make her one smart baby!  Her pokes and kicks are "harder" and much more easier to see and feel.  There is not as much amniotic fluid between the baby and me, so less cushion for the blows.  Antibodies are also being passed from me to her so that she can continue to develop her own immune system.  These antibodies will come in handy to help protect her from all of those playground germs.

Week 32

Highlights
Size of baby: still a squash, but should be weighing in at around 4 pounds and about 19 inches long. 
What baby is up to: She is still growing daily and is busy prepping for her debut!  She is practicing all her skills that she needs in order to survive outside of the womb, from swallowing and breathing to kicking ans sucking.  she has been able to suck on her thumb for a while now.  Another big change this week is that her skin is no longer see-through.  As more and more fat accumulates under the skin, it's finally opaque. She's also getting ready for her descent -- she's likely in the head-down position now.  And she's probably feeling a even more cramped.

I've still been feeling pretty good.  The fatigue has started to set back in.  I am finding that it is very easy for me to fall asleep, even when in the middle of conversation with Josh.  I am waking up more and more throughout the night to go to the bathroom.  She is moving ALL of the time and it is amazing to feel it. :) 

Week 31

Highlights
Size of baby: still a squash, but getting bigger.  She is almost 18 inches long and weighing in at more than 3 pounds. 
What baby is up to:  She's going through major brain and nerve development.  She is developing her brain connection.  She is able to put that complex web of brain connection to good use- she is already processing information, tracking light, and perceiving signals from all five senses.  Eye development, too. Her irises now react to light!  All five of his senses are in working order.  She is also sleeping more, and she stays asleep during the night, so hopefully this will stay true for when she is actually here. 

As she is growing so much bigger inside of me I have been able to feel every little thing she does.  I have gotten a few elbows or legs pushed up under my ribs, which makes it hard to breathe.  There have been a few times that I haven't been able to catch my breathe.  Lying down and pushing on my stomach to push her down has helped.  It did not help with Josh's nerves when I told him I couldn't catch my breathe.  We started taking Lamaze classes on Monday nights.  These have been informative and more than just breathing techniques which is what I thought that was all it was going to be about.  There are 4 other couples in the class and it is interesting to hear their concerns and the questions that they have.  Everyone seems to be so scared of birth and what's going to happen and Josh and I look at each other like "what's the big deal?"  I know we say that now and I'm sure that it will all change when we are actually going through it, but you just do what you have to do.  I don't want to go into thinking about being scared.  I want to enjoy-as much as possible this whole experience.  The classes have been very helpful I think for the dads of the class to really let them know what role they play in the labor and ways they can help the moms out.  I know that makes me feel better that Josh has a specific role and I don't have to worry about him as much.