Week 34

This week I'm definitely feeling a lot more kicking/movement. It's getting more and more difficult to wake up as early as I usually do. At work, the women in the office have decided that I am no longer capable of doing manual labor, which is very nice. I'm starting to accept that I can't do everything I used to. It's becoming more uncomfortable. I've also noticed that I'm retaining a lot more water recently. Crossing my legs at the ankles produces an interesting indentation that doesn't go away for quite a while. I suppose I should drink more water, that's supposed to help with swelling.

We're getting closer to being prepared for the grand entrance every week. This week we had a fun lunch at Sonoma Chicken Coop with family and close friends, which was really nice. We got a very nice Babies R Us gift card from my mom and bro, which we used to get a super comfortable glider-rocker for breast feeding. Igor and Vladi did a great job putting it together in our room, which now feels a lot more complete and ready to receive the little dude. Thanks Vladi and Heather for all your help!

We also finished the prepared childbirth class this Saturday. It was really great to learn what to expect during labor and birth, and the lady who was our teacher was super helpful and fun. I started packing bags for the hospital this week, as that was our homework for the class. I researched a lot of different websites and made a spreadsheet with all the stuff I wanted to include. I've got a good start, but there are a few things I still need to find... like a handheld fan and a small back massager. It's a work in progress. :)

Our kid this week:
The little dude is about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies. Getting closer!

Funny comic from this week: a pregnant lady with the caption "I can't sleep, breathe or walk. How am I supposed to find the energy to glow?" Amen!