35 weeks

How far along? 35 weeks 4 days
Total weight gain: 27lbs
Symptoms: Occasional heartburn, having to pee all of the time and eat all of the time, can't bend over.
Maternity clothes? Even some of my maternity shirts are too short now.
Sleep: as long as it's not too hot, I can get an hour or two at a time before getting up.
Best moment this week: having a fun time at a wedding
Sex of the baby: Surprise!
Labor Signs: I'm totally on the look out for signs of labor but there's nothing definitive.
What I miss: Working
Movement: I'm feeling more movement than ever!
What I am looking forward to: Next week the Dr will check to see if I've started progressing at all.
Milestones: Friday was 35/35. 35 weeks pregnant and 35 days left before my due date. That's a pretty big third trimester milestone. Also, the doctor said that if I were to go into labor now, they wouldn't stop it!
Words of Wisdom: drink lots of water!

What's going on with Baby?

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

34 weeks

How far along? 34 weeks 2 days
Total weight gain: 25lbs
Symptoms: Occasional heartburn, having to pee all of the time and eat all of the time, can't bend over.
Maternity clothes? I'm getting sick of them!
Sleep: ugh, what's that? I'm up pretty much every hour or two
Best moment this week: Maternity photos (2 separate session!) and my shower in Cleveland
Sex of the baby: Surprise!
Labor Signs: I can't tell if I'm having Braxton Hicks contractions or regular contractions... I haven't felt anything.
Belly Button in or out? It's about 1/4 popped! I'm guessing it will be fully out by the time I have the baby
What I miss: ease of movement, being able to sleep anywhere, going out.
Movement: I'm feeling more movement than ever!
What I am looking forward to: Finishing the nursery and getting everything ready for baby to come home.
Milestones: My showers and maternity photos seem like milestones.
Words of Wisdom: document your pregnancy however you can. It's surprising how much you forget and how fast your belly grows. I'm so glad I've taken belly pictures every week.


What's going on with Baby?

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that 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.

Letter to Baby 33 weeks 4 days

Dear Little P,
Are things getting a little cramped in there? It seems like I can now feel every little twitch you make whereas before I could only feel the big movements. I feel you stretching and rolling, banging your fists waaaay down low, and trying to push your little foot out of my belly button. That's not the exit, by the way. I can't believe that our time together as a unit is coming to an end. I'm ridiculously excited to meet you but I'd be lying if I said that I won't miss having you safe inside me as an extension of my own body. I can't believe my body could help create something as unique and amazing as you!
I hope you keep baking for at least 3-4 more weeks but if, by chance, you showed up before then, I think Daddy and I would be ready for you. We have clothes for you to wear (although no teeny tiny clothes so keep growing in there!), a car seat for you, a place for you to sleep and Mommy will be your 24 hour buffet for the first year so we have food covered as well! You've got a pretty sweet deal that you're coming into.
This week we put together more stuff in your room. I wish they made your swing in my size! I'd swing every day! Your stroller is pretty bad ass and your car seat is in Mommy's favorite color combo, red and black of course! It matches all of our luggage too. :)  Seeing all of your gear and imagining you using it makes you seem so much more real as an outside baby!
I keep imagining what you'll look like when you come out. Even though I've always wanted a baby who looks like me, I imagine you with dark hair like your Daddy's. Maybe you'll surprise us but I guess I'm going with the most likely scenario here. After the dark hair I get kind of stuck! Will you have Daddy's full lips? Mommy's pointy nose? Mommy's weird toes? Daddy's long eyelashes? Will your eyes be brown or blue/green? Genetics actually gives you a chance for blue eyes thanks to blue eyed Grandpa Crane! Will you have a Crane butt or a Phelps butt? Will you be a hybrid who makes all of these features completely your own? I can't wait to see.
You are already the light of our lives, we talk about you constantly and have been dreaming dreams for you since before we ever knew you'd arrive. Keep growing in there, remember you're supposed to be a July baby and I'm sure you already have a little iPhone calendar going in there so keep your eye on mid to late July, alright?

Love you forever and forever,
Mommy

33 Weeks

How far along? 33 weeks
Total weight gain: 25lbs
Symptoms: Occasional heartburn, having to pee all of the time and eat all of the time.
Maternity clothes? I'm either in maternity clothes or pajamas.
Sleep: ugh, what's that?
Best moment this week: putting together the stroller, swing etc and imagining Baby C using them!
Sex of the baby: Surprise!
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? eek, I think it's starting to pop out on one side! It's especially funny looking because it's the only part of my belly that isn't tan from Mexico!
What I miss: ease of movement
Movement: Baby moves all the time, it feels like s/he is running out of space in there!
What I am looking forward to: We leave for Cleveland on Friday for another shower. I'm so excited to see my aunts, grandma, cousins and Ohio friends. Not particularly looking forward to the 6 hour drive though!
Milestones: Belly button popping out seems like a milestone!
Words of Wisdom: Don't wish away your pregnancy!

What's going on with Baby?

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

32 Weeks

How far along? 32 weeks
Total weight gain: 24lbs
Maternity clothes? I've been living in my Old Navy tank tops, yoga pants, gauchos and jersey knit skirts.
Sleep: Still up every 2-3 hours but I've been sleeping well in between.
Best moment this week: My baby shower last week was fantastic.
Sex of the baby: Surprise!
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In, but it's getting more shallow!
What I miss: ease of movement
Movement: Baby moves all the time, I even got it on video this week
What I am looking forward to: I'm shooting a wedding today and I think it's going to be great, but I'm looking forward to it being over. I think I will be exhausted.
Milestones: Our crib was delivered this week! Crazy!
Words of Wisdom: It's a fine line between pushing yourself and over doing it. It's ok to walk that line sometimes but be careful and drink lots of water! :)

What's going on with Baby:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

31 weeks

How far along? 31 weeks
Total weight gain: 20lbs, been holding steady the past few weeks.
Maternity clothes? I just want to wear pajamas... haha
Sleep: Still up every 2-3 hours but I've been sleeping well in between.
Best moment this week: Kelly coming to visit
Sex of the baby: Surprise!
Labor Signs: None.
Belly Button in or out? In, but it's getting more shallow! it's really weird looking :)
What I miss: Feeling like I have control over my own body.
Movement: Baby moves all the time, feeling these movements is the best part of my days.
What I am looking forward to: My baby shower, seeing my mom and sister and my friends!
Milestones: nothing major. Everything is measuring on track though.

Words of Wisdom:Appreciate your husband!

What's going on with Baby:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

30 weeks

How far along? 30 weeks
Total weight gain: 20lbs, haven't gained weight in a few weeks.
Maternity clothes? Still hating my maternity jeans. I also hate my bras. Pretty annoyed with all of my clothes right now actually.
Sleep: Afternoon naps are my friend, especially with all of this moving stuff going on!
Best moment this week: Moving into our new apartment, it's so strange and wonderful to be living in the place we will be living when I go into labor, and when we bring our baby home!
Sex of the baby: Surprise!
Labor Signs: None, not even Braxton Hicks.
Belly Button in or out? In, but it's getting more shallow!
What I miss: It's been tough moving and not being able to carry as much as usual and feeling tired so quickly. So I miss my 'old self' with stamina etc.
What I am looking forward to: Being unpacked and totally moved in. Also, Kelly coming to town for my shower
Milestones: The baby's room is all painted and ready to go. Baby has a whole ROOM!
Words of Wisdom: You don't have to be superwoman, let people help you!


What's going on with Baby:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)