WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22nd,2017

 39 Weeks

Baby is the size of:

  Baby girl is about the size of a small pumpkin! She is fully grown now, is just about ready to be born and is now considered to be full term! Baby is probably between 19-21 inches tall and anywhere from 7-8 lbs. 

 Symptoms:

•  I find that I'm most sore after siting/laying for a while or after coming back from walks. So basically what I'm saying is...I'm always sore!! 
• As for contractions, either I haven't really had any OR mine just feel like mild cramping. They come and go but nothing is lasting or progressing at this point. If I'm lucky like my mom was, mild cramping is all I'll ever feel! Only time will tell I guess. 
• We are still out curbing and walking at least once a day! Ethan can be a real brutal walking/curbing coach...jk but he really just wants her to come! 
• At last weeks appointment I wasn't effaced at all but I was dilated to a 1.5. I know that's not much, but at least it's progress. Fingers crossed I'm dilated even more this week! 
• I finally measured at 37 weeks so I didn't need an ultrasound after all. Odds are she'll just be small or I just measure weird. 
• After getting my membranes stripped last week, I cramped for a day or so but they never progressed past that. I will say, it didn't really hurt at all. Uncomfortable? Yes. Hurt/Painful? No. At this weeks appointment I will be getting them stripped again and hope for the best!

Next Doctor Appointment:

Tuesday, November 27th, 2017 

@ Fort Gordon Hospital

with a new Dr. because mine is out of town for the week!

Best moment this week:

• On Saturday Ethan and I went on what could possibly be our last date because he will be in the field all this week so the next time I really see him could be on our way to the hospital. We went and tried this ice cream shop called the Pink Dipper that had been recommended to us and a walk at a place called Brick Pond Park.

Thanksgiving Military Style

This year for Thanksgiving being 39 weeks pregnant meant no traveling home for us so we decided to stay at Fort Gordon and make the most of the Holiday with our Military family. Honestly, I wasn't too excited to not be with family back home but I knew that at least I was blessed to get to be with Ethan for Thanksgiving. 

Turns out we got three Thanksgiving meals this year! The first and best, in my opinion, was with our branch family on Sunday for our Linger Longer after church. In fact, the Saturday before, all the sisters/wife's in the ward( so 4 of us) went to the Relief Society President's farmhouse and made 13 pies for the Soldiers. 

We learned so many tips and tricks to pie making and got a fun little tour of the farm on her little golf cart. Talk about an exciting & slightly terrifying ride with two pregnant ladies on the back!

 The second Thanksgiving Meal was on Tuesday put on by the military at one of their Cafeteria's. They really went all out, decorating the hall, having some superiors serve in their dress blues, a DJ and Holiday music, and two tables completely filled with fruits and chocolate! And check out that ice sculpture....of an eagle or turkey, I never could decide. Still impressive right!? My favorite part surprisingly was the unlimited chocolate milk and eggnog! :)  Our last meal was on Thanksgiving with about 20 students who also couldn't make it home for the holiday. Sadly, that one was probably the least exciting. I mean think about it, 20ish young male and mostly single students trying to plan and cook a Thanksgiving meal without their wives or mothers...it was pretty much as expected. haha Let's just say it made me really appreciate my mothers cooking and the blessing of being able to normally spend every holiday with family that much more!

Ethan killed it in the Traditional Military Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl! 

The weekend before thanksgiving Ethan's class held their final Dining-Out Dinner to celebrate their course coming to an end! Check out my handsome squinty eyed husband! I am so proud of the hard work and dedication he put into this course for the last four months and all while putting up with a pregnant homesick wife too! He's the real hero!  Two more weeks people!!!

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH,2017

38 Weeks

Baby is the size of:

  Baby girl is about the size of a spaghetti squash! Almost 7 lbs and over 19.5 inches as an estimate. At this point, all her organs are functioning on their own and she could be welcomed into the world anytime now. Although we are trying not to get our hopes up in case she already has plans to stay in there until she's forced out. 

 Symptoms:

•  I have to admit, I thought I would feel worse by this point. Don't get me wrong, I am sore and tired most often but nothing terrible.
• I haven't had any known contractions yet. We did start curbing (when you walk one foot on the curb the other off, so you're walking unbalanced.) My sister swears by it to get the baby moved down into position so we're giving it a try. Anyways, I did start having either contractions or just cramping while doing that so at least something is happening. 
• HEARTBURN. "This baby is gonna be so worth it" -Me
• Warning TMI: I was checked yesterday on Tuesday and show no signs of dilation yet, but am very soft. After being checked I was spotting and show signs that my mucus plug is on it's way out! TMI...I warned you!  
• I notice my stomach getting really tight one moment and then soft the next, so I'm assuming that's contractions but not hurting so I'm not complaining! 
• At my last checkup I was measuring at 36 weeks for the third week in a row, so If I am still measuring at 36 weeks next week, my doctor will order another ultrasound. I am also scheduled to get my membranes stripped on my next visit!

Next Doctor Appointment:

Tuesday, November 21st 

@ Fort Gordon Hospital

Best moment this week:

• Realizing we are two weeks out! Give or take a week! If she doesn't come on her own, we are getting induced on either Dec. 4th or 5th, which is when my parents will be getting here! That's the one plus side of going past my due date!
• Ethan bought a car!! He has been searching for the past three and a half months that we've been out here, which has meant traveling a few hours each weekend to go test drive cars. I'm proud of his decision though because he originally just wanted a "fun to drive", two-door car but after researching and giving our growing family some thought he found the perfect car for him and our family. 

Happiness to Ethan right now is the smell of a new car!

2015 Ford Focus ST (Sports Edition)

Savannah Round Two

Giving the fact that we have two four day weekends off from Ethan's course this month and one of them being Thanksgiving & less than a week before the due date, we decided to head to Savannah one last time! Savannah is such a beautiful town and one that we will always miss. 

- Mirabelle Suites & Cafe -

This trip to Savannah we were accompanied by two friends Justin & Noah from Ethan's course. We took them to some of our favorite places from last time and then a few new places to all of us. One of our favorites was this adorable little diner called the Mirabelle Suites and Cafe. This place is a gem hidden in plain sight right across the street from the Cathedral. They serve delicious panini's, sweet or savory waffles and the richest hot cocoa. And as a bonus this weekend we got there just in time to watch the Savannah Veterans Day parade from the warmth of the front window. They put on quite the production that lasted about 2 hours! The streets of downtown Savannah are already magically breathtaking, then you throw a parade of honored veterans to the mix and it's unforgettable.

 

- National Museum of the Mighty Eigth Air Force -

When you're traveling with three soldiers on Veterans Day you have to make the most of it and stop at an Air Force Museum, even if none of them are in the Air Force. ;) It was a really impressive museum though and we even got in for free. To these three it was like Toyland. 

Friday night we found this awesome bar (no mom, we didn't drink) called Savannah Smiles Dueling Pianos. This late-night dueling-piano saloon with songs selected by the audience & a delicious pub-grub menu was such a hit and one I definitely recommend checking out if you're ever in Savannah.  

The rest of the trip was filled with roaming the River Street Market and downtown Savannah. Which may sound relaxing and enjoyable...unless you're a 37-week pregnant woman! I could have sworn after all the walking this weekend the baby was on her way out! I have never been sorer in my life. However, given the ultimatum, I would much rather walk the endless streets of Savannah with this hunk than sitting on base all weekend. 

WEDNESDAY, November 1st,2017

36 Weeks

Down to the last month of pregnancy?!?!? Woah!!

Baby is the size of:

  Baby girl is the size of a papaya and somewhere close to 19 inches and 6 lbs. I think she feels as though she's running out of room and making the most of her movements while she can! 

 Symptoms:

•  I'm afraid Heartburn will always be first on this list! Luckily, IF I avoid too much sugar or chocolate it's bearable with the stronger meds my doctor prescribed.
• My body is getting a lot slower and doing somewhat of a waddle as the baby is starting to descend.
• I believe she is already a little feisty! She absolutely hates it when my belly touches anything. Especially laying in bed next to Ethan, she'll literally kick him if my belly touches his back. She also tried to kick the doctors monitor off my belly when he was checking the heartbeat last week. ;)
• I am tired now...ALL THE TIME! I never do feel like I've had enough sleep. 
• I've noticed the soreness set in each day as my body is loosening up and getting ready to have this baby! 
• My feet/legs fall asleep really easily. I lost the ability to cross my legs a month or two ago, but if I have my foot underneath me on the chair, it falls asleep almost immediately. 

Best moment this week:

• Getting to have our last ultrasound and see her adorable little profile while sucking her thumb! The main goal of this ultrasound was to make sure baby was in fact head down and no intervention would be needed to flip her. Thank heavens she was head down and face up! Let's hope she stays that way!

• We celebrated our last Halloween as a family of 2.5. Part of me wishes she was here to dress up but the other part is glad she will be almost one this time next year and much more fun during all the holidays! 

• We received our breast pump + all of the supplies for FREE from Tricare. What a blessing military insurance has been for us and this pregnancy. :) Now just keeping our fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly with breastfeeding. 

• We, baby + me, survived accompanying dad in a Suicide Awareness Walk for a service project. It rained on us the entire walk but that really seemed to fit the mood of the event. 

Next Doctors Appointment:

Tuesday, November 7th, 2017 

@ Fort Gordon Hospital 
(the first of weekly appointments!)

Extras from this week:

• At my 36 week checkup, my Doctor informed me that I can have my membranes stripped on week 38. Basically, two more weeks and things are gonna get real!

• We went out with some friends for Karaoke last weekend and Ethan had no problem getting up there on stage! He LOVES karaoke!

COUNTDOWNS:

      To baby:        To Graduation:     Parents Coming:

27 Days +/-        36 days            33 days