We are officially FULL TERM!

How Far along? 37 WEEKS! Noah is a full term baby as of today!
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Is it honestly fair to make a pregnant lady weigh herself the day after Thanksgiving? However, I did step on the scale and I weigh the same as last week! so no change and still about 41lbs heavier that pre-pregnancy.
Stretch Marks? Yeah as I explained last week, the dreaded stretch marks showed up. However mine are not crater like so far and I am praying that they stay that way and maybe even fade after Noah is born.
Best Moment this Week: The end of child birth classes! And Thanksgiving of course. We have so much to be thankful for with this pregnancy and the upcoming arrival of Noah.
Food Cravings: Not really anything I can think of.
Gender: All Boy.
Labor Signs: Well let's just say I don't have a clue. I think it is still just fatigue and BH contractions, but who knows. There are times that my belly feels SO heavy and hard for long periods of time and my back aches forever it makes me wonder, but I haven't had any other signs, so maybe the Doctor can tell us more on Tuesday.
Belly Button: Still in.
What I Miss: Being able to bend over comfortably...it is pretty hard to do with a hard belly in your way!
What I Am Looking Forward To: Giving Birth...and yes I mean that literally. I am slightly scared but excited and I am looking forward to seeing what my body can do. I know that sounds odd, but I truly think the whole process is a miracle.
Weekly Wisdom: Ask for help...There is no point in doing everything yourself at this point in time. Also let a little bit of the house work go if it makes your day that much easier!
Milestones: We Made it to Full Term without any complications thus far! Now to make it through Labor and Delivery the same way!

36 Weeks..28 days left!

How Far Along? 36 weeks
Total Weight Gain/Loss? Whoever said you are suppose to stop gaining weight in your last month either was delusional or really lucky. Unfortunately I just stepped on the scale for this blog and needless to say I am an additional 5 lbs heavier than last week! What the hell? So I think I am about 41 lbs heavier altogether now. Sweet Jesus. I keep hoping for a small baby, but I might just change my mind and wish for a big one so he can take some of this weight with him!
Stretch Marks? Unfortunately I think the damn stretch mark demon got me, but luckily for now they are hair line thin and few. Hopefully the liquid Vitamin E oil last another 4 weeks! I almost think it might have been better to get them earlier on so at least I couldn't have the thought that "I was so close to the end without them!"
Best Moment This Week? I don't think anything big or life changing happened this last week, and honestly the best moment just had to be going on a date with my husband. Besides Noah's movements and our inseparable time together, Wes and I did find two sweet deals at Babies R Us. First we got a really nice Chicco highchair for $80.00 (normally $150.00) and a Graco Playard for $40.00 (normally the cheapest you can find is about $70.00). I followed those two good deals up with some cheap cheap cheap clothes purchases for when he is a little older. I am talking $2.00 pants, PJ sets and outfits. I didn't go overboard, but you have to take advantage of deals that are to good to pass up! I also won a door prize, got $75.00 worth of brand new baby goods and a $25.00 gift card for torturing myself through a child prep class here on base! Oh the things I do for a good deal!
Food Cravings? Funny enough with all the weight gain the biggest cravings I have had are still for salads! lol...ironic....although I did make Homemade Dark Chocolate Chip cookies this last week as well...but we will avoid talking about those! :)
Gender? Noah is still a boy as far as I know.
Labor Signs: No and If I am having Braxton Hicks Contractions I can't tell. Hopefully that is not a sign that labor is no where in sight! I feel like I want to be checked so at least I have an idea of what is going on down there in Lady Land, but the doctors here take a very non-invasive approach to labor so I am going with the flow. No more information will be given until after our next apt on Dec. 1st. and they might check might not...time will tell.
Belly Button: Still in.
What I Miss: The ease of movement. I am starting to feel stiffer and really wish now I would have found and paid for a prenatal yoga class, but we had goals of paying off some bills and you give up things to make your goals. Lord knows it is perfect timing though because the bills will be paid off right before Noah is due, and I am going to the spa after his arrival!
What I am looking forward to: The ENDING of the Child Birth Education Classes! And No I am pretty sure I am not taking part in the Pizza party they are having next week during class nor am I signing up to come back for a reunion once everyone has had their babies! BA-HUMBUG! I mean honestly is it just me being a scrooge, or are we all a little to old to be doing shit like this with people we don't even know?
Weekly Wisdom: If you do enough of your own research you probably don't need to torture yourself with Child Birth Classes. And if the classes run to long feel free to walk out...I personally think it is much more rude for the instructors to keep a bunch of pregnant ladies in uncomfortable chairs over dinner (5-8pm)time for 3 hours when we were told the classes were suppose to be 2 hours!
Milestones: Getting to the last 28 days. :) Being so close to meeting Noah and yet feeling so far away!

A Complete and Utter Realization of Reality

Yesterday Wesley and I went on a long overdue date just the two of us. It lasted all day and I had an absolutely wonderful time. He wandered through the craft fair here on Hickam with me which we then followed with Lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings. After Lunch we took a stroll through the Waikiki Aquarium to look at the different sea life here in Hawaii. We sipped on Peppermint Mochas at Starbucks. Watched Couple's Retreat at the Theatre. Went shopping at Babies r Us and Walmart for a few needed items. And spent time just enjoying each others company before calling it a night and heading to bed.
Wes thinks part of me had an alternative motive for this date since it landed on the same weekend we got engaged two years ago (which yes of course I reminded him :) but the truth is that was just by chance. I honestly just wanted to spend some quality time dating my husband again before the baby comes.
As our night was coming to a close and we were driving over to the Babies R Us store in Pearl City it really made me think about life a little.
When we are younger we think that we can plan our whole life out to be perfect. I for one wanted to be married by the time I was 22-23 years old to a tall, dark haired, dark eyed man, have my first kid by the time I was 25 and number two by the time I was 27. I never dreamed that I would live in Hawaii, but did think I might make it here on vacation eventually. I always thought that I would be a working woman and my family would be around to help out with the day care of the kids. Etc. etc.
Last night made me so happy when I realized that all the things I had dreamt of when I was younger didn't come true. Instead I got married to my Blonde haired, blue eyed, only two inches taller than me, but never the less handsome husband at the ripe age of 28. Followed by not having my first kid until after the age of 29, with no clue when a second baby might even follow! I actually LIVE in Hawaii, didn't just come for a week long vacation to make me poor...instead I get three years of being poor in paradise :). I have no plans of returning to work anytime soon while we are here or while I have kids at home, and unfortunately we live the furthest we can away from my family while still living in the United States...so no help with Child Care there.
But despite all the differences between what I dreamt of my life when I was younger, compared to the reality of it all now, I honestly wouldn't change a thing. I love my husband with all of my heart and couldn't imagine ever being happier with my life, my marriage or my family. I love the fact that I get to experience being a stay at home wife and mother and all the love, trials and tribulations that will come with that responsibility.
Needless to say I am so Thankful that all of my "childhood" dreams didn't come true, and that God handed me a much better Reality than I could have ever dreamt of.

35 weeks!

How Far Along? 35 weeks closer to meeting our little miracle.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think it is still about 35-36 lbs.
Maternity Cloths: Yep
Stretch Marks? I haven't seen any changes in the spot from last week and no other signs of them starting, but I do think the one area is a tiny tiny stretch mark...Time will tell.
Best Moment this week: Hearing Noah's heartbeat again at the Doctor's appt. Knowing he is still head down and learning that all his hiccups means he is breathing and getting ready to breathe when he comes to meet us :)
Food Cravings: Still Salads if I had to say something.
Gender: Still Boy :)
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button: Pretty sure at this point in time it is staying in. There has been no significant changes in it in weeks and would still have a far ways to go in the next 5 weeks.
What I Miss: Besides some of the obvious from last week...I think I just miss my normal energy level and feeling like I can't stand up for extended periods of time without moving around, I just get achy in the hips and stuff.
What I am Looking Forward To: Holding Noah in my arms and knowing that Wes and I created this little miracle.
Weekly Wisdom: Sometimes letting yourself cry for no reason at all is the best remedy for feeling crappy and getting over it.
Milestones: Everything that has taken place over the last 35 weeks that pretains to this pregnancy and baby.

34 weeks...holy cow

How Far Along? 34 weeks...only 6ish to go!
Total Weight Gain/Loss: still holding steady at 35 lbs!
Maternity cloths? Yes
Stretch Marks? Ummm...I am thinking there might actually be one started...I will keep an eye on it and let you know next week :( Needless to say the liquid vitamin E oil and baby lotion will be in full gear from here on out!
Best Moment This Week: Just feeling new/different movements and having Noah push his feet out on my side.
Food Cravings: Salads, Salads Salads... and i can finally eat them without feeling sick!
Gender: BOY!
Labor Signs: I might have had a few Braxton Hicks contractions but other than that no.
Belly Button In or Out? IN
What I Miss: LOL...oh I could name a million things here right now...being able to get up off the couch without feeling like a whale, having no hip pain, being able to bend easily, being able to shave easily, not getting winded when I really haven't done much, being able to stay awake past 9 or 930pm without feeling like I was going into a coma, not peeing 5+ times in the middle of the night, being heartburn free...I am sure I could keep going, but honestly I would do it all again to be given this chance to be Noah's momma.
What I am Looking Forward to: Hopefully the birthing classes being better this week. I was disappointed last week, so we will see how this week goes. And how could I not say getting ready to meet Noah! Also our appointment next week...This one feels like the beginning of the end because I believe they start checking for labor signs from here on out and we start going every two weeks instead of 4!
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy doing all the extra projects that you want to get done now, before the baby comes because who knows when you will have that much time to yourself again.
Milestones: Making it 34 weeks without any major meltdowns or mishaps. Just being healthy overall and knowing and trusting in the Lord that everything is fine and healthy with baby Noah!