Here is the list of recent events:
- My left hip hurts so bad it makes me limp! It's getting hard to make it up our stairs to get to the bathroom!
- I've given in to taking the elevator at the doctor's office.
- My hands swell some during the day and a lot at night.
- My knuckles always hurt when I wake up a few times each night.
- My wedding rings no longer fit. Even when my fingers don't appear to be swollen, my rings won't fit over my knuckle.
- I've developed what we often refer to as cankles or elephankles. My ankles swell even when I keep my feet up a lot, and they don't go down much at night anymore. See them below? Eww - I swear the pictures on this post get better.
- When I sit for any period of time, my ribs ache and burn. Baby is getting cramped, so her little rump has taken up residence in my rib cage on the right side. She loves pushing her little bum into my ribs!
- I've had to limit my intake of acid producing foods and completely swear off of soda due to heartburn. Delicious chocolate treats are about the only things I make exceptions for. :)
- My belly button is developing a slightly outward curve. Does that mean this little turkey is almost done? Ha! Turkey jokes. But seriously, stay strong, button!
- Even my maternity clothes have become uncomfortable. The belly band on my maternity jeans is uncomfortably tight and my maternity shirts with ruched sides are snug around my belly and too short to hide the aforementioned belly band. Why didn't anyone tell me this would happen at the end?!
On top of all that, I was sick this week with a sore throat and body aches (as if it didn't ache enough already). Worst timing ever. I'm feeling a bit better now, but some symptoms are still lingering.
I'm sure all of you ladies with kids know what I'm talking about because these complaints seem par for the course. I'm just hoping this little one decides to come soon. I have a friend whose wife was due on Christmas Eve, the day before me, and she went into labor yesterday and has a new baby today. That means today is my day, right? Ha! If only....
Anyway, I went to the doctor today, and everything is looking good. I tested negative for Group B Strep, so we won't have to worry about getting antibiotics during labor. The doctor estimates our baby to be about 6 lbs. 4 oz. right now, which she said is normal. After tomorrow night, our doctor has a couple weeks off from rounds at the hospital, so she most likely won't be at our delivery, but we still have appointments with her every week.
Even though it's gotten hard these last few weeks, I am so grateful for this fun, little girl! When she's not being a little rascal, kicking and pushing in places that hurt me, she is a lot of fun to be around (pun unintended but fitting). It's really fun feeling her little feet exploring in there. Here are a few short videos of the baby moving - there isn't any sound. It's kind of crazy to see her little stretches and wiggles and knobby feet swiping across my belly.
Oh, and this is a picture of my belly during a Braxton Hicks contraction. Sometimes they make my belly look so lop-sided! One of these times I just might fall over.
Here is the last picture I put on the blog (28 weeks) and what I look like now (37 weeks). My belly has definitely grown!
Jake and I are very excited to meet our little girl! We've waited for so long, and we just can't wait to see her little face and hold her in our arms! We've been gearing up for Christmas, and we hope she gets here in time to enjoy it with us. I'll leave you with a picture of our Christmas tree!
