Things are starting to look different around here

I'm not the only thing changing on a daily basis around here...our house is also undergoing a transformation! Although at 37 weeks, I'm not sure baby Akin has much more room to grow.

Here's a picture taken this past weekend:


It's been awhile since I've posted stats, so here are the latest from my 36 week appointment:
Weight gained to date: 22 pounds
Baby's size: At 37 weeks, he is now more than 6 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches,
Interesting baby fact: Now that we've reached the 37 week mark he's officially "full term" and his lungs are strong enough to be born now.
Baby's heart rate: 138
Overall health: I continue to be slower in my daily tasks and I haven't been able to sleep a full night through without a trip to the restroom in quite some time. But my feet and hands have experienced minimal swelling, and I can still wear my wedding rings (for now!).
Best part of the two last weeks: Seeing my stomach take on a life of its own as Graham fights for space...Taylor and I will sit mesmerized and watch him move and wiggle. We can't wait to meet him. ;)

After three showers and the many very generous gifts bestowed upon us by friends and family, our once spacious home to two is beginning to be filled up with items for baby. I'll post pictures of the nursery soon, but here's a few other ways our house is changing:


The cradle swing is set up and ready to go in our living room.



The pack and play is set up next to our bed for those first few weeks of very frequent feedings.

The are just two small ways our home now looks like it's ready for a baby...there's also the baby tub in the bathroom, a whole shelf in our pantry dedicated to Graham's items, parenting books strewn across various rooms, and the all important hospital bag packed and ready to go.

It's almost time! :)

A different kind of bump

Over the last week, I've had multiple people tell me that I've grown. Now, I prefer hearing the expression that the "baby" has grown, but it does seem as if my body has saved its pregnancy growth for the last few weeks.

This has presented a bit of a problem as I've tried to adapt to my new silhouette. Spaces I'm used to easily fitting in (or through) are no longer so easy to maneuver. I've found I can't squeeze into little parking spots any longer...not because the Honda can't fit, but because I need plenty of room to embark upon the 10 step process it now takes to get myself out of the car.

This growth has also meant I've been bumping into more walls than usual, and if you know how graceful I am on an everyday basis, you realize that that means a lot of walls. I find myself frequently apologizing to my stomach for yet again bumping into something when I thought I had plenty of clearance.

I've started preemptively apologizing to our son, as I know I'm only going to get bigger and this clumsiness is only going to get worse. Hopefully he'll be born with his daddy's sure footing and not his mom's clumsiness!

The Recap of Weeks 32 and 33

Somehow in the last few weeks since posting, it became July and I turned 30. In what was seemingly the blink of an eye. I think time is going faster with each passing day and it's hard to believe we're under the six weeks to go mark.

During week 32 I took the APR exam, which is to become Accredited in PR. It was something that has been on my list for awhile, but seeing as how "my list" is becoming shorter while "the baby's list" is becoming longer, I thought I should get it done before he arrives. The next week I received my official results that I passed the exam, and I am so relieved to have that accomplishment behind me. With so much time spent studying for the exam, week 32 passed very quickly.

Week 33 was a true whirlwind of a week. With a trip to Titusville for my baby shower, Krista's bridal shower and my maternity pictures by Melody and Champ, it took me a little while to recover. It's the first time I've noticed that I'm beginning to tire more easily and that I don't quite have the same stamina. I told Taylor that this "growing a baby thing" is taking a lot out of me these days.

Here are a few of the wonderful maternity pictures Melody and Champ captured. I'm so thankful to them for documenting this journey.




The baby shower was absolutely wonderful. I've been so touched by the generosity shown by our friends and family and the shower really showed that to me again. It was so much fun to come home and unpack all of his presents in the nursery with Taylor.

I am going to the doctor every two weeks now. Here's the 33 week stats:
Weight gained to date: 18 pounds
Baby's size: He is now 4 pounds and is 17 inches long.
Interesting baby fact: He is losing the wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening.
Baby's heart rate: 156
Overall health: The good news is that he's dropped a bit, relieving some of the pressure on my ribs and lungs. While I continue to feel good overall, I'm definitely tiring easily and have to temper what I think I can accomplish in a day with what I actually can accomplish in a day.
Best part of the two last weeks: Seeing many great friends and family in Titusville for the shower. I had such a great time and felt so amazingly loved.