36 Weeks

Evan is about 6 pounds and still roughly the size of a honeydew melon. He'll be full term in one week! He's almost completely developed, but his lungs could still use some growing time.

I lost my mucus plug 2 days ago. There was no blood at all, so I know that it may still be a few weeks before labor kicks in. Duh. lol But I am hoping that losing it so early will mean an early delivery, especially since he is so low already. We'll see! My next appointment is tomorrow afternoon and I'm eager to see if any progress has been made.

We have the nursery almost ready! I'll post pictures as soon as it's complete. We set up the bedding and most of the wall decor. Things are pretty much organized. On Friday we have a shower at Matt's office. We're waiting until after that to buy the final things for the nursery such as sheets for the Pack n Play (that Evan is going to sleep in the first few weeks since I want him to be in the room with us then), sheets for the crib, the changing pad covers, bath tub and other bath and health supplies, etc. The car seat just arrived today (we got it for 15% off!). I was disappointed that the box was completely smushed. Part of me wonders if we should send it back, but Matt is pretty sure that another box was placed on top of our box which made it sink in on one side where there is empty space inside. We still haven't opened it up because we're considering sending it back. I have a feeling we'll keep it though... Matt's right, it doesn't really look like it was beat up or anything, just that something was on top of it. And the side where the car seat is just under the surface of the box is fine. It is a good feeling to have it though! Now I just have to clean out the car!

I've been having a weird experience the past week. I'm popping! lol There are popping/snapping noises coming from my belly. It's not my joints popping, it isn't my ribs or hips or anything, it's coming from inside my belly, where Evan is. It only happens when he moves. Not every time, but several times a day. I've looked it up online and one large theory (this does happen to other women!) is that it is the baby's joints popping. No one knows for sure and a lot of doctors claim that it doesn't happen and is all in the woman's head (which is ridiculous, I've talked to several women, including my SIL, who heard it towards the ends of their pregnancies), but it that theory sounds feasible to me. Another theory is that it is the woman's ligaments stretching, but I'd think I would be able to feel that or that then it would happen when I move. I can be sitting still not moving a muscle and he'll move and I'll hear it.

I've been having cramps the past couple of days. Also, the nerves in my legs have been pinched some days. I've been so lucky this entire pregnancy to not have much back or leg pain, but it's catching up with me now. Also, my feet have finally started swelling. Not all that much, but my Rainbow flip flops are a little too tight now and my mom noticed that my feet are "fat" yesterday without me pointing it out. lol They really aren't that bad, most people would never know. My shin splints are acting up again and my feet are sore a lot, but that's to be expected as I keep getting bigger.

Monday and yesterday I was at my grandparents' house near Charleston, SC with my mom. Matt and my dad were both out of town Monday night, so we decided to go down to visit. Of course, it was during the hottest days of the year so far! We've had a very cool summer here in Charlotte, the highs most days have been in the mid-80s! However, the past couple of days, in Charlotte and Charleston, the temperature has been closer to 100. It was 100 in Charleston yesterday while we were out on a boat on the Edisto River. We're crazy! There wasn't a cloud in the sky, which was beautiful, but HOT. I drank a lot of water, but didn't go to the bathroom for hours because I was sweating so much. But it was so worth it, I love going out on the boat. It's beautiful there and it's very relaxing to lean back in the seat with the wind blowing my hair back, snacking on boiled peanuts.

At one point I was a little worried when we were close to the ocean and the water got a little rough and the boat slammed up and down a couple of times. Granddaddy turned around and slowed down pretty quickly though. It woke Evan up and he started kicking and squirming. My grandma kept saying, "Stay in there, baby! Don't bounce out!" My granddad said, "I don't want to deliver a baby today!" lol Maybe it just kind of bounced him closer to delivery. ;-) Afterwards I was a little worried that maybe that was too rough, but he's been very active since then and I haven't noticed anything weird, so I think it was alright.

We had such a great trip, my grandparents are very excited about Evan coming. I hadn't realized how much my granddad loves babies. I noticed he kept grinning really big when I'd mention Evan kicking or moving around. I told my mom how glad I am that he seems excited, and she said, "oh yeah! He loves babies!!" I guess I learn something new everyday. My dad also felt Evan move for the first time over the weekend. I was so happy that he didn't even have to wait to feel anything, he put his hand on my belly and Evan kicked right away. My dad was pretty excited about that! It makes me happy to see family members being involved and eager to meet the new addition.

Tomorrow we are meeting with a group of pediatricians. They don't normally attend the hospital we're delivering at, but we're going to try to work it out with them. I hope we can, because I've heard several great recommendations for them from our midwife and from some friends of ours. I'll let y'all know how it goes and post a 36 week picture then!