J2!

today was the 34 week appointment. we're almost to the end, but it still seems so far away! UGH. but i just thought i could give all my blogger friends an update of the state of the uterus (i just crack myself up!!).

i have done my job the past few weeks at putting away fat stores for j2's future meals. the midwife asked today if i was worried about my weight gain (30 pounds) & i just sort of laughed & said 'no, that at first i was worried i wasn't gaining enough...addy made me put on nearly 50!'

j2's heart rate is 150 beats/minute; i forget if that means boy or girl (i think girl, according to the 'old wive's tales'). j2 is also head down now! in prime position for leaving it's cozy home. and the baby belly is measuring 34 cm, which means it's at the correct length & weight & all that great stuff.

the past 5 or 6 days i have been having some intense (at times) braxton-hicks contractions. the worst was last wednesday when my sister & i were waiting at the cheesecake factory for 70 minutes to be seated (it was their cheesecake sale day, we HAD to eat there) & that's when it all started...contractions every few minutes, but not consistent, then the back pain came, then the pelvic floor felt a bit pushed on... apparently, i should have gone to the hospital or at least called the midwives for a consultation. but i wanted some cheesecake! so i decided to wait it out. when i got home, i did some relaxing techniques & timed the contractions & they were all over the place, so i just thought it was okay. i mean, if i was going to go into labor, i would know within a few hours, so i just thought i might as well sleep while i could. the midwife didn't really like my explanation, however... ah well. so now i have some rules to go by according to the midwives at this practice. (i am just crossing my fingers hoping this means i may just have a baby earlier than 40 weeks!). no worries, i am not dilating & j2 is still snug in the cocoon.

addy likes to give j2 a 'good morning' kiss sometime in the morning & she also likes to pat the belly throughout the day. a few times when i've been talking to her about being a big sister & how we will have a baby in the house soon, she really seems to get it...she will look for confused or thoughtful for a moment & her eyes will get bigger. that's about as far as it goes with her though. she does enjoy changing her doll's clothes, diapers, & pretend feeding it. i think she will really enjoy being a big sister. however, when my shirt has popped up over the big baby belly, she does feel it is her job to pull my shirt back over the belly & then usually nods her head, as if she's thinking 'mama, don't be so indecent!' sometimes i just pull my shirt up to see what her reaction will be & it's usually the same. funny girl.

within the next week, we hope to get maternity photos & we will for sure put some up for all to see. only 5 1/2 more weeks!