35 Weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew). Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore (ya hear that Katelyn! now stop with the somersaults) , but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

36 days to go. We had our 34 week check up on Wednesday and all still is very well. He's going to check for dilation and to see what position she's in at our next visit on the 16th. I guess after the next visit my doc will pass me on to one of his partners since he's having that knee surgery sometime in late January. Doc did a preliminary check on my belly and said that it feels like her head is down, which is very good. He said nothing of her size which was surprising. I told Ryan to put Guinness Book of World Records on his cell phone just in case. I think she's going to be pretty big. So - that's the subject for our next poll!

We took Riley to get his portraits in the studio earlier this week and the photographer wanted to get some belly shots with him. The only problem was that I wasn't exactly dressed for it. We all had stayed with Memaw and Grandad a few nights this week since Ryan is repainting the condo. I had thought I had brought a plain white t-shirt to wear under my big sweater, but I didn't have it so I ended up having to grab one from Memaw that morning.

The only XL I could find at the time just happened to be one advertising Southern Comfort in very big letters. I had to take my sweater off for the photo we get every time with Riley looking over my shoulder. When I did, the photographer just kind of stared at me for a minute. Nothing says "redneck" more than wearing a Southern Comfort t-shirt at almost 9 months pregnant. It was pretty funny, but we obviously weren't able to get any belly shots. Every single shot that was halfway decent included the advert for whiskey. Oh well. I may have Ryan take a couple pics with Riley and Katelyn before she makes her debut.

Ryan is still saying she's going to be early and as Memaw and Grandad are departing for their 5 week trip this weekend, they are saying for her to stay put. Honestly, though, these 36 days can't pass quickly enough.

Things are very uncomfortable now and that discomfort is compounded by having to spend the majority of the day getting up from and down onto the floor with Riley. I'm sure I look about as graceful as a elephant. Actually, I shouldn't say that about elephants! I look more like a turtle who got flipped onto her back. And even Riley is having some issues with my ball-like shape. When I sit with him in my lap and he tries to recline, he shifts several times before he settles in, trying to make a mold around my big belly. Over the Christmas holiday, my brother-in-law asked me how it felt to be as pregnant as I was plus chasing Riley all over the place. I told him to put the biggest bowling ball he could find under his shirt and then go run a marathon.

Right now, I'm going to take a break. Riley is napping so we'll see if I can get a good 20 minute power nap in!!