34 Weeks

How far along: 34 weeks
Gender: One soon-to-be very well-dressed baby GIRL!
Weight gain:  26 pounds 
Maternity clothes: Not as many as you would think for how big my belly is getting.
Stretch marks:  Nope.
Belly button in or out: In. Wedding ring is long gone...
Sleep: I basically sleep in two-hour stretches.  My bladder and my 22 mo. old are apparently working together to try and prepare me for a newborn.  Thank goodness for the times M steps in and takes over (with the 22 mo. old, not the bladder)!
Worst moment these past two weeks: These have been a BIG few weeks!  And besides the sleeping issues, there haven't been a lot of "worst" moments.  Still, the internal battle over how much to push with the perinatology office has not been fun.
Best moment(s) these past two weeks: Lots of them!  My last day of work, C LOVING wearing underwear and being potty trained, A transitioning to cloth diapers really well, good non-stress tests, starting back with yoga for this poor, pregnant body of mine, and having an actual perinatologist unexpectedly come in to see me and having a decent conversation about options other than cesarean delivery (then having her call an hour later and say she was re-reviewing my chart and wants to do a complete scan to make notes of baby's body and limb positioning before we make any decisions).  All of THIS is what I've been waiting for!  (But especially the perinatologist part!)
Miss anything: A small belly.  Everyone closest to me (M and the boys) have commented on how big it is.  [C said "it's just going to get bigger!" And I said "yes, and then she'll come out and it won't anymore." And he said "Then you'll get skinny!" and I said "yes!! Let's do that!]
Ultrasound count to date:  We've had a total of 12 ultrasounds!  Whoa!
Movement: Yes, but not as often or as large now that she's settled into one position (still face down, head down).  Still, this girl moves a lot more than you'd expect, and I can feel her back and butt moving across my belly like a metronome, counting down the weeks and days until we get to meet each other.  It's great!
Cravings: Not really.  But I'm getting ready to make some canteloupe popsicles and banana bread, so maybe those subliminally?
Queasy or sick: A little "off" if I eat too much, especially in the mornings. Or if I go too long in the afternoons without eating.  Weird. 
Looking forward to: The detailed ultrasound scan next week and seeing if attempting a normal delivery is going to be an option for us! 

**Update on perinatologist visit: When a doctor I've seen in the background since my first visit at the perinatology office walked into the NST room last Friday, I was VERY happy.  Not only was I finally officially meeting this doctor, but it was my chance to ask the questions that were swirling in my head.  She was of the opinion that vaginal delivery would not only be possible, but preferable.  Surprising to me, but she explained that cesarean is major surgery for me and, since they can only cut me open so much, does not necessarily guarantee best outcomes for the baby.  She said it's preferable to let baby try to find her own positioning on the way out, rather than being pulled or pushed to get her through an incision site.  She consulted with another perinatologist on site, and he agreed.  She said the c-section threshold would still be very low (either doc or me could "say the word" and we'd be there immediately), but I was just thrilled to have that option open back up.  I did express concern about her legs and how that would be done, but their consensus was the same. 

The doc then called back an hour later, and said "I don't know if you remember, but I did your first scan and noted the baby's positioning" and I told her she's sort of been in the background scenes since the beginning.  She said she had been reviewing everything and wants to have the positioning of everything before we make any decisions.  She said we want to "play it smart".  This doctor on that day was definitely a blessing!  I definitely have more questions (and so does M), but the fact that we're having this dialogue is fantastic.

Baby girl continues to look fantastic not only on her non-stress tests, but also on ultrasound.  Moving around and practicing breathing like crazy! 

~Nichole