36 weeks

*~36 weeks~*

In lieu of football season beginning I thought I would wear my gear ;)
Even though it obviously does not fit to well right now haha 

It's September, the month of baby girls due date!!! I am getting so excited to meet her. <3 

Due to being sick with a cold last week, I skipped my 35 week post so there is lots of catching up to do in this post! :) And I have LOTS of photos to share!

Size:  Baby girl is still packing on the pounds, an ounce a day to be exact. She now weighs almost 6 lbs and is more than 18 1/2 inches long, which is about the size of a head of romaine lettuce. Now here comes the gross part. So if you have a weak stomach just go ahead and skip ahead ;) She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. She swallows both of these substances, along with other things, resulting in a blackish mixture which will form the contents of her first bowel movement. 

Total weight gain/loss: I have lost a pound or two due to the fact that baby is taking up most of my tummy space so I always feel pretty full. I try and make sure that I eat a little something every couple of hours to keep up on me and babies nutrients. But again they haven't voiced any concern at my Dr. appointments so all is well as far as I'm concerned. :)

Maternity clothes: Just when I think my belly has stopped growing I wake up and It seems to have grown more over night, lol. I am just living in comfortable clothes, whether they fit properly or not, and just trying to make it through with what I have until her arrival. :)

I really am going to miss my baby bump "table" ;)

Gender: Girl, Harper Patrica <3  

Movement: Things have slowed down a tiny bit as she starts to really run out of "womb" in there. ;) I was concerned with this slow down but was then told that it was normal and that as long as I am feeling her move atleast 10 times throughout the day that all is well. She definitely moves way more times then that though so yay! <3

Sleep: I have this crazy sleeping pattern now where one night I will have a rough time sleeping and then the next night I will have a great night. It has been every other night like this for the past two weeks.  

What I miss: Being comfortable and being able to move around effortlessly. For example, getting on the floor to snuggle with the pups. 

Cravings: Whenever I'm hungry I crave things like ice cream, fruit and cookies! 

Symptoms: Nothing out of the normal back aches and just in general uncomfortableness. I had been getting very short of breath from time to time but as she continues to get lower I have been able to catch my breath better. I now have weekly doctor appointments until baby arrives. At the appointment that I had about two weeks ago I was 1 centimeter dilated! I know this doesn't really tell me anything about how soon she will arrive, since I can walk around at 1 centimeter for weeks, but it is nice to know that things are indeed progressing! YAY! :) 

Best moment this week: This past week we had two baby showers that were both such a blessing! We are so thankful for ALL those (including those who have just simply been following our blog :) ) who have helped us prepare and celebrate baby girl's arrival. :) We love you and feel truly blessed to have you in our lives! It brings so much comfort to us as soon-to-be parents to know that Harper is so loved by so many already. :) <3 God has been so good to us through out this pregnancy and with many of our own prayers and the prayers of others, I have felt such a sense of peace, which has been great as the nerves about the big delivery day have been coming and going a lot more these days, and I couldn't be more thankful! 
Now here come all those pictures that I mentioned before. :) Enjoy!!!

I'll start with the surprise baby shower that Tyler's co-workers threw for us :) 

Wonderful ladies preparing the shower as we waited to surprise Tyler :)

adorable <3

Now for Baby shower # 2, which was hosted by my friend Kristin and my sister Sarah, and held at our house. :) We didn't think to have someone take pictures through out the party but we did manage to capture shower details, the gift opening, and me with the kiddies. ;)  
(Just FYI, there is no order to these...)

Me and the girls I used to nanny for! <3
Love this picture

She was such a great little helper :)

All done :)
Opening gifts is a lot of work! haha 

Hannah being silly :p

<3