Thirty-Five Weeks.

My sweet baby girl,

With our baby shower over, I'm a little more calm about your arrival. Granted, we still have tons of organizing and wash to do, but we have just about everything we'll need once you're born. My belly moves in all kinds of ways now, but I still can't get your movements on video - you're too stubborn! That's okay, hopefully I'll catch them at some point. I love watching my belly move all around, your kicks and punches and stretches are so adorable. They haven't really hurt at all, and I don't think I've felt any shots to the ribs quite yet. 

Your head is down, which I thought, but the midwife we met on Wednesday confirmed it. I could tell when you had hiccups that I would feel them at the bottom of my belly, and most of the movements are at the top of my belly. I can tell the difference (I think) between movements from your legs and feet versus your hands and arms. Your upper extremities are much more gentle than your legs and feet. Mostly, I think I can tell because I know that your head is down, and I hope that you stay that way! Speaking of the midwife, I've wanted to have an appointment with one of the three that our hospital has, but just never got around to it. So this past appointment we finally met one, Kathy, and she was as nice as could be! Daddy even liked her! I'm really hoping that everything goes smoothly and we can have a midwife deliver you, but it's nice to know that if something happened we'd be in a hospital. Kathy was so nice and made sure I didn't have any questions, which I didn't at the time, but I do now. I'm planning on asking at my next appointment with another midwife, Shelly. Kathy said one midwife was on call every day, and it seems like I can have my choice of a midwife as long as she's available, but I'll be double checking that at my next appointment.

I still feel pretty good, although heartburn is becoming more frequent, but not terrible, just letting me know it's there. My hips hurt a little bit, but nothing major. Sleep is okay, but I think God is just preparing me for being up a ton with you! Still leaking, but that's a good sign. The only not so loved symptom this week? Stretch marks. They appeared overnight, but I'm thinking of them as battle scars of pregnancy, not a bad thing. They are my badge of honor that I'm growing you!

It seems like your length should be at where you'll be when you're born, and other than your lungs, your developing is pretty much done. You'll be spending the next few weeks just putting on weight. A friend that I graduated from high school with, his wife just had a baby on Friday, and she was over 9 lbs. I would love to not have you be that big, you can be small, like I was, just under 7 lbs, but I know I don't have control over that. You come when you're good and ready, and Daddy and I will just wait for you.

You have an awesome Daddy, he's so good to me and loves you so much already. When we were burning the brush pile on our lot yesterday, he drove me to Grandma and Grandpa's house so that I could go to the bathroom, didn't even bother him to do it. Then, after working all day, he came home and put your high chair together because he knew I wanted it together. He's going to spoil you, that's for sure. He loves to feel you move, and he always makes sure that you're moving like you're supposed to. He makes sure I get my water and take my vitamins, and eat enough veggies. He's so wonderful, I can't wait to see you with him. I think he'll cry when you're born, but don't tell him that, he tries to be tough on the outside, but you'll have him wrapped around your little finger.

This week I'm hoping on working on our birth plan. Daddy and I have some things to talk about and write down so that we can take it to the hospital with us. I also want to start packing our hospital bag so that I'm not rushing around last minute to do it. I only have 3 weeks of work left, then I'm off for 2 weeks before your due, but I know you could come early and I'd like to have everything done as soon as we can.

Can't wait to meet you baby girl!

Love,
Mommy