Week 38
Baby H is the size of a Pumpkin.

                             

38 weeks, 1 day

Our little pumpkin is almost here!

                             Our Maternity Photos- Water to Wine Photography

Halloween truffles from Adam Turoni

How far along? 38 Weeks
Maternity clothes: Anything goes as maternity clothes these days- as long as it's stretchy and long enough to cover the bump.
Sleep: What is sleep again? On the plus side, our new duvet set is so cozy that it almost makes up for the lack of sleep. The cooler weather is perfect for cuddling under the comforter- a friend I've sorely missed for the past few months.

Best moments this week: Friday with Gabe

    Gabe was off on Friday, so we decided to have a day-long date. We started our morning at our favorite bagel shop for a fortifying breakfast, then headed downtown to "walk the baby out". Instead of sticking to the area around Forsyth, we parked near Ellis Square and wandered around River Street and the Broughton area, dipping in and out of shops along the way. Down by the river we visited River Street Sweets and sampled pralines- how can anyone resist the smell of brown sugar and pecans? After a stroll through the marketplace we headed back up to Broughton and visited Adam Turoni, the master of chocolates. As tempting as it was to buy a whole box of truffles, we settled on three truffles to split: the royal apparition, the modern pumpkin, and a habanero caramel. We walked over to Telfair square, the same square we got engaged in almost two years ago, and sat on a shaded bench to nibble our snack. Do I feel guilty? Nope. One and a half chocolate truffles is pretty moderate for a pregnant lady. Gabe and I sat in the shade and relaxed against each other, enjoying the cool breeze, and reminisced about how far we've come over the last three years. The Jepson Center, located in the same square, had just opened a new Monet exhibit, so we decided to enjoy the museums for the afternoon. We started at the Telfair and then moved on to the Monet and American Impressionism exhibit at the Jepson. Once again, they had put together an incredible range of pieces, from prints to classic works. Gabe and I loved strolling through the galleries and taking our time to discuss each piece. Seeing artwork up close is a sensory experience that never grows old. We definitely plan to take Max to museums as he grows up- I can't wait to see his reactions to different works of art, dinosaur bones, and historical artifacts! I even bought Max an adorable Monet board book, A Picnic with Monet, to start off his art appreciation skills :-) Following our museum tour, Gabe and I visited Pie Society for lunch. I was having pretty regular contractions again, so I ordered "lighter" fare, a Curry Chicken Pasty just in case I went into labor. We'd been on our feet for the entire day, so we decided to stop by Fresh Market to grab ingredients for a simple, healthy dinner (which was much needed after our day of snacking and eating out). My contractions stopped again around 8, so we hung out at home for the evening and relaxed after our long, but wonderful day. Sometimes I ask myself if Gabe could be any more perfect, and then I realize that I will fall even more in love with him once I see him taking care of our little man. I am truly one incredibly blessed lady, and we are one very lucky couple. I am so thankful everyday for the amazing love we share. 

Miss Anything? Sleeping on my back, which I really look forward to doing again soon! 

Movement: Max loves to move around all day long- and I love watching my belly as it moves with him. It's even more fun when his little feet protrude every once in a while. If we poke his little foot, he will even give us a kick back! 
Food cravings: blueberries, granola, eggs, truffles, savory pie, and salad, salad, salad - See, it's not all bad! 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Heartburn is still rough
Gender: Mr.
Labor Signs: We had a false alarm on Sunday and I thought my water had broken, but a trip to the hospital determined that I was mistaken. I felt pretty silly, but Gabe and the Dr. both reassured me it was way better to come in and be wrong than to have stayed at home if my water had broken. I'm still having contractions on and off, so my body and Max are definitely getting ready for his big debut! Hopefully he will be here soon! 
Symptoms: Contractions, back pain, cramping, fatigue alternating with energy bursts, and nesting  
Belly Button in or out? Still in! 
Wedding rings on or off? On :-)
Happy or Moody most of the time: happy and peaceful
Looking forward to: Becoming parents soon!

Week 37
Baby H is the size of a Winter Melon.

37 weeks, 2 days

Max is gaining .5 ounces every day- his estimated weight is about 7 lbs right now! 

Mini sampler- a tiny, but tasty, cherry turnover and a mini chocolate frosted. Yum! 

Gabe with our practice baby- I can't wait to see him with Max!

Early morning walks have become my newest habit- time for Max to come out!

How far along? 37 Weeks
Maternity clothes: Sweatpants, pjs, and workout clothes. This week I've alternated between exhaustion and bursts of energy. Either way, I've pretty much stayed in around the house, except for a few long walks to encourage Max to come out early. 
Sleep: I've pretty much been waking up every hour or so- my body is preparing me for the sleepless nights to come! Also, as my belly has gotten bigger it's become much more difficult to get comfortable at night. I've also been getting cramps in my upper thighs again, so once I do get comfortable, I end up having to switch sides pretty soon after. I get through these sleepless nights by telling myself I am only weeks (or days!) away from sleeping on my back again- and that will be true bliss! 

Best moments this week: Our baby class on Saturday

    Gabe and I had a lovely day off together this past Saturday. We started our morning off with delicious treats at Baker's Pride, then spent most of the day at our baby class. Over the course of the day we practiced basic baby care including diaper changes, baths, feeding, infant CPR and more. Gabe and I have both read up on baby care, but since neither of us have had any hands on- newborn experience, we appreciated this practical crash course. The class, and seeing Gabe care for our practice baby, made me all the more excited for Max to be born- now it's just a waiting game! 

Miss Anything? Nope.

Movement: Max still loves moving all around. He's going to be one active little guy! 
Food cravings: Donuts, cherries, and pears 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Heartburn :-/
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: I'm still having contractions on and off. At my appointment this week, I was 2.5 cm dilated, so we're making some serious progress! I'm hoping max will come before my next appointment, but we'll just have to wait and see!  
Symptoms: Contractions, back pain, cramping, fatigue alternating with energy bursts, and nesting  
Belly Button in or out? Still in! 
Wedding rings on or off? On :-)
Happy or Moody most of the time: So happy! 
Looking forward to: Max's birth- whenever that may be!

Week 36
Baby H is the size of a Honeydew Melon.

9 months along!

Max is bigger than this Honeydew- He's currently about 6 lbs and 9 oz!

Cuddling with Calvin! I can't believe he's already 6 weeks old!

Amazing maternity photography by our extremely talented friend Ashlie Johnson

One of my favorites!

Boop!

So much love <3

Belly kisses!

I'm a very lucky lady!

Kisses!

Absolute peace

More blessings than we can count!

Another favorite!

Our little boy! Look at that adorable little face :-) I'm so grateful that he is healthy and strong!

How far along? 36 Weeks
Maternity clothes: The belly band from my first trimester is back... and it is the only way to have pants that fit. Gabe was pretty impressed that I fit my pre-pregnancy jeans (other than the gaping v in the front where they should zip); at least I still have something that fits (almost)!
Sleep: Sleep has been really challenging this week. I keep waking up around 4 am and struggling to get back to sleep. As I've gotten bigger I've begun to have a lot of back pain, so it's difficult to get comfortable at night. Soon Max will be here and I will be able to sleep on my back again!

Best moments this week: This week was full of wonderful moments!  
1) Seeing my bestie, Lauren, and finally meeting little Calvin! After some rain from Joaquin post-poned our maternity pics, Gabe and I decided to make an impromptu trip to Jville so we could meet Calvin. Lauren met up with us after church and we had lunch at Lola's, one of the tastiest spots in Riverside. And what's better than burritos? Cuddling a six week old baby boy! Calvin was so well behaved the whole time we visited and ate, so obviously Lauren is already a super mama! Holding Calvin was wonderful- he's so soft and perfect. I'm so happy for Lauren and Andrew that they are blessed with such a sweet baby boy. The afternoon made me all the more excited to have Max. I know motherhood is going to be an incredible adventure! 

 2) Catching up with Ashlie! The same rain that canceled our photo session on Sunday cancelled Ashlie's drive to Philadelphia, so by a happy coincidence we were both visiting Jville. We met up in Memorial Park and Ashlie spoiled us with a spontaneous maternity shoot (see the amazing pictures above). While she was shooting, we got caught up on all the things that have been going on since our last visit a few months ago. After our session, we did what friends do best- sit around a table and talk about life. This year has definitely brought positive changes to all of our lives! Having great friends means that you have people to enjoy all those changes with, and we are so lucky to have her in our life! No surprise, the pictures turned out gorgeous and I can barely wait to print them!

 3) Our final ultrasound and getting a sneak peek at Max :-) Tuesday I had my final ultrasound and we got to glimpse our little man! He is currently 6 lbs and 9 oz (give or take a lb) and he is absolutely adorable! He's already in position and his head is very low according to my OB, so it was difficult to get a clear image of his little face, but as you can see from the one above, he has chubby little cheeks and his daddy's full lips. We are so in love with our little man, and we are elated to become his parents soon! The official count is 21 days, but my doctor said I "might be one of those 37 week people"- fingers crossed!

4) Yesterday we had our maternity photo session in Forsyth Park with Water to Wine Photography. Jessica was so nice, and she took more pictures than we expected. The weather was glorious, and the afternoon lighting was just right for our fall themed shoot. She showed us some of the shots as she was snapping away, and they look great. We are really looking forward to seeing them after the edits, and I will be posting them soon! Jessica is also doing Max's newborn photos, and I know she will be the perfect person to capture his newborn stage!

Miss Anything? This week I'm missing clothes that fit and sleeping through the night- somehow, I think it'll be a while before either of those change!

Movement: Max is our little mover and shaker. Even though he is (very) head down, he still moves his little feet and bum all around. Occasionally he moves his little fists around too, which feels a little odd at this point since they are way down by my bikini line. I think he is trying to punch his way out sometimes... He is ready to join the world!

Food cravings: Mexican food, brownies, granola, dried cherries, salad, and one more M&M blast... that evens out right? 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Back pain and heartburn are making me nauseous here and there.  
Gender: Mr. Max!
Labor Signs: This week Max, and my uterus have been prepping for his debut. I started having contractions (not Braxton Hicks) on Monday and I've had about 10 a day since then, but they haven't formed a pattern yet. They also hurt a lot more than Braxton Hicks and my back feels like its in a vice grip when I get them. At my appointment I was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced, which is a positive step toward labor. Apparently his head is really low, which is part of the reason I've been having so much discomfort and cramping. On the plus side, my doc says it will make delivery a lot quicker whent he time comes since he is already engaged so snugly. Last night I was dreaming about having contractions and woke up with them around 3:30, but they stopped again by 5:15 ish. Now that I'm full term Max can come any time, so I am on the countdown for real now! 
Symptoms: Contractions, back pain, cramping, fatigue, "pregnancy brain," and nesting  
Belly Button in or out? Still in, somehow.
Wedding rings on or off? The cool fall weather is here and I actually got my real wedding rings back on! I am so happy to have them back on my finger where they belong! 
Happy or Moody most of the time: Joyous! 
Looking forward to: Our baby class Saturday- if Max doesn't come before then!

Week 35
Baby H is the size of a Coconut.

Sometimes I can't believe it is possible for my belly to get any bigger, and then it does! 

Max is the size of a large coconut!

Out and about on Sunday morning :-)

Look at these adorable shoes!

Our magnetic scrabble tiles got an update for the shower :-)

Seriously? All that is for us?!

This handmade sign is the perfect match for Max's room!

The spread-

Baby cakes!

How far along? 35 Weeks

Maternity clothes: Barely fit. As in three pairs of my maternity pants no longer work, and some of my maternity tops have become too short. Dresses that used to be an appropriate length for work (i.e. knee length) would now make A-list celebrities blush. It's maxi skirts and leggings from here on out...

Sleep: All I dream about is my pre-k class. I want to dream about Max, but I guess my day-to-day activities at school are more ingrained in my psyche than motherhood- for now. Between work and dreaming about my class, I feel like I'm doing a sixteen hour work day. Hopefully I will manage to get some rest before Mr. Max is born!

Best moment this week: My work shower!

 Our school's Sunshine Committee threw me a shower this Tuesday and it was absolutely lovely. Little Max and I were completely spoiled! The teachers got together and brought in a spread of treats, including these sweet fall cupcakes and a chocolate mini cake (which was absolutely delicious...in fact I may need to have the last piece for dessert tonight...). As you can see from the present table, the ladies of my school are an incredibly generous lot! I think it's safe to say that we are very well prepared for Max's arrival! Thank you everyone!

Miss Anything? Queso, and every other kind of cheese I've been avoiding this whole pregnancy. 

Movement: Max still loves moving all around. It's so reassuring to feel him in there. We still talk and/or read to him everyday, and I love feeling him move in response to our voices and touch.

Food cravings: Blueberry pancakes, pumpkin everything, candy corn (don't judge!)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.

Gender: Gentleman

Labor Signs: More Braxton Hicks. They've been getting more frequent and I am constantly wondering if they will turn into actual labor, even though we have 4 more weeks to go!

Symptoms: Fatigue, Braxton Hicks, back ache, restless sleep, increased hunger and thirst, occasional discomfort, and difficulty moving without feeling like I'm squishing Max 

Belly Button in or out? o - actual size. Isn't it supposed to be an outie by now? 

Wedding rings on or off? On for now. I hope my fingers don't swell so much that I have to stop wearing this ring too :-(

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and in love! 

Looking forward to: Maternity leave- I just had my last day at work yesterday! Time to relax and finish off that last grad course before Max comes! 

Week 34
Baby H is the size of a Butternut Squash.

Date night!

Max is the size of a butternut squash!

"The Versailles Topiary Truffle
A formal garden of pistachio puree white chocolate topiaries dusted with crisp matcha genoise potter in a white chocolate “cerused” planter." - Chocolat by Adam Turoni

How far along? 34 Weeks

Maternity clothes: What do you wear when your maternity clothes no longer fit?

Sleep: Off and on.

Best moment this week: Date night with Gabe. We went downtown to try a new Cuban restaurant and had a romantic stroll before dinner. After a quick browse in the new Adam Turoni location, Gabe and I selected some tasty truffles to have as a pre-dinner treat. We tried a fire-roasted strawberries and cream truffle, a pistachio and green tea topiary (yes, topiary) truffle, and a hazelnut crunch truffle with bits of crispy crepe. Need I say that they were divine? Once our sweet tooth was satisfied, we wandered through downtown hand in hand. After a while we ended up at Ranchero Alegre, the Cuban restaurant, which was already busy by 6:30 on a Saturday night (Thankfully we had reservations). Seated in our cozy booth, Gabe and I relaxed and enjoyed a sampling of authentic Cuban food including Sangria (for Gabe), savory parsley and garlic coated bread, plantain chips, ropa vieja, and roasted pork. A live jazz band played during our meal, which set the tone for our night out. Max danced around the whole time we were eating, so he enjoyed either the food, the jazz, or both! Everything was delicious and the evening was so romantic. The feeling of fall in the air coupled with the exotic tastes of the evening turned a lovely night out in our city into a mini vacation. 

Gabe and I are so excited about Max's arrival, but we are also having fun squeezing in these romantic dates while we are still a twosome. Soon we'll have our little man with us everywhere we go ♡

Miss Anything? Turkey sandwiches

Movement: Since Max is getting bigger, I expected that he would become less active, but our little man is constantly on the move. I love feeling his little jabs and shifts and guessing what part he's moving. Is it a foot? A little hand? A butt? Even his hiccups cause major movement now! 

Food cravings: Cuban... Check!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: Mostly Braxton Hicks and pelvic pressure. I refuse to waddle.

Symptoms: Same as last week. Check out my belly! 

Belly Button in or out? Still shrinking... it's kind of odd. 

Wedding rings on or off? On and tight at times. I've started taking my ring off when I sleep at night because my fingers have been swelling more at night recently. I'm looking forward to being able to wear my actual wedding bands again soon. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Ecstatic and excited

Looking forward to: My work shower next week!