Pregnancy: Week 34

This is technically a day late, as today is the beginning of week 35, and thus marks the 35 weeks down, 35 days to go landmark of pregnancy tracking.  We took the belly pic on Wednesday but I haven't gotten around to putting it up until today.

This week the baby grew to be the size of a canteloupe, about 4.75 lbs and 18 inches long.  She is obviously continuing to put on weight and her lungs and central nervous system are maturing as well.  She continues to be quite active and is getting ready for life on the outside.

I continue to feel good overall.  I am still trying to get a lot of rest and made it to the gym three times this week.  I broke down and bought one more maternity shirt at the thrift store ($6; pictured) as some of my non-maternity shirts are getting too short to cover the maternity panel in my pants.  The minor back aches that began last week have continued on and off and seem to show up if I sit in one place for too long, so I am trying to be aware of that. I have gotten used to it and it is pretty manageable so it hasn't really slowed me down.  I am starting to wrap some things up at work, which is making the maternity leave seem a little more real.

We are also spending a little time trying to get ready for baby's arrival on the assumption that the more ready we are, the more likely she is to stay put until around her due date.  This has meant continuing to work on the nursery decorations and setting up the pack and play in our room:

Baby girl will be sleeping in this bassinet set up for the first few months, although I am not sure this is going to be where the bassinet will live permanently, it is up and out of the way for now.  It is a daily visual reminder for us of--oh, look, a baby will be sleeping here soon!  Very exciting!