Playing with Poppaw and Mommaw

Kite flying is so much fun with Poppaw.

Jacob and Owen are really enjoying Poppaw and Mommaw being in Iowa.

They have played and played so hard these past few days.

Flown kites, played at the park, launching rockets, sidewalk chalk, bikes...

you name it the boys are showing Mommaw and Poppaw how they stay busy.

Relaxing with Mommaw is so nice.

Mommaw with her boys....Owen and Jacob

They love having Mommaw and Poppaw here.

37 weeks

How far along? 37 WEEKS

Total weight gain: 25

Sleep: Sleep is very interrupted lately. Some nights I can sleep well, others contractions seem to come and go a lot around about 4am.

Movement: Carter is pretty active, but starting to slow down since he is running out of room.

Food cravings: not really craving anything lately

Gender: boy!

What I miss: I miss being able to move around faster than a turtle with a waddle.

What I am looking forward to: meeting Carter for the first time, and introducing him to his 2 big brothers, Mommaw and Poppaw that can't wait for him to arrive.

From Baby-Gaga on week 37

It’s the calm before the storm. Changes in your baby's weight have leveled off with only a few ounces of fat added this week. At this point your baby should weigh in at around 7 lbs and 20 inches (with boys somewhat heavier and longer than girls). Happily, as far as internal organs go, they are now developed enough to function in the outside world although the oh-so-important immune system is still developing and will continue to do so after birth. With a large boost of antibodies provided by breast milk when nursing begins. Fighting infection and staying healthy should be well within their physical capacity when your little fighter is born.

36 weeks

How far along? 36 WEEKS
Total weight gain: 25
Sleep: I haven't been able to sleep very well. I go to bed late, wake up early, but at least twice a week manage a nap with my boys, which is so precious.
Movement: Carter is pretty active, but starting to slow down since he is running out of room.
Food cravings: fruit and ice cream
Gender: boy!
What I miss: I miss being able to move around faster than a turtle with a waddle.
What I am looking forward to: meeting Carter for the first time, and introducing him to his 2 big brothers, Mommaw and Poppaw that can't wait for him to arrive.

From Baby-Gaga on week 36
The countdown continues… and in fetal developments: most of the bones (soft skull aside) in their little body are now completely hardened, providing a solid structure from which they can now make their grand debut into the world. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we are structurally ready for a secure launch. In physical fitness news: their muscle tone has also improved over these past few weeks, and you’ll definitely be impressed by their steel-like Ulnar grasp (a newborn reflex that occurs if you lay your finger in their palm). And in genital development: if you’re having a girl, her labia are now fully developed. Finally, in the fluids/excretion department: the amniotic fluid-to-baby ratio has fallen over these past weeks, although they’re still swallowing fluid (building up even more meconium for that historic first poop), and some vernix caseosa. They will be more than ready to swallow and digest milk after birth. Just in case you didn’t get it quite yet: you’ve got yourself an adorable and hungry 6.5 lbs 20 inch baby—are you ready?

Carter at 35 weeks

How far along? 35 WEEKS
Total weight gain: 22
Sleep: depends on the night, been very thankful for some naps recently.
Best moment this week: Mother's Day and seeing Carter via ultrasound
Movement: He is either resting or awake. If he's awake you know it as he's very active
Food cravings: fruit
Gender: boy!
What I miss: being able to be active without pains
What I am looking forward to: meeting Carter for the first time, and introducing him to his 2 big brothers, Mommaw and Poppaw that can't wait for him to arrive.

UPDATE: On Monday we had an ultrasound...Carter is still on schedule and is growing very well. He is currently 5 pounds 14 oz.

From Baby-Gaga on week 35

Congratulations! You’re now carrying nearly 6 lbs of baby not counting their amniotic fluid, the umbilical cord, or the placenta itself. We’re impressed because that’s a LOT of work non-stop. Are you feeling proud of yourself yet? Well, get to it—you’ve done an amazing job! At this point, your little grower is almost busting out of the womb size-wise, which make their restricted attempts to move much challenging. Of course, your stubborn little sucker is still trying to move around as if they weren’t in a cramped space. And the accumulationg baby fat deposits are starting to level off so your little butter ball will be padded and warm when they head out of their super snug little home.

Already...34 weeks

How far along? 34 WEEKS
Total weight gain: 20
Sleep: not too much, feeling the need for naps, but not taking them hoping to sleep at night.
Best moment this week:
Movement: He is either resting or awake. If he's awake you know it as he's very active
Food cravings: fruit
Gender: boy!
What I miss: being able to get around at a decent speed, ha ha.
What I am looking forward to: meeting Carter for the first time, and introducing him to his 2 big brothers, Mommaw and Poppaw that can't wait for him to arrive. Ultrasound next week and Mother's Day in a few days!

From Baby-Gaga on week 34
Your amazing baby is on the move! They’ve been riding fairly high in your stretched-out womb till now (while kindly compressing your poor internal organs), but now they’re planning on making the big move to your pelvis this week. If you haven’t noticed it already, you’ll be feeling the weight shift that signals that your baby is most likely out of breech position, with their head now resting on your pubic bone. In liver news: although not quite fully formed, your little miracle’s liver is now capable of processing a certain amount of waste. In general, most of your child’s prenatal physical development is pretty much up to snuff and ready for the outside world. Naturally, further weight gain is expected—so you’re still not at maximum capacity despite probably feeling like you definitely are maxed out.