Next week marks the beginning of month 9! It's so hard to believe the little one will be here in a few short weeks, but we're feeling ready. Week 35 started off with my baby shower on Sunday. My mom and MIL did the most beautiful job making sure my shower was low key, stress free and fun. It was held at Ben's Aunt's gorgeous home and had a light Peter Rabbit theme which was something special between my mom and me. My SIL did a few adorable games, the food was delicious and baby was absolutely spoiled! I have more pictures on my big camera that I'll want to update this post with but for now, here's a few from the good old phone:

so many little friends already!

We spent the rest of the week putting everything away in the nursery. assembling baby gear and enjoying this amazing 70 degree weather. Spring is definitely here and it's so nice to be able to sit outside after work or take Ivy for a long walk before dinner.

As for last week's checklist:

• wash, organize and put away all baby clothes, blankets and burp cloths My MIL did all of baby's laundry so once we get that back we'll be putting it away :)
• open and put away all other baby gifts  DONE
• put together baby gear (crib, pack and play, swings/rockers, etc...)   DONE minus crib which is happening on Saturday
• send shower thank you's DONE 
• install car seats and get them checked. Halfway done. Cars eat is in and I will probably swing by the firestation this weekend to get it checked 
• buy toiletries and misc items for hospital bag and then pack hospital bag & baby's bag. I'm buying toiletries this weekend!
• buy anything we still need after shower (this will probably be stuff like diapers, wipes, nursing pads, etc...). Partially done. I ordered a bunch of stuff on Amazon and will be picking up the rest at Babies R Us this weekend. Yay for giftcards!

I am feeling really good this week minus a little bit of hip pain, but I'm hoping to get lots of walks in over the next couple days to help remedy that. We've got a busy weekend planned with a date tonight, baby stuff tomorrow and a charity event on Sunday! Happy Spring!

I'm feeling really good this week which I chalk up to extra sleep, taking it easy and looking forward to a weekend away. At this point, the weeks are sort of running together because not  much is changing besides baby packing on the pounds and kicking away (ouch my ribs!). I feel like my belly finally dropped a little the last week or two so that's helped in the breathing department, but it still takes a Herculean effort to get out of bed most mornings.

I've also been feeling pretty nostalgic this week and (as always) telling myself to slow down and enjoy the rest of this pregnancy because baby is going to be here before we know it. Unlike the panic I felt in the first and second trimesters about how "nothing is ever going to be the same", I now can't picture life without a baby coming in 7 weeks. We talk about him/her so much and I know the bonds we'll grow once they're here can't even compare to how we feel now, but we love this baby so much already. The excitement and energy we feel from our family and friends is contagious and I know this baby is going to be showered with so much love. Speaking of, my shower is next weekend and I can't wait! I always said that's what makes it feel real - all these people in one room celebrating this baby's impending arrival.

Some 33 week pictures:

We're off to Lancaster for a family wedding this weekend, most likely our last trip before baby comes!

Playing a little bit of catch up here.....

at 31 weeks we decided to check off a bunch of boring to do list items apparently!

• picked our pediatrician
• signed off on some insurance stuff 
• ordered my breast pump

32 weeks:

• Ben put together the car seat and stroller combo we received as an early gift from his mom and step-dad. They're stored in the nursery until we have time to get the car seat installed, but that will probably happen over the next couple weekends.
• I had my bi-weekly belly check last Wednesday and everything looks good. I only have two more bi-weekly appointments and then I move to weekly!!
• I am feeling good despite some hip pain but I read that could be due to baby dropping into position more. I've upped my sleep too which seems to make everyone happier :)

33 week update coming at ya tomorrow. We have a half day for a wedding out in Lancaster which will most likely be our last getaway before baby....unless we get the okay from the Dr. for a local babymoon :) 

I am so excited to be in the 30s! It's always surreal pulling up my baby app and seeing double digit days left. I'm at the point where people are saying "soon!" and "not long now!" and I guess in the grand scheme of pregnancy they're right, but the last trimester is definitely dragging for me because I'm just ready to meet this baby.

So, the third trimester! Almost like clockwork it brought on a bunch of changes:

Baby hiccups. Although I was initially worried about the baby's discomfort, I read that hiccups are brought on by the baby practicing breathing and it's a sign of a strong respiratory system and it doesn't affect them like it would us. I feel the hiccups super low and then at my appointment on Wednesday, the doctor confirmed that the baby's head is down so it makes sense. Please stay that way, little one!

Movement/Position: Since the baby is in position (for now), I've been feeling a good bit of movement affecting my bladder, cervix and tailbone/bum from it's head wiggling around. On top of that, instead of random jabs and pokes I've been feeling full body movement which is crazy. It's weird to think it's hanging out in there "upside down" but I read (lots of reading going on) that the umbilical cord regulates blood flow to them to control a rush, not to mention in utero they're basically in a zero-aerospace situation so they're floating more than anything else.

Heartburn. We'll have to wait to see if the old wive's tail is true but light heartburn has kicked in and doesn't seem to brought on by anything in particular that I eat. Usually popping a few Tums help and bonus for extra calcium!

Eating/Drinking: I'm still guzzling water like it's nobody's business but I've found that caffeine is affecting me a lot differently recently. I can barely drink a cup of home brewed coffee without feeling out of sorts so I might be switching over to tea soon. I've also found that I've been getting fuller faster and eating less seems to help my rib discomfort so I've been working on munching steadily throughout the day instead of my typical breakfast/lunch/dinner routine. Overall my appetite has gone down the last week or two but my/baby's weight gain is normal so I'm chalking it up to things getting shifted around in my torso.

One month until my shower!
10 weeks until baby is here!

Aside from my one hour glucose test on Tuesday (I passed!), it was another quiet week on the pregnancy front. Since Ben was on a business trip I tried to take advantage of the open bed and get some extra rest and stretch out my aching ribs. I'm holding out to talk to the doctor until my appointment next week but I'm pretty sure it's an "it is what it is" situation until baby decides to drop/move a little bit. Some days are better than others and I just ordered some nursing bras which look really comfortable so I'm hoping they help a little too. Other than that, the nesting bug definitely hit this week and I found myself sporadically waking up to add to my many to do lists and plotting some more nursery projects. TGIF from me and my basketball!