Technically, it's still 35 weeks, I made it just in time.

35 weeks 6 days

How far along? 35th week...but only 1 more hour until 36 weeks :)
Total weight gain/loss: 2lb the last 1.5 week, +32lb total. I'm pretty sure it's the 5lb of water retention all up in my face....ugh.
Stretch marks? N-O. Woo hoo!
Sleep: It's not sleep anymore. It's nighttime naps in 34 different positions with a bladder empty every time I roll over. I'm really trying to not complain too much, but I am just DONE.
Best moment this week: Between being diagnosed with temporary carpal tunnel, Troy leaving for his last work trip, having ankles bigger than my calves, finding out "friends" copycatted Fridge Filler as soon as we left Bama, my car battery dying, having to retire some maternity pants that dont fit anymore, doing taxes, and I'm sure as a result of all of this the doc restricting me to a 30-hour work week after a high blood pressure reading...my only good thing this week was discovering the best game show ever Minute To Win It. Freaking hilarious. Did anyone see Mr./Miss Southern Belle with the cotton balls?!
Movement: I dont know how babies do it. Baby isn't moving that much with no room, but I know all is well since I still have pelvis hiccups instantly after I eat or drink anything with sugar in it...so everything. Hehe just kidding.
Gender: Starting to think boy now. For some reason when I say the names out loud, Carter seems to be more real if that makes any sense. I think this whole thing was just so Troy could be entertained with watching me go back and forth trying to figure it out.
Labor Signs: It's so weird when your stomach turns hard as a rock during the "practice contractions". I feel like Han Solo getting flash frozen. Ok, I dont know where that description came from after seeing that movie only once. But I'm pretty sure the feeling that Baby may fall out every time I stand up is a good sign we're getting closer. My hands seriously go there as a reflex.
Food Cravings: Troy seriously has all of the cravings. The other night he debated between Mexican and Chinese for 30 minutes, and we had already been out to dinner for him twice that week! Little shit doesn't gain any weight though. So not fair.
What I miss: I'm not even going to think about responding at this point.
What I am looking forward to: A baby in my arms.
Weekly Wisdom: Water is your friend. Slip on shoes are godsend.
Milestones: Last doctor's appointment was Tuesday (yesterday). 130bpm on baby (to which the doctor asked if we're having a boy- I said I dont know, are we?), my disappointing blood pressure for me was 130/80, and belly was measuring right on track at 36 cm. I think we start checking progress down there starting next Tuesday! Doc appointments are weekly now.
Baby Brain Moment of the Week: I believe I was actually intelligent this round...until I just had spell checker correct me on intelligent. I blame it on the tingly hands.
Weekly Belly Pic: I thought it would be fun to put the same shirt on to see the real difference from month 8. It feels like a world of a difference from 8 to 9. And the real reason being this is the only shirt that fits and is clean. Not my fault my maid has been out of town all week!

The Wall of the Marathon

34 weeks 3 days

How far along? 34th week
Total weight gain/loss: 1lb the last 1 week, +30lb total. There it is, the big 3-0.
Stretch marks? I am proud of my skin to be able to say NO! I can tell there's still a little bit of stretch left to give since the belly button is still an innie. Barely an innie, so weird looking. And that whole linea niegra line is there but faint, all the way up and down. I like to call it my Prime Meridian.
Sleep: Back to bad. I have to switch sides at least 5 times a night from my shoulder making my arm go numb - not surprising since its like setting a 30lb weight on a garden hose. So when I turn over, I can feel every muscle in my stomach trying to lift & then support Chunky Monkey falling to the other side.
Best moment this week: My housekeeper came back! After a long 10 days of no sweeping and take-out, my husband is back to take care of this place that I simply cannot keep up with anymore. Seeing as I can't bend over to pick up the pen I dropped, there was no way in hell I was bending over to clean toilets. I believe our situation has housekeeper written all over it since there will come a time that he'll need to hit the road again, and instead of a belly in the way, I'll have the perfect excuse called a baby + career = I get what I want!
Movement: Starting to slow down a bit. I believe Chunky has bestowed this upon him/herself by stealing all of mama's food and deciding to be a porker. Not a wise decision little one when you only have so much room in there! Hmmm but on the other hand, sounds like I used to make the same decisions by giving into french fries when I knew I had a skinny pair of jeans with the tags still on them in my closet. Let's make a deal- I'll continue to feed you the good stuff if you promise to come out a week early?
Gender: No clue.
Labor Signs: We can answer this like it was meant to be answered now. We're Braxton Hicks'ing it up! Makes me excited to know that we're at least at the practice contractions stage. My lovely Troy says to me "I dont like the term Braxton Hicks, it sounds like a disease." Me: "You are unbelievable."
Food Cravings: My father's genes in me came out full force when I suddenly craved peanut M&M's. A trip to the store for them went along perfectly with the plan to buy him some bags as well to stuff into his birthday present package. I intended to send him 5 bags, and only 1 made it into the box :)
What I miss: Being able to enjoy a couple of tall Sam Adams Summer Ales outside on the first sunny, 70 degree day of the year. Troy made sure to do this in front of me yesterday though. This karma is coming back to you in diapers that look like Summer Ale, pal.
What I am looking forward to: Thursday marks 35/35. For those of you not educated on the new wave of baby board lingo, it means 35 weeks and 35 days left!!!
Weekly Wisdom: Milk the pregnancy card for all that it's worth the last 5 weeks. This will include handicap parking spots, turning over the chef hat to husband, blaming lateness to appointments on mild contractions, and going guilt-free when vegitating on the couch to "rest up" for the big day.
Milestones: Last doctor's appointment was Wednesday. 140bpm on baby, blood pressure for me was 110/70, and belly was measuring right on track at 34 cm. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt Monkey and just agree you had a growth spurt weeks 30-32. Maybe there's no need to freak out over a large baby afterall.
Baby Brain Moment of the Week: I keep second guessing if words are as I think or a close relative, and of course I'm thinking out loud in front of groups of people. I need to just retreat to a second grade vocabulary until I can get my college degree back.
Weekly Belly Pic: My beautiful 25-weeks pregnant bestie came and visited for a night. Season is my savior in this whole ordeal as we do not commonly share with the rest of the world's "warm and fuzzy" view on pregnancy. We like to keep it real and bitch about how we feel like we've been pregnant for years rather than weeks. But she is my enemy when she looks like she's not even pregnant in this picture and here I am, the whale. But I still love you.

Baby Shower Adoreableness

Mama and Lulu threw the most fabulous baby shower in late February for our new family of 3. It was so wonderful to see all of my family and local friends, even if all of you could drink mimosas and I couldn't. The generous amount of gifts was overwhelming and we are now officially all set for anything that Chunky Monkey needs...what a wonderful feeling. Of course the cuteness was off the charts for details that Mom & Lulu put into the event. Here are some pics from the unforgettable celebration. Thank you so much to all who could spend the day with us and special thanks to the Divine Decorating Duo who made the day happen.

Shower Favors - About To Pop :)

Filled with this amazing chocolate covered popcorn!!!
Cupcake CenterpiecesThe cupcakes are rattles!!!Holy Moly. Child, you are spoiled already.My Little Helper, that eventually turned into 10 in order to get all of those presents open before they kicked us out. We were sweating from the workout!The cuteness begins...Cheeseball...A bouquet of onsies...how clever. The problem is I dont want to take it apart.
Some of the ladies in attendance...

Thank you ladies!!!!!

Sorry I missed a week!

33 weeks 2 days

I know, I know I've been a slacker for my thousands of die-hard blog fans. I guess motivation for after-work 2 hour naps has replaced my motivation to blog. But life's all about balance so here we go once again...

Your Baby: Month 8

Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month.

How far along? 33rd week
Total weight gain/loss: 0lb the last 2 weeks, +29lb total. +1 then -1, SAAAAWEEEEET.
Stretch marks? If I'm going to get stretch marks anywhere, it's going to be my calves and ankles...aka cankles. Now that would be a sight. I scare Troy away every evening when I take off my work boots and socks. It's so bad that I've graduated from my socks, onto his socks, sometimes even having to slit the tight part at the top (so for his birthday please buy him new socks because he doesn't know yet!). Sad, sad, sad. Someone needs to capitalize on maternity socks.
Sleep: I hate that Troy's away for 10 days, but I am loving the bed all to myself. Judging I woke up almost sideways on the bed with the comforter in a ball in my arms, we should have gone for the king size bed.
Best moment this week: Found an in-home daycare for only $1400/mo, that's run by sweet loving people, includes meals, and is good for 10 hours a day - SCORE!!! One major thing to cross off the list.
Movement: The rolling is insane now! I think I scared the girl doing my pedicure today. I don't think there's much room in there anymore though. Although my bellybutton is still in, so there's an inch for you babe. But after an outie, I'm demanding eviction before the stretch mark party poopers arrive.
Gender: I have watched the 3d ultrasound video 293 times now and I still can't tell if baby looks more like a chico or chica. I'm not favoring either way anymore, I just want to know because that means I'm done!
Labor Signs: The labor of facing the pregnancy cliches. I hate to say they're all true- the infamous waddle-walk, hard to sit down or get up, swollen everything, belly runs into everything, can't see my feet, bladder the size of a quarter, and socks are impossible to get on, let alone the tying of the shoelaces. Oh and the most obvious - complaining.

Food Cravings: 2 gallons of milk in 7 days, and Troy's not here.
What I miss: Let me see if you can guess...It's Saturday night. I just hung up the phone with Troy who's in New Orleans for the weekend and I can hear the city streets that I used to dance up and down on. Mean while I'm on the couch watching re-runs of America's Next Top Model since nothing else is on tv and I don't have the energy to get up off of the couch to put in The Ugly Truth that has been sitting in its Netflix envelope for 2 weeks. Enough said on what I miss right now.

What I am looking forward to: Troy getting home to fulfill demands. Like the popsicles I am craving at the moment but are not in our freezer.
Weekly Wisdom: Boston parking meters do not care that you put in enough quarters for 60 minutes, but you showed up after 68. First official parking ticket ever - well besides the Clarkson ones that were like your grandma trying to discipline you. I'm pissed I didn't see them in person since the pregnant belly seems to always win.
Milestones: Last doctor's appointment baby was 145bpm and the belly was 33cm at 32 weeks. Doc said that if they belly measures over 38cm at the 36 week appt, then we'll do another ultrasound to see if we need to talk "options". I'd like to take the option right now to ensure that this child doesn't see 9lb inside of this girl.
Baby Brain Moment of the Week: Thinking that I could squeeze into a parking space with barely enough room to open my drivers side door. Of course I tried to get out and I'm lucky I didnt wedge myself in. That would have been a proud moment.

Weekly Belly Pic: Grey shirt/pj's cause thats all that's comfy is 32 weeks and purple shirt is 33.

We're in the 30's!!!!

31 weeks 5 days

How far along? 31st week
Total weight gain/loss: +4lb the last 2 weeks, +29lb total. Ok, I'm not pigging out what-so-ever and I'm on my feet with work now 8 hours a day. WHERE is all of this coming from?!?!? I'm officially scared.
Stretch marks? Skin is still perfect, well besides the skin as pale as Beetlejuice. Go ahead, I dare you to say it 3 times.
Sleep: I must look like a TLC pillow hoarder in the bedroom. I think I'm up to 6 pillows while sleeping- no joke. 3 around my head, 1 to hug, 1 behind my back, and 1 in between the legs. Troy hasnt gotten the hint either that he's only allowed to a 1/3 of the bed since technically I count as 2/3 now. This is actually a great point, and I'm totally winning this fight tonight.
Best moment this week: Hands down, it was the 3d ultrasound attempt #2 we had last Friday. After visiting a day care that oh-so-kindly informed us that fees are $2,000/month in this lovely rich suburb of Boston (gulp), we made our way to the ultrasound. We were thinking "This kid better be pretty darn cute for $2k a month" and I'm pretty sure we reached $10k a month- thank god. Results are of course posted previously, and I'm glad we got it done so I can now inform my OB that we need to be on Andre The Giant Baby watch.
Movement: All the time now, and it's starting to get uncomfortable. And it's totally the weirdest when I'm going pee. Relax child, I'm giving you more room in there!
Gender: None of you can convince me. You're all so back and forth! Now Troy thinks girl after seeing Chunky Monkey's cheeks, pouty lips, chin, and nose in 3d...you know, since he can see all of those things on me. I dont know what he's talking about...

Labor Signs: The labor of being educated. We went through our 8-hour Labor Prep class on Saturday. Great idea Troy. I guess he didn't have the extra 30lb of weight in an uncomfortable chair to think about. But it was very educating on what to do and when to do call and so on. I was bummed they didn't show a live birth video, you know the one where the woman is from the 80's and doesnt know what a razor is. I desperately wanted to see Troy's face and laugh (I know mean). But now here's hoping he doesn't run out of the delivery room now from oh-my-god-what-is-that ill preparedness. It was weird since we got a certificate at the end, like now there's proof we can be parents or something.

Food Cravings: Any and all liquids. Ok, well not the wine. Oh how I miss the wine. But anywho, I have an unquenchable thirst that not even a 32oz Nalgene of water every 3 hours can solve. I am contemplating just walking around with the double beer can hat deal with the straws right into the mouth. No, no, with water of course. I can see social services already showing up at our door.
What I miss: Me.

What I am looking forward to: 4-30-2010.
Weekly Wisdom: Being preggo is the ultimate VIP. We went to The Lion King production last week and got through an AMAZING first act. Man, what a show. And Troy was so cute since he reminded me we're continuing the Circle of Life...awwww. So anyways, it's intermission and of course I've got to pee. We walk to the lower lounge area and the line is hundreds of women long up the stairs. I then see an all-black dressed woman at the bottom of the stairs with walkie talkie in hand say "I've got one!" The red sea parted in the line, and I got escorted to the private bathroom for only preggos to use. GLORIOUS!!!! I have never felt so privileged...and more death-stared by the other women.
Milestones: Feet are gone from my sight and socks are impossible to put on. Troy's not allowed to leave town in April just so I can get shoes on and out the door. Doctor visits are every 2 weeks now. Next one is tomorrow!
Baby Brain Moment of the Week: Cannot spell. I actually asked how to spell "clothes" the other day, and it still didn't make sense after Troy reminded me of the 1st grade word. Of all words, I forget this one??!!??

Weekly Belly Pic: Very tired after work look...