T Minus 28 Days - 36 Weeks Update

**Doctor update: Thursday, August 27- Dr. Halcomb checked my cervix for the first time and said I wasn't dilated. She thinks that our little girl is still pretty high, perhaps still head up, and that it is unlikely I'm effaced at this time. Molly's heart rate was 142 BPM**

We really are nearing the end now and I can finally say that I am 9 months pregnant! Crazy, isn’t it!? We’ve experienced an emotional roller coaster throughout this journey—one that we will never forget. The hardest part of has been worrying about her health and simultaneously dealing with the overwhelming and somewhat unexpected amount of love I feel for her and the best part is feeling her move inside me and dreaming of what it will be like to hold her for the first time.

I am getting impatient at this point, of course, but I have had some relief in the past week courtesy of the birth of Molly Kate’s first little friend, Riley Anne. She is one beautiful child with lots of dark brown hair and I’m ecstatic for her mom, my friend Rebecca and sharer of all pregnancy woes. Here is little Riley-



How far along? 36 weeks
Weight gain/loss: I know I am still gaining but I am no longer looking at the scale!
Maternity clothes? I'm starting to wonder if I will outgrow my maternity clothes.
Stretch marks? None yet, thank goodness, but my belly is still changing daily.
Belly button: It never actually popped out.
Sleep: I get pretty amped up at night and start little nesting/ organizing projects that keep me from going to bed until late.
Best moments this week: The week just started but recently we have enjoyed watching her morph my stomach into odd shapes. We also finished the nursery recently and finished buying the things we needed from our registry over the weekend. Woohoo!
Movement: She is very active after lunch and again late at night. She likes to tap or kick up high early in the day and down low around my belly button at night. She also likes to press her bottom against my stomach so hard that it changes the shape of it and takes my breath away. She's quite strong.
What I am looking forward to: I have my 36 week appt on Thursday and I am excited and anxious to find out if I've made any progress and whether she is still head up.
Today's exciting news: Looks like my friend Maggie may have her baby Anna X before our baby is born. We've supported eachother throughout our pregnancies. Another special friend for baby Molly could be born next week!
Milestones: My 36 week appt is the first of our 4 weekly visits. Also, last week I had tons of Braxton Hicks contractions.