How far along: 30 weeks (technically, 30 weeks and 3 days today). Wait a minute…I only have 10 weeks left!

How big is the baby: Our baby girl now weighs around 3 pounds and is about 16 inches from head to heel. If we’re talking fruits and vegetables, I think she’s about the size of a squash (at least that’s what The Bump says).

Total weight gain: Apparently I’ve gained about 2 lbs since last week for a total of 17 lbs since the start of my pregnancy.

Sleep: Nothing incredibly note-worthy.

Maternity Clothes: Yeah, I’m still rocking them.

Best moments of the week:

This week was pretty awesome. On Monday, my mom and husband joined me at my doctor’s office to see our baby girl in 3D/4D (and yes, we confirmed that she is still a GIRL). I included a few of my favorite pictures at the top of this post. Everyone tells me that these images are a great reflection of what she’ll look like at birth…which of course makes me even more excited to meet her. In addition to the live viewing, we received a CD with images and video clips. Here’s one of my favorites – she’s yawning…time for a nap!

We also started our birth classes this week. It’s very different than what I imagined…at least what I’ve seen on television and in movies. Apparently, they no longer teach a specific way to breath, but focus more on comfort techniques. We did learn a little about anatomy, pre-labor vs. true labor, and what type of labor support we’d likely want based on responses to an image.

What I mean by this – our instructor walked around holding an image of a woman carrying a baby (anatomy shot). Each woman in the room was asked to state what she saw…first thing that came to mind. Most women said “baby.” One or two said “miracle,” or “cramped.” Me…I said “head’s down.” In response, our instructor said that women who tend to point out things like the position of the baby are likely factual moms. I guess that’s me. She said for those types of moms, they’ll want to know more about where they are in the labor and delivery process so they can mentally focus. These moms also have a tendency to read a lot or watch baby deliveries on television so they can mentally prepare for their own labor. Meanwhile, mothers who say things like “miracle” or “cramped” are more emotional moms who will be looking for encouraging words during labor. I thought all of that was really interesting.

Finally, our nursery bedding and window treatments have returned from the seamstress. My parents are bringing them up this weekend so I can put the finishing touches on our little girl’s room. I think my mom is also going to help me hang pictures and such. In a future bump report, I’ll be sure to give you a tour…but I have a few other things I’ll have to share first, so be patient.

Food cravings: Again, nothing note-worthy. However, my hunger is starting to come back. If only I could physically eat what my brain thinks it can handle.

Exercise: Yep, I’m still hitting the gym about four days a week. Granted, I am not doing much more than walking along with a few light weights, but I’m keeping my butt moving. In fact, earlier this week I had six back-to-back meetings that required me to walk up and down the stairs. Everyone kept telling me to take the elevator, but I refused…gotta keep these legs moving as long as they still feel good. I should probably add that I continued to push myself into the night by going to see Wicked. The show was pretty good, but our seats were in the upper balcony…three flights of stairs. So, I got up at 6 am and got home at 10:45 pm…and watched American Idol until 12:30 am. I was tired, to say the least.

Movement: She is HEADS DOWN, but still moving – mostly during the day. Pray that this means she’ll sleep well through the night after she’s born.

Gender: STILL Girl! 

What I’m looking forward to: my work shower next Thursday!

What I miss: Um…an unoccupied stomach? Not that I don’t love being so close to my daughter, but I’m reaching that uncomfortable stage of my pregnancy. One of my coworkers said he would be happy to report back to his wife (who is due next week) that while I give the impression of being one of those “happy pregnant chicks,” that I get achy and irritable by day end. Since she’s been quite sick the past nine months, I think she was starting to believe that I was just a freak of nature…I am. 

Next Appointment: June 1st – I’m in two week increments now.