We are durian fruit (whatever that is?!) status folks! I think I’ve seen this fruit in person a few times and I always have to touch it, lol.  I’ve never had it before though.  Maybe one day I’ll actually try it out.

The facts:
Your baby’s brain is still developing rapidly as his or her five senses get ready for the world outside the womb. At this point, baby can see the liquid world around him or her.  Fun fact:  Baby can feel sensation when he or she grabs a toe or sucks on a finger; taste the amniotic fluid he or she’s swallowing; and hear your heartbeat, your voice, and the grumble of your stomach. There’s no air in the amniotic sac to carry scent, but if there were, baby could also smell her environment.
Baby’s crown-to-rump length is about 17 inches. Little one weighs about 4 1/2 pounds and gains about eight ounces every week.
Baby is also in the process of receiving my antibodies. If he or she were born right now, baby’s immune system would be immature, and extra care would need to be taken to keep him or her in a sterile environment.
Baby is rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his or her skull aren’t fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him or her to fit through the birth canal. Another fun fact:  The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don’t entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his or her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Here’s hoping baby is not in the above pictured position (breech)!  Even though I know baby still would have time to turn before delivery.  I won’t find out until my 36-week appt a guestimate of what position the baby’s in.

Baby -  This little (or rather I say big) one is getting bigger and stronger by the day.  We are talking, taking up more and more room by the day.  Baby makes me laugh when it moves like an alien in my belly.  Sometimes I just look at my belly and laugh at how it moves.  They say baby sleeps 90-95% of the time, but some days it sure doesn’t seem like that.  Little one gets more active by the week.  I probably feel it more now since baby is so much bigger.  I can’t believe all baby has to do going forward is fatten up, mature its lungs and immune system, and overall just get ready to be born.  This is actually a real little person I have floating around in me. – So cool!

Me – I have been feeling pretty good this week.  The major thing is being sleepy more, but that’s totally expected and easy to deal with.  No swelling, signs of preterm labor, or any other craziness.  My belly has been itchy, but not to be alarmed, its just the skin continuing to stretch.  I’ve incorporated into my usual Palmer’s regimen, and it makes my belly sooo soft!.  Also, my belly has been a little achy under the bottom.  I take it that this is stretching and possibly the baby dropping more into my pelvis.  I have been feeling some increased pressure in my hips if I’m on my feet a lot.  Otherwise, I mostly still have the Braxton Hicks throughout the day.  I’m doing my best to stay hydrated with water, but I have included a by Traditional Medicinals into my diet. Its supposed to help prepare your body for birth and has great reviews.  My Mom actually told me about the specific tea, but I had heard of such teas existing, especially the red raspberry tea leaf.  I’m very excited to be drinking hot tea again, because I laid off my teas completely once finding out I was pregnant.  I really like the tea so far, and I’m supposed to drink 3 cups a day, however some days I’ve only had time to drink 2 cups.  Everything else is looking good and feeling good, so that leads me to believe that baby is good.  In other news my craving has returned, I’m still loving the Outshine frozen fruit bars, and our pack n’ play and swing/bouncer arrived this week.  Its getting real people!

Hubs – As usual he is doing good!  Growing more and more anxious by the day, Hubs is super excited.  He’s even helping me do inventory of all of our things we have so far for the baby.  We got out swinger/bouncer and pack n’ play in and he is pretty excited to have them and get them setup.  I showed him the little Halloween onesie, socks, hat, and shoes I got baby at Old Navy and he thought it was really cute.  I told him its his turn to pick out an outfit for baby, and I know he’s looking forward to it for sure.  Hubs is talking to the baby every day, touching my belly and kissing it.  Its so nice to see him connecting with the baby. He’s even gotten to see some of the alien-esque movements that baby does and feel them.  Hubs thinks its so cool!