35 weeks, and the count down begins???

     Today is the day I have completed 35 weeks of pregnancy! Wahoo!! I want to start counting down, but at the same time, I don't know if I do. I don't want to get too excited about things that could be happening the next few weeks especially if our little man decides he wants to come late. I have really been thinking about the birthing process a lot the past few weeks and am excited for what is to come.
     Paul and I are going to have a home birth and I couldn't be more excited. I am starting to get annoyed of all the people saying, "Why would you ever do that?? Thats crazy. Don't you know that its not safe. What if something happens?" Gosh. I have done my research and I feel great about our decision. I don't feel like I need a medical intervention to have a baby. If something happens, yes, I will go to the hospital. But I don't need a hospital to birth a baby. My midwives gave me a book to read and it talks about the process of giving birth, and is basically a birthing class course all summed up in a book. I just finished it the other day and am feeling a little more ready for this boy to join our family. I think the biggest thing that I need to work through right now is the fears and ill educations that I have associated with birthing and being in labor. Everyone makes it out to be this horrible, painful, never to be forgotten experience. When I truly believe it can be an empowering, humbling and spiritual one. It all depends on if I let my fears take over what I know and believe to be true.
     My goal for the next few weeks is to start clearing my mind and let go of all of the worries that people keep trying to push on me about how my birthing experience should go. I understand that it will be painful, but its nothing that I should be afraid of or fight. I know that I am capable of anything I set my mind to, so birthing a baby naturally, at home, is just one of many things I can and will do in my lifetime.
     I have finally started getting things done for our little baby boy. I completed a swing cover for our baby swing. The one that was on the swing was super babyish and just not my style. This one is brighter and happier and cute. I finished sewing all my cloth diapers and soaker pads too! I can't wait until I can start using them. Now I just need to finish his quilt for his bed and finish a baby blanket I started making with all the scraps from his diapers. I am feeling productive, and it has been great to get so many things done the past few weeks. I did write up a list of things that I want to deep clean before baby comes. I figure I will get all the sewing projects done first, then knock out the cleaning projects one at a time until I have them all done.
     No rememberable cravings these past few weeks that I can think of. My back hasn't been hurting as bad so that has been way nice. I am still a little sore occasionally, but my back doesn't ache all day and all night like it did before. My feet are deciding to swell and un-swell depending on the day. Some days they don't go back down from the previous days activities, but some days all my shoes seem to fit just like they did before.
      On a happy note, I can still do 10 pushups in a row and feel good about it. Weighted squats are getting a little trickier just because the extra weight does put some pressure on my back. But I am finding different ways to hold the weights that don't put so much strain on my back so that is good. I have started to do a lot of isolation work outs with my abdominals. I am trying to keep them strong and ready to go for when I am in labor. I hope that if I have a good strong core I will be able to have more strength and stamina for helping our baby boy join us.
    Paul has been able to visit every weekend for the past 3 weeks. That has been such a huge blessing for me. I don't realize how much I miss him and rely on him until he comes to see me. I enjoy every minute he is there, (even if all we are doing is watching march madness while I work on a sewing project and Paul does finances). I think the days I am really counting down until are the days that I get to move up and be with my husband again.
    I know that I am going to miss Cedar with all my heart. I have made lots of friends and great connections here that I will miss. Especially all my friends I have made working at Three Peaks, and serving in my callings in the church. But I am way excited for the adventures that are to come as we start a new life together up in Salt Lake.

33 weeks.  Still fitting into a shirt that isn't a maternity shirt. And sadly it looks better on me when I am pregnant then when I am not! Don't mind the clothes in the back ground. Laundry is a miracle if I can get it done more than once every 2 weeks!

34 weeks. I am definitely getting bigger every week. But I am thrilled that my hips still fit into pre-pregnancy pants. They for sure aren't massively comfortable, but they add variety to my wardrobe. 

34 weeks again. But I figure a picture is a picture and it will be good to be able to remember what I looked like. I know they are all selfies. But when Paul isn't home to take a picture its too hard to get anyone else to do it. Besides, most of these pictures are pictures I send to Paul so he can see how baby is doing even though he isn't here to see me every day. 

35 Weeks! Pee breaks all the time! I was doing great at only needing to pee once in the middle of the night, but I have had a couple nights where it has been twice. I am still feeling good about that though. The two timer breaks are only every so often so thats good!

The finished project of the baby swing. The other one had cutesey animals on it and it was just so babyish. But this one is a little brighter and more fun to look at. Plus it is soft and I can take the cover off and wash it when it gets dirty.