Hi hi hi! Long time no fruit talk, eh? I am now 37 weeks pregnant and realizing that this is probably the last pregnancy update I can get away with posting two weeks behind schedule. If I don’t get my 36-40 weeks pregnant post up as soon as we snap the pictures, it may never see the light of day/the internet until this baby boy heads off to college.

I also really, really want to post a few non-baby things before baby comes, because I feel like I have done nothing but talk about baby and have a sneaking suspicion that I will do nothing but talk about baby after he is born, soooo….let’s try and fit in some time for us, okay?

Let’s run through this so we can get to that:

32 weeks: Baby is as big/spread out as a bunch of KALE!

How I am feeling: Mentally, pretty excited as we headed West for a little National Park “babymoon!” What…did you really think I could sit still on a beach? My body may be 32 weeks pregnant, but my mind and energy levels are still off the charts. (Matt keeps asking me…when are you going to get tired and want to just take a nap with me? I thought by now I would be at that point….but instead I look at him and tell him the 2,984 things we need to do today. Muahahaa)

That said, this stupid cough is still nagging the crap out of me, but it is improving from the last two weeks of living with hacking fits and what I can only imagine are bruised ribs. I think the dry air out in Vegas/Death Valley/Zion helped speed up my recovery and certainly my need to carry tissues with me at all times.

Other than that, this week I’ve found it harder to take deep breaths (the cough isn’t helping, but it may be because a tiny human is taking up all of my lung capacity) and I’m officially back to needing to pee at all times.

How big is baby: Baby is a bit over three pounds (about 3 3/4 lbs) and has grown to be 16 inches long!

Our trip (total derail from the quick week update, and I realize this will make this post THAT much longer…sorry!): Ah, it was so so very amazing. We flew into Vegas on Thursday morning, and decided to zip on West to Death Valley that afternoon to show baby boy his third National Park in utero. :) I didn’t know quite what to expect from Death Valley, since I had been so focused on researching my most anticipated National Park, Zion, but when we got there I realized that, well – they don’t call it Death Valley for nothing.

Even the entrance to the park was completely different than every other one we’ve been to so far. No big sign, no friendly park ranger greeting you in a little booth. They had a little pull-up area where you pay to enter, but no one was manning it and the machine was from 1982. There were also small, almost homemade print-out maps in yellowed plastic containers – no official NPS map to fold and refold and reference every five minutes.

Badwater Basin was pretty freaking cool – the lowest point in North America below sea level. It also was like a movie location for Matt, as there is a famous “Badwater” running series that I know he dreams of participating in someday but there is no way I will ever let him do. Only because I love him too much…not because I think it is a ridiculous or completely insane. :)

On Friday morning we headed out to Zion (after I cleared out the 64 ounce orange juice carafe at the hotel’s continental breakfast). The drive from Vegas to Zion alone was beautiful, and once we got to Zion me and baby boy were itching to get out there and explore the gorgeous landscape. Zion also greeted us with a big “Zion National Park” sign that I obviously made Matt stop and take a picture with, as well as ranger stations and official maps, unlike our Death Valley experience!

It also had a lot more snow than either one of us imagined, until we realized that yea, it was January and we were up in the mountains. We made our way down a snowy trail and found ourselves walking up the trail that leads to Angel’s Landing, one of the popular yet difficult trails in Zion. We were able to walk out for quite awhile, even though I couldn’t move as fast as I wanted to (even if I tried, Matt had a close watch on me, constantly grabbing my hand to assist me and saying “Minnuto, do I need to take your trail walking rights away? SLOW THE H DOWN.”). Where the sun beamed on the trail it was muddy, and where there was casts of shade it turned snowy/icy.

After that trail, I was set on walking the trail down to the beginning of the Narrows, another popular but in-no-way-can-you-hike-while-pregnant trail. Howevr, that path was completely in the shade and therefore…straight ice. In my typical fashion, I was too stubborn to admit I couldn’t walk on it and decided to attempt the first bit while clinging my entire body onto the side railings. Matt wasn’t amused, and I was forced off within two minutes. Sometimes common sense isn’t my strong point when it comes to wanting to see and do all of the things to see and do.

However! After we drove through a gorgeous part of the park, we stumbled upon a sunny, flat and paved trail towards the entrance of the park. It was like the preggo adventure gods knew exactly what I needed. We walked along this trail for more than an hour, with the full ability to look up and around at the wonder that is Zion National Park (no ice or mud in sight!). I think Zion ties with Grand Teton for being my favorite National Park so far.

On Saturday, Matt and I (and baby) hiked pretty much every trail in Red Rocks outside of Vegas (I told you I am not tired yet) and then we visited with our friends Bridget and Mike, AND their new baby boy Ashton! Last time we were in Vegas, it was for my 30th birthday and Bridget was secretly a few weeks pregnant but, being so early on, didn’t want to tell anyone. She totally tricked all of us big time, and when we found out a couple of months later that she was pregnant I was beyond excited, AND super impressed with the energy she still had to hike with us during the day and go out with all of us crazy people at night during that trip! Needless to say, it was pretty funny when we walked into their house, her holding their baby boy in her arms and me holding mine in my belly…”my, what a difference a year can make!” We had such an awesome time hanging out with them and getting to spend time with Ashton, and I stocked up on all of the knowledge Bridget was giving me on newborns and breastfeeding and becoming a new mom. She has become one of my go-to mamas for the zillions of questions I have on a daily basis.

Favorite Memory: Well, the entire trip was obviously my favorite memory of the week, but as we were walking through Zion, I couldn’t help but laugh thinking about how inevitable it was for our little boy to be quite the adventurer himself, wanting to climb on all the trees and run up every trail and pick up rocks. And in turn, I’ll be like how Matt was with me on this trip, telling him to stop and slow down because he is making me nervous.

33 weeks: Baby is as big as a PINEAPPLE! 

How I am feeling: Feeling pretty darn great still! My cough has FINALLY subsided, and baby and I are back to spending our nights happy together – him dancing in my belly and me laughing, slightly freaked out as I watch or try to video his crazy movements. My only uncomfortable complaint are frequent foot and leg cramps during the night. Matt has become an expert leg massager. 

Speaking of this belly, I have started to notice that it feels super hard more frequently now throughout the day – it used to just feel large, hard and in charge at night. People keep telling me this could be Braxton Hicks, but it is less of a sudden contraction or hardening and more like a state of being for a few hours. 

I find myself staring at my belly in the mirror a lot more in the morning and at night – sometimes I can’t believe this is all happening. And that you know…I GREW A HUMAN. INSIDE MY BODY. I’m in awe of being a woman and harboring this little being inside of me. It is at once fascinating and powerful and scary and beautiful and I have just really, really loved every single minute of this body-morphing experience, pushed out belly button and all.

Baby growth: Baby is now just over four pounds and is more than 17 inches long. Eeep!

Favorite memories this week: On Saturday brunch with Springbox PM ladies of past and present, which obviously made me a very happy mama. When we first moved to Austin and I was working from home, alone in our apartment with my human interaction  limited to my trip to Buzz Mill every morning for coffee, I never thought I would find a group of close, incredible and supportive friends here. And now, here I sat with three of the very best. 

Speaking of incredible and supportive, while we were brunching, Matt and Claire’s husband Will drove to pick up our nursery glider! (Will has a truck, and we have a Honda Accord.) I was so excited to get it in the nursery and to sit – AND RECLINE – in it again. I am so in love with that thing. 

Also had 33 week check-in, where we got to listen to baby’s strong and perfect little heartbeat! Everything is measuring and weighing and looking on track for that March 24 due date.

Least favorite memory: Okay, maybe “least favorite” is a bit harsh. But on Sunday, Matt and I went to our first of two all-day “Reality Childbirth Class.”

Yes, it was super informative.

Yes, I need to learn this stuff.

Yes, the instructor wore a large uterus necklace. 

Don’t think I need to detail out much more. :)

Best thing I ate: I’ve been very into chocolate this week, probably to combat all the emotions around learning about childbirth.  I couldn’t pass up a very large chocolate pecan cookie from HEB during our weekend grocery trip, and then I even made a homemade batch of cookies and knock-off PB cookie Larabar bites. Dare I say I’ve moved on from my OJ kick? 

34 weeks: Baby is as heavy as a CANTALOUPE!

How I’m Feeling: Physically, not much has changed since last week. Besides probably gaining another pound around my waist! My energy levels are still going strong, and on Saturday morning Matt and I went for a long walk on the trail downtown and then walked all around the city, covering a good seven miles. I was a bit tired towards the end, but tiredness quickly turned into crazy hunger pains – baby needed to eat, STAT! I have noticed that if I go too long in between meals, I immediately begin to feel nauseous, shaky and dizzy…which, I guess doesn’t differ too much from my non-pregnant self. :)

Mentally, this week was a bit rough. We had our second all-day birth class on Sunday, and I think I met my quota on medical details. This class was focused on re-reviewing allll the things we learned the previous Sunday, with a special section on all medication options and side effects and a really fun, special segment on all the really, really nice things that continue to happen to your body AFTER you birth a human. We then took a tour of the hospital and the delivery rooms which was really nice to see, but after spending a total of 16 hours deep diving into every not-so-pleasant moments I’ll have there…the magic was gone, to say the least.

Luckily, the tour ended on a happy note when we walked by the nursery and saw a teeny tiny little baby boy in the window, wiggling around in his bed and seemingly in awe of his new world. I still can’t believe we will have one of those in our lives in a few short weeks!

How big is baby: Baby boy now weighs more than four pounds and is almost 18 inches long.

Progress on the nursery: With the glider chair in place (thanks again, Claire and Will!) we were inspired to go out on Saturday and cross a few more things off of our (well, okay, MY) checklist. Priority items: three white 18×24 frames for our National Park posters! I had been looking around at various stores and online and couldn’t find any that were plain and simple and not $70 each. And as luck would have it, we stopped by a frame store by our house that just happened to be running a 50% off all frames sale. So…check, check and check!

I also spent more time (if that is possible) on the nursery dresser, adding a few additional coats of stain to the top and all of the other spots I somehow still missed after painting it for two weekends in a row.

Favorite memories: On Saturday night, we had dinner over at Kristin and Matt’s, where we got to spend much-needed time with baby Emily! We hadn’t seen her in a couple months and it was so much fun to

Best thing I ate: Besides the potato black bean tacos that Kristin made, I’d have to say the very largeeee cup of TCBY I devoured on Sunday night. Much needed after said second six-hour birth class.

Favorite activities: Still love walking, balancing my extra 17 pounds of body weight in yoga and laying in bed and watching Baby Izzo move around in my belly! My phone is full of weird mini videos of my stomach moving, which is really embarrasing when trying to find a photo while someone is looking at your screen OR when you give your phone to that person to look at said screen and they just start flipping through your entire camera roll. (Also, side note….why do people think that is okay? I mean, the weirdest thing I have on there are bump selfies and baby belly dancing videos, and even I am mortified when I’m in this sort of situation.)

35 Weeks: Baby weighs as much as a HONEYDEW MELON!

How I’m feeling: Freaking PREGGGGNNNAAAANNNNTTTT. My belly has dropped a bit more this week and is just poppin’ out like a boss, so most days it feels like I’m hauling and swinging a bowling ball around. It’s gotten to the point where I’m now knocking into things with it – the stove handles this weekend wasn’t fun – and catching my reflection in store windows as I walk down the street and doing a double-take at how large and in charge I am. 

However, for as big as I feel, we went to the doctor’s this week for a quick check-in and my doctor said I was measuring a bit small for 35 weeks. (Weird, bc I’ve been on track this whole time.) I’m not sure if it is because my belly isn’t growing at the rate that this baby boy needs, but he is now trying to move around in a very crowded space. Which is still very funny most times, but this week it has actually started to hurt at other times. During one of the nights this week, I felt what I can only describe as a black and blue mark feeling in my lower left belly – almost like an inner bruise on the lining of my stomach. It’s one of his favorite spots to practice his boxing moves on, and it must be the excessive movement in that area – plus his growing weight –  that has made my belly feel like a very solid punching bag. 

How big is baby: This little karate kid is more than 18 inches long and is about 5 1/4 pounds.

Favorite memories: Well, since this weekend was my birthday weekend and we had visitors in town (Matt’s parents!) and it the last birthday I’ll have without chasing a little kid around – I have a lot of favorite memories! Of course, I’m much more looking forward to a different birth day this year, but still. :)

In true eight-month pregnant lady fashion, we went to the G.Love concert at Stubbs on Friday night. Nothing like fast waddling through a crowd to get closer to the stage while also holding your sleeve up to your nose to avoid second hand cigarette/weed smoke. (Is that even a real thing to say? Weed smoke? Sorry, I’m getting old.) Also made sure to not leave the concert until a $15 “My Baby’s Got Sauce” onesie was stuffed in my purse. My how times have changed.

We spent Saturday, my actual birthday, back on the hike-and-bike trail downtown. The ten-mile loops is probably my favorite place in all of Austin, and when we lived in our apartment and I wasn’t preggers, we would run the entire loop every Saturday morning. This time, Matt and I walked a good four miles on it, then walked up and around the city to watch the Austin marathon finishers.

I came back to the house to find flowers, a balloon and my favorite Izzo cake baking in the oven. We finished hanging the National Park posters in the nursery and bringing in the dresser, and then Kristin, Matt and Emily stopped by with the best gifts (them, and a TCBY gift card and super comfy GapFit shirts!). Then, we went out for pizza and ate a LOT of cake. Couldn’t have asked for a better day spent with better people. :)

Best thing I ate: Mrs. Izzo’s famous (and not low-fat, as I previously thought) pistachio chocolate chip bundt cake. It has been my favorite since joining their amazing family eight years ago, and I’m pretty sure me and the baby ate more than half of it in two days.

Nursery progress: After much debate on where the exact center of the wall is (I’d blame it on the hormones, but I still think I had a dog in that fight), we brought in the IKEA dresser I had been painting/staining for weeks and hung up the National Park prints above it. I absolutely LOVE how the dresser and the prints look together, and therefore I was determined to finish that damn dresser once and for all. I took Monday off to run a bunch of pre-baby errands, and made sure that time spent overanalyzing leather straps at Hobby Lobby and Michaels and buying every nail/washer/nut combo at Lowe’s fit into my mid-morning schedule. The time paid off, and by Monday night I had successfully made and installed (with a lot of help on the installation part from Matt) leather pulls for baby’s dresser. Here is a peak at the finished product (don’t mind the crooked photography):

More baby updates, nursery updates and I swear, NON-baby updates to come in the next two-three weeks and/or until this baby boy decides to make his debut. Then, after that…it was really nice knowing ya! :)