Week 30, a pregnancy survey

I just looked back at my last baby post, week 17 and boy, have things changed since then! I have pictures from subsequent weeks but haven't made any additional effort to take just 'bell' pictures. I am now wishing that I would have taken a few more after seeing a few pictures that Ed took of me yesterday at moesgård. I will make no promises as to whether or not I will be able to keep with the weekly thoughts and observations for the the next 8 to 12 weeks but I will certainly try.

This week, baby is the size of a: A head of cabbage
Due date: September 27, 2012
How far along: 30 weeks
Next appointment: This saturday--we need to have our midwife fill out a 'fit to fly' form
Gender: Boy
Total weight gain/loss: unfortunately for my post-delivery me, 20-25 pounds.  It will only go up from there, right? (I am blaming an extreme number of 'cookies-eaten' on this amount..i'm trying to cut back)
Exercise: Yes, I'm Scout's primary walker.  We walk 1.75 miles a day.  Also, I still use the elliptical about 4 times a week.
Stretch marks: Nothing that I didn't have before pregnancy.  I put vitamin E oil on my stomach every day so maybe that is helping.
Swelling: Only 1 day in week 22.  I spent the day in the car on a road trip and then ate an excessive amount of chips when we arrived home.  I may have brought that on myself.
Maternity clothes: Yes, definitely for pants.  I still wear non-maternity shirts on occasion.  Belly band and my pre-pregnancy pants no longer work for me.
Belly button: In
Sleep: It is more difficult to get a full nights sleep, during the night.  I will wake up at 4am and just look at Facebook and the internet for a couple hours and then fall back asleep around the time Ed leaves for work. Then I will sleep another 2 hours or so.
Food cravings/aversions: No current cravings or aversions.  They've all passed for the most part.
Symptoms: Back pain--I have felt like my lower back has needed to be adjusted for the last 10 weeks.  I am not fond of side-sleeping so awake to find myself on my back many nights as well--which doesn't help the back pain.
Movement: yes, I love it!  He definitely is most active in the middle of the night.  In the evenings, I will use a kick-counting app just for fun and he will usually reach his 10 kicks in about 15 minutes.
Labor signs: after doing a bit of google research, I've determined that I definitely have been having a fair number of pain-less Braxton-Hicks contractions.
What I miss: fitting into my clothes (and wondering if I will fit into them again)
What I'm loving: feeling the baby move-definitely an amazing experience that I have been looking forward to for years
What I'm looking forward to: Sleeping on my back
Best moment this week: I finished a piece of art for the babies' room (which didn't help with the back pain)  Also, my mom sent me a box a baby clothes. She had wrapped most of the outfits individually so it was fun to unwrap them...and then wash them with baby detergent.  I love that smell!
Milestones: I have less than 3 months left (unless of course he waits until the last minute to arrive!)
News: I sewed my first curtains ever last week--and lined them.
Goals: Well, the babies' goal better be to put his head down in the next 6 weeks and my goal is to have the "5 S's" memorized  (I'm reading Happiest Baby on the Block)
Weekly wisdom: Don't by sandals that require bending over to buckle.  Who knew it could take 10 minutes to put on shoes!