Pregnancy-40 weeks

I have to say I did not think I'd be doing this post. 40 weeks pregnant. My due date. Full-term.

I am surprised at how high my spirits are, how content I feel and how very comfortable I am. I have been sleeping like a baby...oh, wait. Babies don't sleep. Maybe that's why I'm totally content to have him inside instead of out for now. But I have been sleeping great. The last 3 or 4 nights I've been out cold, not even slightly waking up to change positions. Believe me when I say you don't just roll over in your sleep when you are 40 lbs overweight in your belly. Its more like a 3-5 point turn that requires you to be somewhat conscious.

All else is good, too. Shaun and I are both happy to be checking things off our lists that we didn't think we'd be able to squeeze in. I am a planner by nature so being in limbo from one day to the next is a bit frustrating, but its summer and our calendars are pathetically (wonderfully) clear for the entire month of July. So we wait.

My photographers were hard at work this morning, arranging my hands and fixing my hair.

Here's the other side of the camera. Heels, jewelry, a barrette holding two strands of hair and a confident air about her with the camera in hand.

Naturally, her sidekick had to have a turn, as well. She's barefoot and her dress in backwards. I love them both so much, just the way they are. And because of the way they are.

No News

I know its a catchy title that just draws you in. But with my due date tomorrow, I feel like I need to start every conversation and correspondence like that these days.

This is how my very few outgoing calls go:

Me: Hi!
Them: What's going on???????????
Me: Nothing, nothing.

So, I've been trying to remember to say "everything's fine" instead of Hi.

Our family is so sweet. They are trying to not be "one of those" who bugs the pregnant lady at the end, wondering if there are any new developments. (but, truth be known, I am "one of those", so I totally understand. Hey, its family rights!) So, I get sneaky emails and texts and phone calls something like this:

"Lisa, just wanted you to know its raining outside. Oh, and I almost forgot...any baby activity?"

Or

"Lisa, what do you think about getting together for lunch next May? And, before I let you go, any baby news??"

I also know there are quite a few who check here for updates as well. The love and concern is very touching and I'm happy for the contact...support is so important right now! I considered sending out an email update to our family every morning, but Shaun said if I forget once, we'll have 10 people on our doorstep in no time. Its such a blessing to have a big, supportive family and a couple close friends. I think they are all just about as excited as we are.

Thanks, Family. We love you all! And no, nothing is happening right now. :)

Pregnancy-39 weeks

I thought it would be a good idea to get this posted early so people are not wondering where I am. I am home, enjoying the fact that it is currently NOT raining!

Monday I had an OB appointment and everything checked out great. I'd gained 1 lb in two weeks (better than the 5 lbs/mo I've been averaging for a while now) and my blood pressure got the usual wide-eyed, "wow" reaction. Apparently its pretty low...I exercise daily, eat well, have little to no stress in my life, and no family history...I could only expect it to be good.

The fundal (what a weird word) height measured at 36 and I was 38 weeks, so that was a little encouraging that maybe he's not as huge as the ultrasound indicated. With both girls, I measured pretty much right on the week I was on. The doctor also reiterated that ultrasounds are notoriously "off", so maybe he's not as big as was indicated two weeks ago.

I feel like we are circling the airport, waiting for the go-ahead to touch down. We're making plans no more than a day in advance and we're squeezing in last minute things that are nice to get done this side of the birth. Last night Shaun got to add to that list "get water out of basements". Ours and one of the rental properties...fun.

I'm happy to have made it to July, since there are NO July birthdays on either side of the family, which also means no duplicate days. I'm not impatient yet, but anytime now would be fine. (Oh, and ice cream never tasted as good as it has the last two weeks...my family is thrilled to in on that part with me!). We'll keep you posted!

Pregnancy-38 weeks

This was a good week. My emotions have leveled off, I think in large part because Shaun has been around more. Everything is just better when he's home in the evenings and has a little flexibility. I was also so happy about the results of the ultrasound on Monday.

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My focus for the week was to get caught up on some things for work and I made progress with that. While I can't predict the work that will come in, preventing me from "working ahead", there are plenty of things that fall into the category of "I can do them today or a month from now" and I'm trying to knock those off so they are not still sitting when the baby arrives.

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I feel comfortable, except for my back aching by late afternoon. I sleep soundly every night, although its almost always a full eight hours, which I don't require when I'm not pregnant. I guess my only impatience for his arrival is so that he'll be as small as possible. Amanda was nine days early, so that would put us at this Wednesday...we'll see.

Pregnancy-37 weeks

I'm officially considered full-term today, which I'm trying not to think about, because it still could be another four weeks or so. I found this week to be a bit emotional for me. Its completely frustrating to be talking with someone and just bust into tears. BUT, after a few rough days, I feel like I'm stabilized again.

This week I went through the clothes that have been loaned or passed down to us. I washed them up and folded them in the dresser after I rearranged the girls clothes to allow for the extra dresser. So, so strange to have blue and brown! Avery simply cannot get enough of going through everything and exclaiming how tiny and cute it all is. I wonder if I'll ever be able to pick out his clothes.

I'm enjoying the movement and having this baby all to myself. My doctor and I both agree that he is laying sideways instead of head down like he should be. This has been a good thing because his feet have not been up in my ribs and his head has not been putting pressure on my bladder (explaining why I never have to get up in the middle of the night). However, its not a good position for delivery. I go for an ultrasound on Monday to confirm his position and I guess we'll have some decisions to make based on that information. If you would, please breath a quick prayer that he cooperates and does what he is supposed to do.

Avery, my budding photographer, has been really into taking shots of her baby brother. She instructs me whether to have my shirt up or down and places my hands where she thinks they should be. The idea is there anyway!

Pregnancy-36 weeks

The "When are you due??" and "How much longer do you have??" questions have started to increase greatly, so I thought I'd finish out the last few weeks of this pregnancy posting weekly instead of monthly 'cause a month from now I'm really hoping to be holding my sweet little guy in my arms.

I am 36 weeks today. A friend asked me if it feels like its gone by fast and I really don’t think it has. I’ve tried to deliberately enjoy each part of it, because I think this will be my last pregnancy.

We are beginning to feel the usual buzz that comes with the end of a pregnancy. Shaun and I chat about our mental checklists and occasionally throw around names. Not sure why we have always struggled so much with that part of it. I guess the finality of the decision is a bit intimidating…at any rate, it has always taken us a long time to decide.

The girls seem to sense something is coming, too, although its hard to miss the baby. He’s so big now that when we are sitting on the couch together reading stories and he moves, everyone sees it and feels it. Last night when this happened, Avery spent some time playing with him and trying to identify body parts.

Avery was so young when I was pregnant with Amanda, there was really no way for her to understand. This time around, its been fun to share the experience with both of them. We told them at Christmas, so I can’t imagine how long this wait has seemed to them. We very rarely tell them things more than a couple hours in advance, simply to preserve our own sanity.

Shaun thinks I am “nesting” and after he pointed it out, I had to agree. I feel a desperate need to organize everything in sight, including stuff that hasn’t been touched in years (like my photos). I’ve also started hunting for some items for the guest room/nursery because I've decided the girly decor that's been in there for guest purposes is really not fair.

The weather has made it challenging but the girls and the dog and I are still getting out to do our three miles 6-7 days a week. I've also added 10-15 minutes of the elliptical most days because I know the strength and endurance that will be required of me in the next couple weeks and I want to be prepared.

It'll be here soon!

(sorry about the lack of paragraphs...not sure why its doing that, but I've messed with it as much as I'm going to)

Pregnancy-35 weeks

After several failed attempts at having Avery take my picture, I resorted to doing it myself. I'm 35 weeks now and can feel the countdown coming on.

The website I read says:

he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

This is why I start I start getting a little impatient about this time. He's got everything he needs, he's just getting fatter and harder to push out. But I know better than to rush it. I am trusting in God's timing and enjoying the good life I have right now. I more or less go to bed when I want and I get up without an alarm clock. I get at least 20 minutes of a nap with my feet up most everyday. I even sleep through the night without interruption (not even bathroom trips).

The girls are so independent. They get themselves dressed, feed the themselves, play for hours on their own and take 2-3 hour naps at the same time everyday. Yeah, the good life. For being 2 and 3, I think they are pretty easy and I'm realistic enough to know a baby is going to change up our sweet routine just a bit.

I feel good and have nothing worth complaining about, however, I've definitely felt more pregnant with this one than the first two. The doctor has been happy with everything, in fact they've kept me to monthly appointments only so far.

Feeling blessed, that is for sure!

(Avery had put the flower in my hair and hers earlier in the afternoon. I'm trying to get them to understand that our flowers are to look at and enjoy where they are planted, and not to be picked)