Baby P #3: 17 weeks

Looks like I've been posting these about every 2 weeks. That's about as much as I have time for these days. Life is a whirlwind with 2 preschool-aged boys and constant sickness in the house (seriously, we are about to enter month 4 of illness, not cool winter, not cool). Anyway, the 2 week timing will work out well because in another 2 weeks is our big ultrasound! 

{blurry photo courtesy of Malakai}

How far along:  17 weeks

How big is baby: approximately the size of an onion, 5.1 inches, 5.9 ounces

What have you been up to: decluttering, wiping noses, sniffling, watching too much Disney Jr...

Maternity clothes:  a little bit of both. I haven't bothered to try on any of my pre-pregnancy pants for weeks now, and I'm starting to grow out of some of my favorite tops. The top pictured is not maternity though. yay!

Sleep: It seems I have an okay night's rest about every other day. Better than nothing!

Milestones: We went on what many in the world of expecting parents call a "baby moon": a little getaway with the spouse before baby arrives. I hope we get a chance to do it once more in the next 5 months. It was so relaxing!

Best Moment: time alone with Ben while we house sat and the GORGEOUS weather we had this last weekend. We were so busy I almost forgot that I'm sick + pregnant!

Worst Moment: waking with a tension headache last Tuesday morning. I went to the doctor today and have another sinus infection. joy...

Food cravings: more sweets than before, but still mostly savory foods. Pita bread with cream cheese + roast beef, fettucini alfredo, soups. 

Food aversions: fried or spicy foods, wheat bread.

Symptoms: heart burn is back but not too bad, yet. Sciatica- I'm waiting on a chiropractic referral to help relieve it. I thought it was too early to be sciatic pain by my OB assured me that with each pregnancy the weight is carried lower, which causes that pain. I can feel my hips out of alignment, I can't wait to get an adjustment!

Movement: I feel baby between once + a few times a day, sometimes every other day. 

Gender: hopefully we'll know soon!

What I’m looking forward to: obviously our ultrasound in 2 weeks! I'm also already looking forward to my baby shower, mostly getting together with friends + family, the pretty location, and the awesome food!

What I’m nervous about/praying for: health + wellness for all of us. This pregnancy has been very boring so far which I'm very thankful for because the rest of the life has been non-stop sickness drama!

What I miss: not dealing with heartburn or gagging when I make lunch for my kids. 

Next appointment: April 10th for the ultrasound. 

Weekly Wisdom: These words came at the perfect time for me, from the Facebook page of our pediatrician: 

Real life isn't perfect, and it's not supposed to be. Parents aren't perfect. Kids aren't perfect. Some days as a family are really tough. And that's okay. For today, accept yourself, your kids and your circumstances as they are. Hug each other and share a laugh. Perfection isn't reality. Measuring yourselves against that yardstick will only make you feel bad. Life's too short and precious for that!

39 weeks (AKA still pregnant)

I got a lot of comments yesterday at church from people surprised to see me there. I'm really hoping this is the last of these updates and that before next Monday I'll be writing about little brother's birth...

{it cracks me up how the shadow makes my belly look 4 inches larger}

How far along? 39 weeks, measuring 36- meaning baby has surely dropped.

Total weight gain/loss: 35 lbs. I think.

Maternity Clothes: I've grown out of most of my tops due to how low I'm carrying now.

Sleep: very little at night and now I'm even having trouble catching up by napping. I attempted 2 naps over the weekend and both were failures.

Best moment this week: the assurance that little brother is okay after my fall and seeing Malakai after being away from him for 20 hours.

Movement: much slower, but still constant.

Gender: little bro

Labor Signs: lots. I have contractions + twinges all day and a lot during the night as well. I was 4cm and 50% effaced last Friday...but I know all of that pretty much means nothing in terms of when I'll go into active labor ::sigh::

Food Cravings: ice cream, always always.

Belly Button in or out? depends on babies position. Sometimes out, sometimes flat.

What I miss: being able to hold Kai in my lap, or reach things at the back of countertops. 

What I am looking forward to: holding my sweet baby bean in my arms. 

Weekly Wisdom: enjoy the wait.

Baby Brain Moment of the Week: 

Milestones: Not really a great milestone, but we had our first trip to the hospital of this pregnancy (there were 5 total with my first pregnancy). I'm hoping there will only be one more- the day we meet our new baby!


As an additional update from my hospital stay and follow up at the doctor: I haven't had any symptoms of placental abruption from my fall. Baby sounded great on Friday, and is definitely head down and ready to make his big arrival. 
I had a random itchy rash on my belly that my doctor said could be a symptom of cholestasis of pregnancy, so they did some blood tests. As of last night the rash is already cleared up (it only lasted a week) so I'm hopeful that all the testing comes back normal as to avoid medication or possibly being induced. I really don't think I have any complications and Dr. M was just being cautious. 


I've been having plenty of contractions, but nothing worthy of going in or even calling in over. For now it's just a waiting game. We've accomplished about 90% of our to-do list and I'm pretty much letting the other 10% get done as we have time + energy but really not worry about having them checked off before baby arrives. 


I've also been keeping myself busy (as if Kai doesn't do that already) with small craft projects like covering boxes with fabric for storage/decor and making a mobile for above the changer in the nursery. The playroom is done, so I'll finally be posting that update later today or possibly tomorrow once I get some photos and some time. 

{looking for little brother}

38 weeks

Here we are 2 weeks from the due date. We've made it to the "any day now" point of this pregnancy. It went by so quickly. Having our floors finished and being out of the month of September makes us feel even more ready for little brother to make his arrival. I have signs of labor about every evening, but nothing to call in about. I learned the hard way last time with two trips to the hospital for false labor before the real deal. I plan on not going in until the contractions stop me in my tracks, now that I'm familiar with active labor. I also hope to stay at home to labor for the first part depending on how things progress.

No picture for this post, maybe I'll share one later this week but I literally don't have a recent one.

How far along? 38 weeks 

Total weight gain/loss: 35 lbs.

Stretch marks? nothing new, just itchy.

Maternity Clothes: with the fall weather finally arriving in Oregon I have more options.

Sleep: tossing + turning but I'm used to it by now.

Best moment this week: snuggles with Malakai + little brother's kicks and nudges.

Movement: slow but regular.

Gender: little baby brother

Labor Signs: contractions every day. 3.5cm and 50% effaced at my last appointment.
Food Cravings: nothing in particular, just needing to eat small meals + snacks all day.
Belly Button in or out? out.
What I miss: being able to get out of bed without rolling.

What I am looking forward to: meeting our son. while our to-do list is still fairly long, I think we're ready!

Weekly Wisdom: enjoy the final moments of pregnancy, it's over so quickly.

Baby Brain Moment of the Week: mixing up schedules and confusing church volunteers yesterday morning. 

Milestones: labor "progress", although I learned last time (I was at 4cm for two weeks) that it means little to nothing.

FULL TERM- 37 weeks

Well, today this pregnancy is technically considered full term, but we're hoping little brother stays put for at least another week. We don't need another September birthday in the family, we're putting in new floors next weekend, and I'm just all around unprepared for him to be born. I mean....honestly if i went into labor today everything would be fine and I'd be just as happy to greet him as I would if he waited til October. I'm just as anxious to meet this little bean as I was when I was pregnant with Malakai, but I know I'll miss being pregnant too so I'm not in any hurry for him to get here. This pregnancy has FLOWN by for Ben + I this time around. I seriously still look down and think "oh yeah, I'm pregnant". 

{ready for fall!}

How far along? 37 weeks (previous pregnancy post here)

Total weight gain/loss: 33 lbs.

Stretch marks? just a few.

Maternity Clothes: pulled out a favorite maternity sweater that I only wore once last time around (pictured). Yay for cooler weather!

Sleep:tossing and turning. I probably turn over every hour and by 5am I'm so sore I can rarely keep sleeping.

Best moment this week: Malakai rubbing my belly and choosing to sit in my lap for a story, when he always prefers to sit by himself. I'm doing my best to soak up our time just the two of us before it changes forever.

Movement: big and sometimes painful.

Gender: just in case you forgot-it's a boy.

Labor Signs: actual contractions and some intense pain shooting down my legs that reminded me of my previous labor. yikes!
Food Cravings: costco hotdogs.
Belly Button in or out? slightly out, it seems to change depending on mine or baby's position.
What I miss: lots of things, right now I miss being able to snuggle Malakai close or have him sit cozy in my lap for reading stories.

What I am looking forward to: despite my not feeling ready, I am so excited to meet this little boy!

Weekly Wisdom: don't put off big projects until the last minute. We're really hoping I don't go into labor while the floor is being redone next weekend!

Baby Brain Moment of the Week: I went to mention to Ben that I had been having several contractions after my weekly OB appointment, but instead I said "I've been having a lot of transactions." I laughed so hard at myself that I cried.

I also ordered a regular pumpkin spice latte yesterday after drinking decaf this entire pregnancy. I didn't realize it until later that night, I feel so guilty!

Milestones: reaching full term today.