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How far along? 39 weeks today … And hoping this is the last pregnancy update I write BEFORE the baby arrives!

  
Total weight gain/loss: much to my surprise, the weight gain has slowed down. Even with some extra water retention this week, I’m up about 28 pounds from the start of pregnancy.

Maternity clothes? I’ll take what fits at this point. I’ve been surprised to not be in my largest shorts, but I can tell that some of my standards are getting snug. I’m officially working from home now until the baby arrives, and I’m so glad to be out of work clothes and into shirts, shorts, and yoga pants. I did get another Stitch Fix this week, focused on transition from pregnancy to postpartum and nursing, and it was GREAT. Such a relief after the last one. I need to do a summary SF Maternity review.

Stretch marks? So far most of my pregnancy marks seem to focus on my legs. I think I can safely say this after four pregnancies! All things considered, that’s not too bad! I think I’d rather have them on the inner thighs than across my abdomen. I do have some elsewhere, but not too badly. 

Sleep: Well, yesterday I was awake since 2:30 a.m. What does that tell you? My lunch breaks have become 20 minute cat naps when I can’t function anymore. I put on a Hypnobabies track and pray for some rejuvenation. Most of the time it works! The great thing is that the track almost always brings me naturally up to being awake after only about 20 minutes … I never can naturally keep myself to the cat-nap length otherwise. (Must remember this for quiet moments after the baby arrives!)

Movement:  Much smaller movements now. Mouse is running out of room! S/he still moves quite a it, with a day or two of quieter times per week. Then the squirms and kicks and hand waves start up again, but there’s not just no room!

Food cravings: ice cream bars and Chick-fil-a waffle fries. I don’t know why. I guess the sweet tooth that went away in most of my pregnancy is trying to come back!

Anything making you queasy or sick: still the random smells, although thin has become much better. 

Gender prediction: Still thinking it’s a girl! Even Jude thinks so now. He’s started to agree that there is, in fact, a baby in Mommy’s belly and soon it will be at our house. I asked if he’ll be a big brother then like Seth: “YES!” And is it a baby sister or baby brother? “SISTER!”

Wedding rings on or off? I’ve started leaving my engagement ring off because the extra width can be uncomfortable some days (my band is very thin). Otherwise it fits fine, and this is definitely the longest I’ve worn my own rings during pregnancy!

Feeling all the Feels or Just Some of the Feels? The cranky and irritable stage has fully set in. I firmly believe this is God’s way of protecting the new baby … Every pregnancy, the last few weeks I’ve wanted to be a hermit, haven’t wanted people to touch me, and have been super cranky about being interrupted by the outside world. I think that’s how our bodies prep to focus a mom on delivering and caring for a tiny baby!

Weekly Wisdom: i don’t know about wisdom, but I did buy my first Erin Condren planner! I need something to keep this life organized … And for a girl who has happy dreams about perfect office supply stores, this planner seems likes good start!

Seriously though … We did a “Super Sibling” class and tour at our hospital, and I think it was a really good idea. Short class on basics of baby care and what newborns are like, then a tour of where mommy and the baby will be. Seth goofed off through it, but I still think pieces sank in for him. Nora LOVED it and it shows up in how she holds and plays with her baby dolls now.

Milestones: One week until my due date! Will this baby be like Jude and come one day early, or Nora and come almost a week late (and arrive near Nora’s due date … July 1)? Will this be a June or July baby? Who knows?!

Pregnancy Fitness:  I am breaking out the pregnancy yoga again now that I’m working from home. I need the relief in my lower back … And maybe those squats will prompt a baby into better positions for labor. 😉

I decided the monthly(ish) updates worked for me … maybe I’ll get a little more frequent as we hit the last 4-6 weeks!

How far along? Today is Monday, May 18, and I’m actually 34 weeks and a few days. It is crazy how time is flying.

Total weight gain/loss: BabyCenter tells me this is when the baby gains about half a pound a week, and I can certainly feel it! I’ve gained about 23 pounds total since the beginning of the pregnancy now. Yes, that is about 10 pounds since my last update! I’ve still been watching what I eat but the baby growth has been insane. The fluid retention too … ugh. Welcome to the third trimester, the start of summer, and Houston. Yay.

Maternity clothes? I did pull off the wedding outfit I had planned at my sister’s wedding at the end of April … with help from maternity Spanx and a Stitch Fix maternity camisole that essentially was a body stocking. It was so long that it covered me to mid-thigh, and it was much appreciated! Otherwise, I’m starting to move up to the fantastic third trimester sizes … one size bigger than I’ve been wearing all along. My pajamas don’t fit, my clothes are too tight, I’m hot, and I hate getting dressed in general. Yep, right on schedule.

Stretch marks? My legs will never be the same. Let’s just leave it at that.

Sleep: Has become a horribly uncomfortable experience. Even with the pillows propping me up, I get breathless on my right side, sore on my left side, and all-around cranky. I also now have a regularly timed (it seems) pee break in the middle of the night. C’est la vie, ce sont les dures semaines.

Best moment this week(s): We went for an elective 3D/4D ultrasound at the end of April so the kids could see the baby. I’d never had one before, and I’d heard they can either be great or a little spooky. We lucked out and got a GREAT view of our Baby Mouse!

Movement: ALL THE TIME. Mouse still has occasional quiet days, but is definitely at the size where I can feel most movement. S/he really likes to plant feet into my right ribs, and also likes to roll from side to side. Not quite the gymnast that Nora was, but definitely a mover!

Food cravings: Warm cookies. The lack of warm cookies almost had me in tears one night, and I knew was being totally irrational and still couldn’t help it. I just don’t understand why people can’t drop everything and find warm, fresh-baked cookies. Oh, and a Coke! Ice-cold Coke sounds WONDERFUL.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Lots of smells, including cigarette smoke in any form or fashion. I’m grateful for a current allergy attack because I can’t smell things.

Gender prediction: Still thinking it’s a girl, but a little less sure after that ultrasound! There are some distinctly Seth characteristics in that sweet face … but also Nora, and also Jude! We’re having a hard time coming up with boy names, but now I feel more urgency to get one lined up!

Belly Button in or out? Half in, half out! This may be my first pregnancy with an outie.

Wedding rings on or off? It depends on how hot it is and whether I’ve been traveling. After my trips to DC and North Carolina I definitely had to take the rings off. They’re back on now, but not as loose as they were.

Feeling all the Feels or Just Some of the Feels? More and more emotional. I’m over it, but I know it’ll just get “enhanced” as the fatigue sets in from not sleeping well and carting around the extra weight!

Weekly Wisdom: It’s really hitting me that this is my last pregnancy. The constant baby gymnastics can be exhausting, but I know for sure this is the last time I’ll experience them. With Jude we were on the fence about whether we’d have another, so I tried to enjoy as much as possible. Now I know this is our last baby, so I am trying to savor the special things about pregnancy that I won’t experience again.

Milestones:  40 days until my due date. WOW.

Pregnancy Fitness:  I’d love to say that I’m still keeping with the yoga, but honestly … walking in general is a fitness exercise for me right now. The last month has been crazy with travel and family commitments, so I’m hoping to get at least some pieces of yoga practice in again before baby arrives. If nothing else, I’m at least doing my Hypnobabies tracks for MENTAL fitness!