Baby Shook #3: 38 weeks

Not only did I get to write a 37 week post last week, here I am with a 38 week post! Lots of feelings ranging from being grumpy to excitement.

Yesterday I was fairly convinced I was in labor. Cramping that hurt which turned into back pain. Luckily I had my 38 week appointment that afternoon so I could get checked out. I was about 90% sure this was going to be the real deal. Well, turns out I wasn't in labor and hadn't progressed at all from the previous week. I wanted to punch something/someone, eat fast food, and cry. 

With Gwen and Bennett I was very convinced I would go to 41 weeks so I was blind sided when they came early. This time I wasn't going to be caught off guard, but now I am having a really hard time waiting! I am not even all that uncomfortable, but the unknown is very hard. More on what I am doing to cope below...

Baby Size: Leek, this means nothing to me.

How I Feel about being Pregnant: Kind of over it. I have to remind myself that the pros of being pregnant longer are more valuable than the cons. The cons only affect me and the pros are great for the baby! I am just ready to meet her!

Symptoms: Lots and lots of cramping and I think I pulled a muscle in my stomach probably because I am a nesting crazy person and doing more than I should be. I also pee nonstop. 

Food Cravings: Graeter's

Food Aversions: none!

What I am Excited About: Since I was feeling down about not being in labor, my friends helped me come up with some ideas for what I can do in the mean time. Some are fun activities and some are productive tasks. We decided to convert the closet in our playroom into a large double desk and start transitioning the room into a homeschool room. Just Pinterest closet desks. I am so excited! I emptied the whole thing, carried everything to the basement, then organized the basement. Definitely hit my flights of stairs goal today.

I also bought fabric to finish up window treatments in Bennett's room. His room should be done this weekend. Maybe I need to be pregnant more often because of how much I get done.

Sweet Thing My Husband did for Me: Loving me through my snoring, night sweats, and endless talk of "So when do you think this baby will come?" He hung up the curtains in our room which I am very excited about too! 

Something I have Done to Prepare for the Baby: Finishing all these last minute projects, making sure dishes and laundry are always done, and walking the zoo. I am tired all the time but my nesting instinct is outweighing the exhaustion currently. Please know I am far from this productive and on top of things normally. This is caused by animal instincts and hormones, not by own doing.

Funny Moment: I can't think of anything! 

Weekly Stats: 

• Days until Due Date: 12 days
• Days until My Prediction (July 25): 0... not so sure this one is going to happen. 
• Next Prediction: July 27th
• Next Next Prediction: August 6th when I have my scheduled c-section
• Days until My Next Appointment: 5
• Baby's Position: -3
• Dilated/Effacement: 1 cm, 50%

Bump Pic:

38 weeks 2 days

Baby Shook #3: 37 weeks

Lots of fun milestones this week! I am officially the most pregnant I have ever been! Bennett was born at 37 weeks 2 days and I am currently 37 weeks 4 days. This is also the first 37 week blog post I have written as well as first 37 week bump picture. Big day, big day.

Baby Size: Head of Romaine

How I Feel about being Pregnant: I don't mind being pregnant still but I am hyper vigilant over going into labor. I read into every little sign and am convinced I am in labor constantly. If only you saw my google searches. I am having some aches and pains but don't mind them too much. It is pain working towards a baby so I can handle it! 

Symptoms: A LOT of cramping. Every day I have hours of fairly painful cramping. I can't time it and they seem worse when I am sitting or lying down. I am hoping this means labor will come soon! I have to remind myself that I will know when it is real labor. 

Food Cravings: Chocolate milk shake! The day before Gwen was born I stopped by Steak n Shake, got one, then nested like crazy. Yesterday seemed like a perfect day for one as well and if you came to my house you would have found me crawling in our attic in a long skirt. The closets were calling my name and HAD to be organized immediately.

Food Aversions: Nothing that I can think of!

What I am Excited About: We are so close to having this baby! I have been scheduling and rescheduling my c-section because I keep changing my mind. It is officially scheduled for my due date since I can't go past 40 weeks. Until August 6th, if I go into labor my plan is to have a VBAC. After talking with my doctors and friends, I think my chances of a successful VBAC are very high. I am excited to have peace about both birth options and love knowing my doctors and I are on the same team.

Sweet Thing My Husband did for Me: Lots of things! Hanging with the kids so I can nap, taking care of dinner when I have a hard day, doing all of bedtime for the kids almost every night, and trying to empathize with me (this may or may not have looked like googling "lightning crotch" to know what I was talking about).

Something I have Done to Prepare for the Baby: Extreme nesting, cleaning, and organizing. All my lack of preparation up to this point must have been culminating to this. I am a fanatic about getting laundry done, dishes cleaned, floors mopped, and purging toys.

Yesterday I got the rock n play and play mat out of the attic. Both have been taken over by baby dolls. Much better than a 5 year old! 


Funny Moment: When we were discussing "lightning crotch", David instead said "thunder crotch". My crotch is experiencing sharp, shocking pains; not an audible noise.


Weekly Stats: 

• Days until Due Date: 17 days
• Days until My Prediction (July 25): 5 (ummmm, WHAT!)
• Days until My Next Appointment: 4 days
• Number of times I have thought I was in labor: over 100

Bump Pic:

Baby Shook #3: 36 weeks

Baby Size: Papaya

How I Feel about being Pregnant: Still not too bad! Things are physically getting more difficult, like picking things up off the floor. Frequently I am calling for Gwen to pick things up for me just so I don't have to. I also feel like it requires an immense amount of effort to roll over in bed. I'm definitely not miserable and can hang in there at least a little bit longer!

Symptoms: Lots and lots of Braxton Hicks. I had 4 hours of constant BH on Monday. It had me slightly excited wondering if I could be in labor, but here I am two days later still pregnant. 

Food Cravings: Potatoes and eggs for days.

Food Aversions: Spicy food doesn't have the same appeal it normal does, but not quite an aversion.

What I am Excited About: I am so close to not being pregnant! I can't wait to have a tiny baby! I have started imagining what various scenarios will be like with a newborn and its nothing but excitement over here. To have a little snuggly baby who can't argue with me sounds great! I also made it through my 36 week growth check which was the appointment I was diagnosed with IUGR with Gwen resulting in an induction. I am really hoping to go into labor! I want a Hollywood style experience where my water breaks in a dramatic way.

Sweet Thing My Husband did for Me: Today I told him I needed a parenting break. I asked for a couple hours to regroup and be ALONE. Instead, he decided to give me the whole afternoon/evening off and I will come home post-bedtime. He is the best!

Something I have Done to Prepare for the Baby: Nesting is in full swing. I am a cleaning/organizing machine. I have never been so consistent with cleaning and laundry. I feel like every load of laundry could be my last so I want to have everything clean and done before this baby comes. My sisters also came over and helped me to make a bunch of freezer food. I also decided that I really needed to redecorate (more like decorate for the first time) Bennett's room. Went to IKEA and bought all new bedding then on a whim bought a rug off Craigslist. Nice dude and no bedbugs. WIN!


Funny Moment: I am a lover of all things free. Ever since I first heard about Chick-fil-a's Cow Appreciation Day years ago, we have been dressing up like cows annually to get free food. This year I was ready. Gwen cut out the black spots while I taped them to white shirts. I had the whole family dressed and ready to walk out the door when David said, "Can you double check the date before we walk in there dressed like cows?" I did aaaaaaand I had the wrong date. We were minutes away from walking around unnecessarily dressed like farm animals. Another win for my husband and another very close embarrassing moment for me.    


Weekly Stats: 

• Days until Due Date: 26 days (my lucky number!)
• Days until My Prediction (July 25): 14 days (WHAT!)
• Days until My Next Appointment: 5 days! This will be my first time making it to the point of weekly appointments. 
• Baby's Growth Percentile: 12-15th! No induction unless I go under 10!
• Week Number: 36 weeks

Bump Pic:
At this point, I live in tank tops and maternity jeans shorts. Proof is in these two pictures taken a week apart.

Bump pictures with your 1st: taken in the same place every week, well thought out, and you know how many days, hours, and minutes you have been pregnant.

Bump Pictures with your 3rd: I pass a mirror in IKEA while my 5 year old insists she needs to poop 5 minutes after you just took her to the bathroom. The 3 year old plays with the feminine product disposal box while I use my free time to take a bump selfie.

35 weeks

36 weeks

Baby Shook #3: 32/33 weeks

Baby Size: Pineapple

How I Feel about being Pregnant: Feeling pretty good about things! I'm not crazy uncomfortable (yet) though picking things off the ground is a challenge. 

I'm mostly wearing myself out mentally wondering when this baby will come. Since Gwen and Bennett were early I keep wondering if I have 3 weeks, 4 weeks, or up to 7 weeks! But, DANG, at most 7 weeks?! Insane. I am hoping for a VBAC, but also know I cannot be induced so if anything requires an induction such as IGUR like Gwen was, fetal distress like Bennett, or simply hitting 40 weeks will require c-section. I have peace about it so whatever happens is fine. It is 100% out of my hands so all I can hope for is to go into labor on my own.

Symptoms: Swollen feet and ankles and the same old skin issues. I sure hope all this skin stuff is pregnancy related. I'm ready to have normal looking legs and not like I got attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes.

Food Cravings: All the sugary candy, iced chai tea lattes, and its not a craving, but I just really want some red wine!

Food Aversions: Nothing I can think of!

What I am Excited About: My friend having her triplets! Our due dates were 2 days apart so its been fun being on the journey together. Also excited that all the stains on the newborn clothes came out! Sun is a wonderful thing... except when a bird poops on the clothes.

Sweet Thing My Husband did for Me: I was solo parenting all week so once he was home, he told me to leave and do whatever I wanted for the day! I thought I would get a lot done but I underestimated how tired my body was from being the one lifting and wrangling kids.

Something I have Done to Prepare for the Baby: Got all the stains out of the newborn clothes and they are washed! Now to put them away. I also bought a pack of newborn diapers. A lot of the getting ready has looked like cleaning and getting projects done that are long overdue.

Funny Moment: I was at Kroger with friends when an employee said, "You look like you are ready to pop!" She then went on to give us a sales pitch about all the wipes and diapers on sale. Never had a Kroger employee so passionately promote a sale. 

Also, seriously people, JUST TELL ME I LOOK GOOD. Not ready to pop, not huge, not about to have a baby any day. If I get the nerve up, I might start saying "You do too!" or "I'm not pregnant." I don't have it in me to actually say something but give me a few weeks and maybe I will. I know this is the second post in a row I have been on my soap box, but I am amazed at the number of continual comments. I have never told someone they were huge!

Weekly Stats: 

-Days until Due Date: 49
-Days until My Prediction (July 25): 37
-Days until My Next Appointment: 7 days
-Week Number: 33 weeksNext Ultrasound: 36 weeks (she is on the smaller side so they want to keep an eye on her weight since Gwen was so small.

Bump Pic 

Baby Shook #3: 28/29 weeks

Baby Size: Butternut Squash

How I Feel about being Pregnant: Like a whale. I have had two people tell me I look significantly larger than 29 weeks. While that is completely true, DON'T TELL ME THAT! Tell me I look beautiful, I deserve a nap, and am glowing...or anything else super nice. This even came from women who have had children. People, for the love...

Symptoms:  Swollen ankles and feet for days. 

Food Cravings: All the sugar and sweets. Pizza is always on my list too. I keep seeing billboards for the new Spiked Arnold Palmer and I really want one. 10 more weeks or so and its going to be my first alcoholic drink.

Food Aversions: Kale? I actually don't really like kale anyways but now I have no tolerance.

What I am Excited About: 3rd trimester! Potentially single digit weeks remaining! Also, I got to see my favorite doctor in my OB practice and she told me she really hopes she gets to deliver this baby. She is the perfect balance of doctor and mother. Let's hope the stars align and I have a 38 week baby, somewhere between 6 and 8 pounds, no NICU time, successful VBAC, and this doctor is on call.

Sweet Thing My Husband did for Me: Loves me even when I walk slower than a toddler on his way to take a nap. Y'all should have seen my limping around downtown Asheville. Painfully slow. He also knows how to handle my hormonal freak outs like when I decide I have a blood clot that will kill me at 11:00 pm. He is a champ. He also says I snore like a freight train, but won't wake me up because he wants me to get rest. All the things you don't know about someone until you are married to them, but make the most selfless, loving husband.

Something I have Done to Prepare for the Baby: I actually did something! We bought an attachment for our stroller so we can put the baby car seat in it!


Funny Moment: Gwen has a new middle name option for the baby and is telling everyone. She has proudly decided the baby's middle name will be Joy. We will see how convincing she is.

Weekly Stats:

Days until Due Date: 77

Days until My Prediction (July 25): 65

Week Number: 29 weeks today!

Gender: Girl

Weight Gain: I am avoiding the scale like the plague.

Bump Pic (28 weeks)

Does the Biltmore make my belly look any smaller? Also, it was REALLY bright.

Baby Shook #3: 26/27 weeks

Baby Size: Head of Cauliflower 

Since I don't write weekly, one of the bigger updates was that I failed my 1 hour glucose test. Waaaaahhhh! I was focusing on not eating sweets and fruit, but as a wise friend pointed out, I inhaled Chipotle which included white rice, then chugged the orange stuff. Didn't even think about white rice affecting things! 

I did the 3 hour test the next week. Honestly, it felt like a mini vacation. I sat in a dimly lit room all by myself, in a recliner, with cable and wifi. I felt great except for being hungry. I even survived the 4 blood draws and I hate needles. I would definitely have my blood drawn every hour if it meant extended alone time in the peace and quiet. What would have been an inconvenience in pre-kid days, now feels like a luxury. I passed with flying colors and will now resume my regular sugar intake. 

How I Feel about being Pregnant: Overall, good! The day I turned 26 weeks must have been one of those hormonal days where everything felt hard and emotional. That was the first day I thought, "Hhhhmmm, kind of sick of being pregnant!" Mostly all of it stemmed from my upper GI burning and pain issues not related to pregnancy, but a pregnant lady in pain is a recipe for disaster. I'll be 27 weeks tomorrow and have felt great about things otherwise! Ready for the 3rd trimester!

Symptoms: I've been getting the classic swollen ankles. If I stand for too long, the cankles appear. Definitely more stretching and growing pains, but nothing too bad! 

Food Cravings: Always fruity candy like sour patch kids. We had some gummy bears in the house and I had to throw them away because I was crushing the bag. Later in the day I would wonder why I was so tired and felt bad. Major sugar crash! 

Food Aversions: I don't think anything! 

What I am Excited About: Under 100 days!!!! When we were engaged, I noticed time sped up after the 100 day mark and it has been true for babies too. I'm working really hard to put in place better routines for our family to streamline things for when the baby comes. Also, the more disciplined I become, the more consistent I can be with getting the kids to help. Having a clean kitchen every day is changing my life!

Sweet Thing My Husband did for Me: On the day he got back from camping all weekend and barely slept, I was exhausted from being solo with the kids all weekend. I also have been teaching a lot online. He still was the one that really needed a nap, but instead he let me take a nap to recharge and catch up on much needed sleep! Also, its worth mentioning again that he is the one who gets up with Gwen and Bennett in the middle of the night. I definitely am thankful for this when he is gone overnight and I have to do it.

Something I have Done to Prepare for the Baby: I started a list of things we need to buy before her arrival. There isn't much, but I want to at least buy something! Mostly getting new bibs, bottles, pacifiers (if I decide its actually worth fighting the paci battle again), and an adapter for our stroller. We also installed window treatments for the girl room! Yay! It is so cute! 


Funny Moment: Some of you might think this is awful, but I have to share Gwen's prayer for the baby every.single.night. A little back story, she has heard many prayers for me that my pain would go away since it has been a year. That being said, this is how her prayer goes, "God, don't let baby get the pain, not get sick, and not die. AMEN!" Uhhhhh, amen? I mean I don't want those things either, but I normally pray for things like a peaceful delivery, her growth would stay on track, etc. Gwen cuts right to the chase.

Weekly Stats:
Days until Due Date: 92
Days until My Prediction (July 25): 80
Week Number: 27 weeks tomorrow!
Gender: Girl
Name: I think we have it decided! You will have to wait and see
(New) Stretch Marks: A surprising zero! My stomach is much bigger and I'm shocked I don't have any new additions yet. Maybe rubbing Gentle Baby all over my stomach has helped! 

Bump Pic (26 weeks)
Yes, the room is a disaster. Slowly decluttering and purging my whole house. Think of this as a "before" picture.




Baby Shook #3: 14 weeks
Baby Shook #3: 17 weeks
Baby Shook #3: 24 weeks

Baby Shook #3: 24 weeks

Baby Size: Ear of Corn

An ear of corn feels so significant! Baby is over a pound at this point as well. I am excited to be at the week of viability and also feeling more baby kicks. 

How I Feel about being Pregnant: Still really good! Nothing to complain about yet! I love my bump! 

Symptoms: Not much of anything. This really has been easy lately! My eczema is under control. I think the random nausea I have is more a symptom of my food intolerances than pregnancy. 

Food Cravings: Always pizza and candy like skittles. Since chocolate usually makes my acid reflux worse, all the high fructose corn syrup and food dye candy is filling in.

Food Aversions: Nothing I can think of!

What I am Excited About: Only a few weeks left in the 2nd trimester! I scheduled my 28 week appointment today so it feels even closer. Soon enough I will be going every 2 weeks! Maybe this pregnancy I will make it to the point of going weekly!

Sweet Thing My Husband did for Me: He has been killing it lately. Today we got Chipotle and I have a mild obsession with the salad dressing you get with a salad. After David left, he realized he forgot it. He went back during lunch time rush with a 3 year old and got it for me! He also held down the fort while I was at a convention all weekend and kept the kitchen clean to my standards, which are fairly high.

Boy or Girl: Officially a girl! Motherly instinct was right on this one.

Something I have Done to Prepare for the Baby: Gosh, I really don't think anything. Maybe at some point I will prepare? I am making homeschool plans for the summer and post-baby now so we can keep on going even with a newborn. Setting standards low but also hoping for consistency in the small things. 


Funny Moment: I asked Gwen when she thinks the baby will be due. Her response? Christmas. That is impossible at this point so I asked her if she thought it would be July or August. She said, "July! Jesus' birthday!" Then I realized, Christmas in July! I looked up how many weeks I would be on July 25. Funny thing is that I will be 38 weeks 2 days. Gwen was born at 36 weeks 2 days and Bennett at 37 weeks 2 days. I'm all for it!

Weekly Stats:
Due Date: August 6
My Prediction: July 25
Days until Due Date: 112
Days until My Prediction: 100
Gender: Girl
Measuring at: 24 weeks, right on track



Baby Shook #3: 7 weeks
Baby Shook #3: 8 weeks
Baby Shook #3: 13 weeks
Baby Shook #3: 14 weeks
Baby Shook #3: 17 weeks