42 weeks

I think I might try and keep up with weekly photos to see how long it takes for me to get back to my postpartum shape. I've been so diligent about weekly photos since 15 weeks (which is when I actually came to the conclusion that this pregnancy was sticking), that it would be sorta fun to see how I shrink down in the upcoming months.

FYI, I have huge plastic cones in my bra in these shots.

41 weeks

I really did NOT think I would get to 41 weeks. The time spent in that week was marked with tears, frustration and the real worry that this baby might not ever come out. Physically I really felt fine - no back aches, no leg cramps, I wasn't really waddling, my stomach wasn't that big and I was sleeping pretty darn well. Mentally I was going nuts with all the questions from people who could really work on their delivery. One friend of ours kept sending me daily texts saying (and I quote) "Geez, what is up with your baby?" and "Uh, seriously is the kid still not here." and "Are you sure everything is okay with the baby?"

I went in for 2 non-stress tests and 2 fluid volume checks and the results kept coming back normal, and still no baby. After the second fluid volume check I went for a solo evening walk while my mom played with Piper at the playground. The air was cool and crisp for the first time and I hoofed my way around a 1 mile loop near my house. I had been pretty nervous about going into labor - I was anxious to meet our baby and desperate for him/her to arrive, but very much NOT looking forward to contractions and pain and the unknown. As I walked and pumped my arms and tried to really push myself so that maybe I could perhaps push myself into labor I felt a sense of confidence brewing. I hadn't been totally by myself in weeks and being alone and quiet and enjoying the fall air and the leaves changing I started to tell myself "it's all gonna work out, it's all gonna be okay". I took deep, yoga ujjayi breaths and I could feel the anxiety releasing a bit with each breath. The fear of labor and possible induction and stuff was still there, but I ended my little power walk knowing that everything was going to be okay and that yes, I CAN and WILL go through labor again and that a little miracle was coming to us.

Two days, 3 trips to have my membranes swept, 41.5 weeks of pregnancy and 2 ounces of castor oil later 6 pounds of love came roaring into our world. And I learned suddenly that yes, it is possible to love your second child just as fiercely and instantly as your first.

40 weeks

Photos taken first thing this morning, complete with bedhead and an unwashed face.

I really can not believe I'm posting a 40 week update. And I can't believe that I'm out and about and each day I'm having people casually say "Oh, when are you due?" and then looked shocked when I say "Four days ago!"

I was feeling great last week. Now I'm downgrading myself to just good and by the end of the day you might get a much different response then that. Last night I was exhausted and was lying in the bathtub with only half of my big ole body barely covered with water. Patrick was chatting with me and as I tried to heave my body up to a sitting position I had to hold on to the safety bar and puuuuullll myself up. I sat there for a minute just sorta taking deep breaths and when he asked me how I felt I sighed and said "Tired, really tired. And I think I'm getting closer to the end." Obviously this is sorta a "duh" comment since I'm overdue, but that was the first time I felt just done with the pregnancy and ready for it to be over.

I'm not having any signs that labor is coming, at least not that I notice. No real contractions, the mucous plug is still in place as far as I know (sorry Mark if you just had to read that), no upset stomach, no baby dreams. At my appointment this week I lost a pound which brings me to 146, from my pre-pregnancy weight of 118. I am very pleased about this since I have been eating like a friggin horse. Hamburgers and fries, eggs benedict, a gigantic Costco chicken salad that I usually can't finish and after eating the whole thing I started in on Patrick's piece of pizza, manicotti, bowls of chili, Halloween candy. I can't believe how much I've been stuffing my face with, I'm just so hungry. Pretty much the most glaring, obvious sign that a baby is imminent is my emotional state which is all over the place. I started crying at my midwife appointment yesterday when I was telling her about how our shower curtain fell down and then 30 minutes later I'm exploding with happiness at how beautiful the day was and then later I'm crying while I look at Piper's sweet little face while she naps and baby brother/sister kicks me from inside. I am just a tangle of extreme hormones.

I feel absolutely neurotic about keeping the house clean. It is the only thing I can really control right now (so says my midwife) and I keep trying to imagine myself going through contractions while there is a pile of unfolded laundry on the couch and it makes me twitch. I want the sink to be totally empty and our bed to be perfectly made and the floors to be swept and Samford to get the hell OUT of the house because he keeps tracking in dirt and dropping dog hair. It is killing me that the backyard hasn't been mowed and I'm obsessively trying to keep the kitchen counter tops free of clutter.

Our bags are backed, the car seat is installed with freshly washed blankets sitting on top waiting to swaddle the baby on the ride home. I am taking warm baths at night, going to bed early, drinking lots of water, taking walks, seeing the acupuncturist, saying my prayers, and trying to stay relaxed. There's nothing else I can do and when/how this baby arrives now is up to him/her, who is also still nameless and we both don't feel too stressed about it (surprisingly). We decided we'll just name them when we see them because we can NOT for the life of us come up with a name that we like. And we are still taking suggestions!

first haircut

BEFORE

AFTER

She LOVED the attention and totally loves her new haircut.

39 weeks

So here I am, facing the end of this pregnancy and I've got to say I feel...good. Normal, fine. Dare I say, relaxed? I'm sleeping well, eating a LOT, getting around without any problems and only having the occasional crampy-could-this-be-a-contraction?-ache every once in awhile. I am equally pleased and perplexed by this since when I was this pregnant with Piper my back hurt, I wasn't sleeping at all and I was getting really anxious.

The baby is not moving around quite as much as it was a few weeks ago. I use to get karate chops all the time and now I usually have a foot randomly sticking out of my right side for most of the day. I imagine that the baby is hanging out inside, just reminding me he/she is still there by kicking their leg out for a bit, almost like they are riding in a pick-up truck and have their leg propped up out the window like a hillbilly.

One thing I love about the end of pregnancy is all the attention (no surprise right). I love all the little comments from random strangers "Looks like your time is almost up!" "Wow, a baby is coming really soon huh?" and "You look great, not that much more time I guess." I get so annoyed with how no one seems to be polite to strangers any more. Both times that I have flown in my 3rd trimester during this pregnancy I didn't have a single person offer me any help. No help with lifting my bags into the overhead compartments, no extra arm room when I was squeezed into the middle seat. But now, at the end of pregnancy all the sweet words and kind gestures from strangers are coming out. I keep getting doors opened for me and help out with my groceries and phone calls from family and friends saying "Feeling anything yet?" I just love it, it is so sweet and fleeting because pretty soon I'll be a normal un-pregnant person with a little munchkin attached to me.

cute

ha!

38 weeks

This week was a mess of surprise and stress over getting the news of the little one being breech and me trying hard not to sweat about it so that I could instead sweat over taking my board exam. I never stopped at any point in this pregnancy and considered the fact that baby could flip breech. I don't know why, I guess it just seemed sorta rare and the thought never really occurred to me.

So I tried hard not to worry and to come to terms with a possible csection - which is NOT the end of the world by any means, but still very different then how I imagined having this baby. I started to definitely see some of the pros with a csection, such as the convenience of knowing when the baby would be here, the luxury of not having to go through contractions and pushing and the possible pampering I would have received in the hospital. Right about the time I was thinking of all of those things, we went in for our next ultrasound and the baby was head down again! Hurrah! And also...oh yea, now I really do have to go through contractions and pushing and gigantic maxi pads and warm sitz baths. But I am thankful, very very thankful. Patrick and I kept saying that all we want is a baby...it doesn't matter how it arrives, just as long as it is safe and happy and ours. And so sometime in the next few weeks that is what we will get!