Well well here we are! Exactly one month shy of my due date and officially counting down! Not counting this week, I have three full weeks of work to go (plus two days) and then I get 12 glorious weeks off! If you would have asked me a few weeks ago, my goal was to make it through my last scheduled day of work (November 22), but as this baby gets bigger, I get less and less comfortable and I have decided that I am a-okay if he decides to come a little early! Of course, I don't anticipate that happening, but one can always hope, right?! My next appointment is on Friday at 36 weeks and not only does that mean the start of weekly trips to the OB, but I think my doctor will start checking me for progress. I'm anxious to find out if my body is starting to do it's thing!
The before baby to-do list that has been in my phone for months is growing more urgent by the day. Included is finding a newborn photographer (why do they all have to be so expensive?!), getting a new pump through Craig's insurance, pre-registering at the hospital (appointment scheduled for Friday), and buying a few personalized baby things on Etsy. Major improvements have been happening in the nursery and it is now nearly complete (nursery reveal to come)! We still need to install the infant carrier in our van and I'm working to finish long-term sub plans and tie up all lose ends at school, but I should be ready for my sub by the end of this week!
Like with my last two pregnancies, most people can't believe I'm as far along as I am. My babies seem to sit back in my belly and make me grow more wide than out, so I think my looks can be deceiving. Nonetheless, I definitely feel eight months pregnant! The acid reflux has been pretty painful at times (often waking me up), the morning carpel-tunnel is hard, and the constant peeing--sometimes three times per night--is annoying. Not to mention the exhaustion I feel during teaching. My poor students this year probably think I'm a hot mess (literally I sweat and pant as if I just ran a race) 90% of the time and my long-term sub, who came to observe last week, commented on how tired I seem. #truth I know I should really try to appreciate these last few weeks of pregnancy, and I want to, but at the same time, I'm ready to have my old body and my old energy back.
Who knows if there's going to be a nine month update or not! I'd sure like to think I'll have a baby in my arms by November 25, but at the same time, this baby has proven that two pregnancies can be very, very different experiences and I don't want to get my hopes up. Besides, baby or not, November 22 is my last day of work, so if I have to sit on my butt at home and wait for baby, at least there's that.
.........
How Far Along: 8 months (35 weeks and 4 days)
The before baby to-do list that has been in my phone for months is growing more urgent by the day. Included is finding a newborn photographer (why do they all have to be so expensive?!), getting a new pump through Craig's insurance, pre-registering at the hospital (appointment scheduled for Friday), and buying a few personalized baby things on Etsy. Major improvements have been happening in the nursery and it is now nearly complete (nursery reveal to come)! We still need to install the infant carrier in our van and I'm working to finish long-term sub plans and tie up all lose ends at school, but I should be ready for my sub by the end of this week!
Like with my last two pregnancies, most people can't believe I'm as far along as I am. My babies seem to sit back in my belly and make me grow more wide than out, so I think my looks can be deceiving. Nonetheless, I definitely feel eight months pregnant! The acid reflux has been pretty painful at times (often waking me up), the morning carpel-tunnel is hard, and the constant peeing--sometimes three times per night--is annoying. Not to mention the exhaustion I feel during teaching. My poor students this year probably think I'm a hot mess (literally I sweat and pant as if I just ran a race) 90% of the time and my long-term sub, who came to observe last week, commented on how tired I seem. #truth I know I should really try to appreciate these last few weeks of pregnancy, and I want to, but at the same time, I'm ready to have my old body and my old energy back.
Who knows if there's going to be a nine month update or not! I'd sure like to think I'll have a baby in my arms by November 25, but at the same time, this baby has proven that two pregnancies can be very, very different experiences and I don't want to get my hopes up. Besides, baby or not, November 22 is my last day of work, so if I have to sit on my butt at home and wait for baby, at least there's that.
.........
How Far Along: 8 months (35 weeks and 4 days)
Size of Baby: The size of a coconut
Gender: Baby BOY #3!
Weight Gain:About 40 pounds
Food Cravings: Nothing specific
Food Aversions: No aversions either
Movement: Frequent and often. Feeling baby hiccups a couple of times per day, too!
Sleep: Still sleeping pretty well, all things considered!
Clothing: The same. Some non-maternity flowy things but mostly maternity. I live in these maternity leggings during the weekends - they are thick enough to not be see through and have the full panel which is super comfy!
Other Pregnancy Symptoms: See above.
What I Miss: I miss my old energy. I miss being able to teach without becoming so out of breath! I miss some of my old wardrobe...although I do love a lot of my maternity clothes!
Best Moment: Hanging things on the walls in the nursery and being able to say I'm within a month from my due date!!!
Looking Forward To: The excitement of going into labor. Although I'm a major planner and I'd love to know when, where, and how it's going to happen, I admit that going into labor with Holden (versus being induced with Brantley) was very exciting! The logistics still have me a bit anxious (finding care for the boys, making it to the hospital in time, etc.) but I'm hoping and praying the process goes smoothly and there are no major hurdles to overcome! I'm also pretty excited to meet this baby, see who he resembles (Brantley or Holden--if either!), and introduce him (and announce his name) to the world!
