Baby Thoughts

With my due date being roughly a month away, I can't help but almost constantly calculate when this little one might arrive. This is a very fun guessing game for me. I seriously think about it almost daily now. Though, I don't have to do the figuring, I know the dates by heart almost. So, here are the facts and my estimation.......

If Paddle comes on Big Big brother Widdle's timeline, he or she will be born on September 11. To be honest, this is one of the days I've blacklisted. I just feel a tinge weird about the baby being born on September 11 and would rather almost any other day.

If Paddle comes on Big Brother Waddle's timeline, he or she will be born on August 16th. This is fine with me. If the baby did come then, we would have plenty of time (idealy) to make it home for Widdle's 4th birthday. Also, it would kind of be fun to have four under four for a few days.

If Paddle comes on Big Sister Piddle's timeline, he or she will be born on August 13th. That is next Friday. One week from today. I'm not that ready to go and I don't particularly want the baby to come on Friday the 13th. It's not a blacklisted day, but not a favorite. Piddle's timeline was crazy though, and I am still not convinced that she was as early as the doctors thought she was. I keep mentioning that the baby could come as early as next Friday, but I am not expecting anything until the 16th(ish) or later.

The wrench in the figures is Widdle's birthday. His birthday is the 19th of August. I don't think it would be terrible, but I just don't really want the baby to share a birthday with Widdle. I love birthdays and I want each of them to have their own special day. A day that I can think about the days leading up to their very first birthday and well, I just don't want to have to split that time. Even now I am daily thinking about how I thought Widdle would never come out. I can picture myself walking around T@rget looking for castor oil and the pharmacist begging me not to use it. And here he is almost four years old. Those last weeks seemed so long, and the last 4 years seem to have gone so quickly. I could cry..... but I won't. At least not right now. I still have two weeks.

Here's the other thing. I've been reading "The Birth Book" by Dr. and Mrs. Sears. It is an excellent resource just over flowing with information about birth and tips to help with labor. I so wish I had studied it exactly four years ago! Any who, with knowing how big our babies can be, I am really hoping this baby comes a little early. The dates I really like, with no real significance other than that I think they sound like nice birth dates, are Aug. 22nd or Sept 2nd. August 22nd would put three of our four children's birthdays on the same date. Also, it's a Sunday, so people would be easily available to help out with our littles. I'm not sure why I like September 2nd, I just like the sound of it. So, with reading this book and previous experience and all of that, I know that having your membranes swept is one way to move labor into action. I asked my midwife about this and she said that she would do it only if I asked and no earlier than 37 weeks. *Let me just add here that while I would like this baby to come early, my number one objective is for the baby to be healthy. If that means I carry him/her until the middle of September, I may be stinky and sweaty, but I will do it. I do not and will not (within my control) risk the health of this baby over wanting him/her to be smaller. And by smaller I mean smaller than 9 lbs. Preferably in the 7s somewhere.* With Waddle I had my membranes swept just a few days before 37 weeks, since Widdle was late and the sweeping never did anything for him, and he was born that night. Blah blah blah, with all of that, I will be 37 weeks and have an appointment on that day, the day before Widdle's birthday. Looking back over my own experience, that would have Paddle being born on Widdle's birthday, the very thing I am hoping to avoid! Though, if I moved my appointment to Widdle's birthday, the baby may come the next day, but I don't want to be at the doctor's office on his birthday either. I am not really worried about any of this timing, it's just a fun, silly thing for me to think about. It passes the time and helps me drown out all of the noise around me.

All of that to say, I am excited for this little one's arrival. Sometimes I am torn over the convenience of scheduling a c-section or induction, which are both options for me, but I know the ease of going into labor on my own and the benefits for the baby. While it is more chaotic for the rest of us, it is best and I can and can't wait for it to happen!

19 weeks

Well, I'm almost 19 weeks, tomorrow I will be. Things are going smoothly so far. I haven't had any sickness, a tinge of nausea, but nothing to complain or really think about. I seem to have a bigger belly in the evening than in the morning and it seems bigger when I'm sitting down rather than standing. I feel like I'm still not showing enough for anyone to really notice, depending on what I wear. I have felt the baby move a tiny bit the last three days, but nothing like I seem to remember from my other three pregnancies. Will all three of them I knew I felt a baby move during week 16. This leaves me a little concerned and ready for our ultrasound, which is on the 21st. Hopefully the baby will be moving around like a little wild person!

Widdle is certain we are having a boy. When asked what we should name a girl he first says, "we need a boy too." His name options are Aniken Luke Skywalker or Tinkerbell. According to him if there is a Tinkerbell there will also be an Aniken...... we shall see, though I doubt either of those names will be used. He can call the baby whatever he likes though.

Waddle is sure that he has a boy in his belly. "Waddle" is what he thinks the name should be. While he speaks clearly, I'm not sure he gets it yet. He will though.

Piddle could care less as long as she is held on demand and gets plenty of Mama and Daddy love. I am trying to teach her to be gentle (a hard thing to learn with two big brothers for an example) and she is oh so close to walking. Her latest thing is walking around with one hand on the cabinet or furniture. It is only a matter of time. I think we are going to leave her rear-facing in her car-seat until she is two years old, or I loose my mind trying to buckle two babies in backwards...... whichever comes first. Right now she is still too tiny to face forwards anyway, so it isn't an issue and she doesn't know what she's missing. She is enjoying her bed more these days. It is one of the only places I allow her to have her paci and therefore, she goes in willingly and looks longingly at the crib when I pick her up. She has mixed emotions about telling her paci night-night and watching me put it in the drawer. I think A LOT of tears will come before sleep once it is totally gone.

I think this gives you a good idea of what's going on in baby news and baby prep at our house. Have any guesses what the sex of the baby will be?? Feel free to leave it in the comments along with a birth date and weight. Here are some tips to help you form a guess:

Widdle was 9 lbs two days late

Waddle was 7 lbs 2 oz three weeks early

Piddle was 7 lbs 9 oz nearly four weeks early

My due date is Sept 9. I've had two dreams that this baby is a boy and one dream that the baby was a girl and we introduced her to someone by the name we have chosen. That leads me to think it's either a boy or a girl! HA!

Feel free to leave a boy name idea too. That's always fun!

36 (or 38) weeks

I'm tired. That pretty much sums up this week of pregnancy. The baby is moving well. I think she is rolling her fists across my hip and pelvic bones. I think she's getting pretty crowded though. I only really feel her when I lay down or am driving in the car. I am still having several contractions a day, but nothing close enough to measure. I've had a few contractions that I had to sort of breath through. They were painful enough to be labor contractions, but I've only had one at a time. I have an appointment on Monday, so hopefully that will be pretty eventful. Albert is gone this weekend, so I am hoping for no activity this weekend, then to hit the ball running on Monday! 

My sweet father-in-law came to spend the weekend with us just in case I go into labor. Today we drove across town to get Boaz some little sandals and I showed my FIL the general route to the hospital. I told him that I should be able to help with directions along the way unless I am having back labor. Then, he might be on his own. Let's all pray for NO back labor!

We found out this week that Albert's next deployment will begin April 24th. I am thinking about talking to my doctor about inducing on the 10th if the baby hasn't come yet. This will give Albert two weeks with his little girl and helping me, before being gone for a month. To be honest, I am hoping to not be pregnant on the 10th, so hopefully we won't have to worry about this. But it is crossing my mind.

In other news, I have felt this little one have the hiccups. That is something that I haven't felt with either of the boys. It always makes me laugh a little and tell her that she can't grow too much.

The other day I was mailing a package at UPS and the clerk said it looked like I dropped a little. Now, I've never seen this lady before, so her opinion is not well educated or valid, but it made me hopeful. I guess we'll see on Monday.

35 (or 37) Weeks

Today I am at least 35 weeks, possibly 37. Everything is going pretty well. I think my hips are starting to spread. They and my pubic bone are sore every time I wake up. I had an appointment on Monday. My weight gain is a bit more than I would like it to be, but my doctor is happy with it. She measured my belly and said, "You've definitely grown!" To which I responded, "Does that mean I'm due on the 4th?" She said that she wouldn't say that's not my due date. She checked me and said I am a good 1 cm and 50% effaced. This is better news than being told everything is sealed up tight, but I was hoping for a bit higher number. Maybe next time. My blood pressure and the baby's heart rate were fine, though I can't remember the numbers.

In other news, my ribs are killing me this morning. She's sitting so low that I can hardly sit with my knees together and even when I'm standing my ribs hurt. I guess those are minor complaints though and I have had a good pregnancy. 

Canon keeps saying, "Baby sister come out soon." I hope he's right. I was hoping to make it through the Just Between Friends sale, the end of March. But, now I am just hoping to make it through our friend's wedding on the 21st. Albert will leave on the 20th and come home on the 22nd. My dad-in-law will be here while Albert is gone. Then, we are working on getting this baby out! 

34 (or 36) weeks

I thought about this post all day yesterday and am obviously late with it now. But, there isn't much to report. I am still having contractions throughout the day. I did have an exciting evening Wednesday night. We laid the boys down for bed and were checking stuff on our computers when I had a contraction. This was no surprise, but then I had another one. Albert was ready for bed, but I told him I was going to have to keep track of these contractions for a few minutes. They were 5 minutes apart. After a half hour or so I called the hospital. When the doctor called back and asked me what was going on, I gave her the brief details and asked, "How do I get them to stop?" She told me to drink 32 oz. of water in 20 minutes and if the contractions didn't stop, to come in. It was 9:45 pm and I did not want to go in. I downed about 24 oz, then went to bed. I figured the contractions would wake me up if they got stronger. Obviously they went away at some point. 

I was impressed that my doctor's nurse called Friday to see how I was doing. I missed the call, but I have an appointment on Monday, so that should be fine. My doctor is going to start checking me on Monday. Though this is not an enjoyable experience, I am looking forward to knowing if I am making any changes or anything. With all of these contractions and pressure, I should at least be thinning out some. We shall see though.

The car seat is strapped in and my bag is in the process of being packed. I will have it packed by the end of the weekend. Then we'll just have to wait.

33 Weeks

I had a doctor's appointment on Monday and everything was fine. My uterus is measuring right on for April 17 being my due date. I always hope she will say I'm due sooner, but no! My blood pressure was 90/50. I think that's pretty good for getting two little boys out of the van, into the stroller, into the building, then entertaining them for 20-30 minutes before being called back. Also, this week Canon decided to spill cheerios on the floor and stomp them into the carpet right as the doctor walked into the room. Yes, that was fun! Ducky3's heart rate was 138. If I didn't have pictures saying she is a girl, I'd still be convinced she's a boy! Her heart rate is exactly where the boy's were. I guess we'll only know for sure once she arrives.

On the day-to-day side of things I am feeling very cramped. I think this baby is stretched out from my left hip to my right arm pit. She is taking up my entire abdomen. I think she might be a bed hog on the other side of this belly. I have been having at least a few contractions every day. The other night I had two that were 10 minutes a part, then nothing. It is still way to early for her to come, but I am hypersensitive to all the weird things I am feeling. I think my emotions are evening out a bit. I am not crying at the drop of a hat, but I can explode that quickly. So, I may still have a little balancing left to do. 

So, here are the pics I promised. NO LAUGHING!!! But, if you are feeling fat on day, just glance back at these pictures and you'll feel great about yourself again! Enjoy!

^This is what I look like normally. If I were to see you in public, or on most days, I am wearing black. I am not morbid or depressed, but I look much smaller in black!

^This is what's hiding under that black shirt! It is also a good reason to NOT get your belly button pierced. This is also a picture of my one noticeable stretch mark that I received while pregnant with Canon. I would not have gotten my belly button pierced if I knew it would look so ugly!

^Here I am breathing out to give you the full effect of the boulder.

^Here I am sucking in! Ha, just for laughs!

While loading these pics I thought I'd share some other pregnancy thoughts with you. I can not get enough of the calendar these days. With having 3 possible due dates, I am scheming and thinking of all the possible days this little one could be born. With the 3 due dates and Boaz being born 3 weeks early, I have about 6 weeks to work with. Today I am 33 weeks according to my last due date. According to the due date I first thought, I am 35 weeks. Either way, we will be putting the car seat in the car next weekend and my bag will be packed next week. When Boaz was born the only thing I had ready was Canon's bag and a typed list of what I needed to pack. Labor is not the best time to pack that bag! So, if April 4th is my "real" due date and Ducky3 comes as early as Boaz did, she will arrive on March 11th. If the 17th is my "real" due date and Ducky3 comes late like her big brother, Canon, she will come on April 19th. The trouble is that Albert will be gone for two weeks right in the middle of this "Due Period." So, if any of you are looking for some laughs, you're welcome to come and stay with us during that time! Ha! Albert's Dad and sister are each going to come for a couple of days while Albert is gone and I am still figuring out what I'll do during the other days. So, the real  concern with the time that Albert is gone is that if my due date of the 17th is correct and the baby comes as early as Boaz, she will be born on March 26th. This date is right in the middle of the time Albert will be gone. I am anxious to see God's timing!

32 weeks

I meant to update sooner, but time just sneaks away these days! So, I will try to give a little pregnancy update each Friday. I'm sure that I will fail, but that is my goal. We'll see how it goes.

Last Monday, almost two weeks ago, I had a doctor's appointment. Everything was fine. According to the doctor's scale I have .5 lbs until my "I don't want to weigh more than this" weight. According to my scale at home I have 3-4 lbs until then. My best conclusion is that I am going to weigh more than I'd like to weigh. At least I know that I can loose the weight. There are just some numbers that you don't want to see on the scale though! My belly is getting nice and big. I hope this doesn't mean Ducky3 is going to be big like her oldest big brother was. I think Boaz's size (7 lbs. 2 oz) is much more ideal. I'm only really feeling Ducky3 move when I am sitting down at nap time, relaxing in the evening or going to bed. I think my mind just must be preoccupied the rest of the time. That or my movement rocks her to sleep the rest of the day. I do feel her sometimes in the middle of the night when I get up to go to the bathroom. I think we might have to do a little work on her days and nights when she gets here. 

I've been having a bit of lower back/upper rear pain. It comes and goes and sometimes is extremely painful. I also have shooting pains in other areas. This could be round ligament pain. I had this with Boaz and thought it was my cervix getting prepped, but I was probably wrong. This is also very painful and both areas of pain will stop me in my tracks. Thankfully neither area hurts constantly and I am usually able to continue on with the task at hand within a few minutes. Ducky3 has also brought on some lovely pregnancy rash. She is exposing my body to all the parts of pregnancy that my boys spared me! It just makes me wonder what she'll be like on the outside!

I think that's all for now. I have an appointment on Monday. Dr. Nightingale still says I'm due April 17th. As of right now, I hope she is right. Albert's squadron wants him to be gone until April 1st! Please keep us in your prayers regarding this time frame and Ducky3's arrival. I am a little more than nervous about him being gone. Check back for more pregnancy info and maybe a belly pic next week.

Pregnancy Update

"Pregnancy Brain" is something that I claim from the first knowledge of pregnancy through the first few months post-pardom. I certainly am dealing with it now! I seem to have missed an entire week of pregnancy. All last week I was thinking that I still had one good week of reclining and propping my feet up. I think I even told a few people that I would be 29 weeks last Friday. Well, yesterday I looked at the ticker on my blog and found that it says I am 30 weeks. I quickly opened my calendar, while laughing, and found that it also says I am 30 weeks. Where did my 29th week go???? Now I have to start my exercises and should lean back anymore. I was prepared to indulge myself for another week before getting to work and starting to feel a little tense and nervous. 

The exercises I do are not intense, they are just to hopefully help Ducky3 face the correct way. I will do whatever it takes to help this baby face the right way, so if you have any tips please leave them in my comments! Back labor is not my friend and now that I am more knowledgeable, I will avoid it if at all possible. 

I have been thinking the last couple of weeks that when I hit 30 weeks I will start worrying/preparing for labor and actually allow myself to think about it. Now that 30 weeks has jumped in my lap, I am nervous! I don't think I want to go through labor and delivery! Ducky3 seems to think she can climb out through my hip bone or belly button and I am sure that would be easier! I just have felt very panic stricken the last couple of days. I have on my calendar to pack my bag at 34 weeks and also install the car seat, but obviously I need to check my calendar a little more often! Also, I could always be 32 weeks right now if my original due date is correct. Ahhhh, it's coming so quickly!

Ok, I will calm down. I do have a few fun pregnancy newbies to share with you. I think I have a bit of a pregnancy rash. I have not had this previously, so I'm not certain this is what I have, but I do have extremely dry patches of skin and it is quite annoying! Also, I think I've experienced a bit of "round ligament" pain. Whatever the pain was, I hope it doesn't come back! With two toddlers to chase after, the less the pain and discomfort, the better! Ducky3 has decided she would like to put her feet in my throat and hold onto my hips. I feel her movements around the outside of my belly. I don't see or feel much around my belly button. I'm hoping this means she is facing the correct way, but we shall see! 

My stats update is as follows: I am currently 2 inches smaller than when I delivered Boaz, weigh what I weighed at 27 weeks and 4 days, but I started out smaller this go around. As for my pregnancy with Canon; I weigh the same as I did at about 20 weeks and my belly is about the same number of inches around for weeks pregnant. So, I guess I am gaining the inches similarly to Canon and the pounds similar to Boaz. I always have a max weight that I don't want to see on the scale, but I think I'm going to pass it this time. With Canon I went 4 pounds over and with Boaz I was right on. Maybe if I ate a little less chocolate it wouldn't be so difficult to stay under the line!

I have an appointment tomorrow, so I'll try to update all of my stats again. I am pretty sure my uterus has grown a lot in the last few weeks, so maybe she'll tell me that my first due date seems correct! In that case I'll be packing sooner!

.....

So, I'm just wondering, when did February get here and who gave my belly permission to grow at an unreasonable rate?