Raisin' Bran and Amelia: 38 Weeks

Baby is the Size of a Pomeranian

Comfortable clothes for this sleepy mama are a must!

New for baby this week? About 7 lbs and 19.5 inches, lungs are fully developed but still producing more surfactant

Total weight gain/loss? 30 lbs

Sleep? Not great. Between contractions, insomnia, and not getting very comfortable I have been needing some extra naps. Tired, but not exhausted. That part is coming soon, haha!

Best moment this week? Progress!!

Miss Anything? Being able to easily chase a toddler

Movement? Movements feel crowded. Lots of pushing out in different directions.

Food cravings? Cookies

Gender? Well we finally returned the baby name books. The boy and girl names are officially picked out!

Labor Signs? Braxton Hicks contractions are becoming more frequent and stronger. It is not unusual to have them semi-regularly for an hour or two at night. I feel them randomly throughout the day but very few are painful, mostly just a lot of tightening.

How is mama feeling? Very pregnant. Trying to enjoy these last moments as a mama of one.

Looking forward to? Meeting Baby L 2.0. Seeing Bran as a big brother.

I am officially "early" full term, so it is all just a waiting game from here. My 37 week appointment was somewhat frustrating for me. I had my last office visit without my own OB. Sadly I hadn't had any more progress. I was just sitting steady at 1 cm. Which is fine, but what got me annoyed was that contrary to what we had discussed at my 36 week appointment, the other OB went ahead and scheduled an induction date for April 3. I had walked into the office with so many unanswered questions about why we would choose to induce vs. just let me go into labor naturally. I was kind of in shock when she told me an induction was set for 2 days before my due date, without any input from me (I swear the hospital had called me directly with Bran to set a date and time?? But I could be making that up). I understand it does not have to be set in stone, and that the induction schedule fills up quickly...but still I found this a little pushy. She just kept assuring me people were "ready" by then with their second kid. So anyway, I was definitely looking forward to seeing my own OB at my 38 week appointment to get some more insight from someone who knows me so much better.

My 38 week appointment was exciting! Dr. Turner was back and we were able to have a heart to heart about my induction date. She carefully read Dr. Pool's progress notes from the last couple of weeks and my labor and delivery notes from Bran. I had pushed the limits delivering Bran, especially being that he needed to be turned in order for me to deliver. There just was not a lot of room. She assured me I ran a much bigger risk of ending up with a c-section from trying to deliver a big baby than from being induced, especially with a cervix that is already dilating and getting ready to go on its' own. I felt much more comfortable after our talk about sticking with that induction date. So worst case scenario if I don't go into labor on my own before then, I can plan accordingly to go in for the induction the morning of April 3. But on a more exciting note, I have had a lot of progress all on my own! All of these contractions, although irregular, have actually been doing something. I was a solid 2, "probably closer to 3" cm as she called it. She gave me a 50/50 chance of seeing her at my 39 week appointment (which would be my last office visit) next week. So we shall see what Baby L 2.0 decides! So that being said I will only have one working week (actually 2 working days) left. It is getting real! One way or the other we will be meeting this new little one within the next 12 days.

I feel like I look like a ticking time bomb out in public. I don't feel as large as I probably look. When we were at the preschool open gym last week an Asian lady (whose first language is not English) asked me "How many?" I said 4 more weeks think she just left off "weeks" from her question. She then clarified and said "No, how many babies?". I think my jaw dropped, and hers did as well when I told her only one. LOL. I also got approached by a girl who I had no idea was even pregnant, and apparently was in her third trimester and told me she felt "huge". WOW. I mean, did she even look at me?!?!

The weather was a little chilly, but the sun was shining so we made our way over to the Dublin St. Patty's Day Parade. It really is a great little parade right around the corner from home, so I am sure our little family will be regulars. We found a nice spot where we could sit on a blanket and watch the parade. Joe kept complaining about having to sit on the ground. I reminded him that I was super pregnant and surviving just fine, haha. Bran really enjoyed himself, and had a great time dancing to all of the music and bands. He also really liked the endless tootsie rolls and other various candy that kept coming his way. Things got a little sticky, haha! Bran refused to ride in the stroller on the way back to the car (we were dangerously close to nap time for Mr. Routiney), and he insisted on "running" while holding Mommy and Daddy's hands. Needless to say Mommy was tired and a little sore by the end of this adventure. But it was all worth it to see the smile on Bran Man's face!

Getting ready to go.

Love my boys!

Parades are very tiring.

Still obsessed with the beads at home. They turned into a little sash.

I finally convinced Bran there is a baby in mama's belly (well at least for one day!). I kept asking him if he wanted to kiss the baby and he would come over and kiss my belly. It was so incredibly cute!!! And I even got a little of it on video. Don't mind his snotty nose.

We snuck in another adult night out, and grabbed dinner with Laura and Andy at Woody's to watch some basketball. We also went to a brewery afterwards to hang out for a little bit. Crazy to think this might be our last night out before baby makes his/her appearance.

Joe had his last call weekend (which happened to be second call) before Baby L 2.0's arrival. He spent almost the whole weekend at the hospital which was pretty tiring for me taking care of Bran and the dogs. But I was still able to wrap up my pre baby freezer meal prep and sneak in some naps while Bran was napping. Bran also unfortunately has come down with a cold, but like usual when he is sick he is acting fine. I just hope I don't catch it! It would be terrible timing. Unfortunately we still had 27 spindles (but who was counting?!) to put a final white coat of paint on. I have been trying to help Joe out a little bit here and there, especially on the sections where he needed to be on a ladder to paint one side. It really speeds things up when I can help, but crawling around on the floor is not very comfortable for me. I was super happy Joe was able to come home long enough that we could finish painting! WE ARE DONE!! Joe said I couldn't go into labor before we finished this project anyway. Now to get rid of the green walls!

Before and After.

Bran went with Jennifer and the girls for a Girl Scout event at the senior center. He apparently loved it and was totally in his element! I can't believe his days with them are winding down. He is really going to miss them!