38 Weeks. Getting close!

 38 Weeks. Baby is the Size of a Winter Melon

Total Weight Gain/Loss? 29 lbs.

Stretch Marks? Two little ones right above my belly button

Sleep? Has been rough because I had a cold. Coughing, a big pregnant belly, and having to pee are not a good combination. Getting naps in when I can and thankfully I am on the mend.

Best moment this week? Finishing hanging the drywall in the basement. So exciting to see the progress! 
Miss Anything? Uninterrupted sleep. Which is the new normal here for awhile haha!
Movement?  Movement feels crowded and smaller. I have to pay attention to make sure I am getting kicks. But he/she always makes sure I know they are still there once I sit still for a bit.
Food cravings? Oreos

Anything making you queasy or sick? I have had a little underlying nausea but I think it’s from being sick 
Gender?  Eek I can’t wait!!
Labor Signs? More consistent Braxton Hicks. A few are a bit more painful. I am dilated to 1 cm as of my 37.5 week appointment.
Belly Button in or out? Out 
Wedding rings on or off? They fit but I don’t wear them because I am sure I swell by the end of the day.
How is mama feeling? I have slowed down for sure. It started with the cold. I haven’t worked out in about a week and I really don’t like it. But I know I can’t overdue it and make myself more sick so I have consciously been (trying) to take it easy. I actually called off of work one day when I just wasn’t feeling well. I will probably stick to walking and maybe some yoga for the rest of this pregnancy. That being said I am so proud of myself for how active I stayed!! I feel strong and physically better than I have felt in my other two pregnancies. 
Looking forward to? Meeting this little one! Whenever he/she is ready. 

These last couple weeks have been a whirlwind! I had my weekly checkup at 37.5 weeks. The only real progress was I have dilated from just a fingertip to a solid 1 cm. I am feeling much bigger but not really seeing/feeling much else to indicate labor is near. Dr. Turner is planning to get me on the induction schedule for the week going into Memorial Day weekend when I am 39+ weeks. She actually isn’t concerned about the size of the baby and although she feels like I am a great candidate for induction, she also will let me go late if I so choose. There are no elective inductions at OSU for the holiday weekend, and my due date is on Sunday. So I either get induced by Friday, or wait until Tuesday (2 days past my due date, assuming I haven’t went into labor on my own...which scares me with the size of the baby!). Dr. Turner is on call for the holiday weekend too. So we’ll see what kind of progress I have at my appointment this week.

I am planning to work my 3 days this week, and will make a decision on working next week or not based on what we decide to do about inducing. But at the most 5 days left of work! I am feeling ready to stop working but trying to hang in there as long as I can. I am just so busy keeping up with the other 2 kids and their activities. Plus Joe has been spending a lot of time working in the basement with Aaron. They got a ton done this weekend and actually got all of the drywall up! It’s starting to look like a basement!

Brannock finished up his baseball season, he starts wiffle ball next week. It’s for Dublin kids getting ready to enter Kindergarten this fall. It runs until the end of June and there is a practice and game every week. It’s going to be a very busy month keeping up with these kiddos and having a newborn soon! I am a little anxious thinking about it all but just need to try to take it day by day.

I showed Bran a picture of what the baby would look like inside my belly. He goes “why is he (yes he always says he) upside down? That is so funny!”. His list of baby name ideas is constantly growing. I will make sure to share the final list after baby is here. Amelia likes to mark “the baby” a.k.a. my belly button with stickers. They are so silly! I think they are excited for the new baby, but I also know there are going to be some hard moments for all of us. Amelia sobbed when Joe picked her up from daycare the other day because Joe had moved Brannock to the middle seat in the truck, so baby could have the spot behind Joe. She was in the same spot but her cup holder had to be moved to the other side to make room for Bran’s car seat and she absolutely lost her mind. I hope that’s not a sign of things to come. I hate to tell her but there are much bigger changes coming, including sharing a lot of Mama’s attention. 

Mother’s Day was a bit of a blur. Joe was on call, and it poured all day. I was getting sick and was starting to feel lousy. But the kids made me some really sweet gifts at daycare. And Joe bought us tickets to go see Eric Church in September which I am super excited about! Hard to believe next Mother’s Day I will have a 6, 4, and almost 1 year old!