39 Weeks. It’s Baby Week!

 39 Weeks. Baby is the Size of a Watermelon. (And my belly sure looks like it too!)

Total Weight Gain/Loss? 29 lbs. it appears I have topped out?!

Stretch Marks? Just the little ones right above my belly button. I am so thankful to have made it 3 pregnancies with no major stretch marks.

Sleep? I have to get up to pee constantly. But other than that not terrible. I am actually able to get pretty comfortable. It’s really warm so we had to turn the AC on. I have it colder than Joe would like because I am running so warm, but he’s surviving haha!

Best moment this week? Finishing up work and starting my maternity leave! Spending time with our little family this weekend.

Miss Anything? Not really.
Movement?  Baby has been moving a ton!
Food cravings? I just snack a lot

Anything making you queasy or sick? No
Gender?  Can’t wait to find out what our little tie breaker is! The guesses seem to be divided pretty evenly.
Labor Signs?  Monday evening I had contractions (mostly mild) and extreme pelvic pain from 1-3 a.m. but nothing came of it. I eventually fell back sleep and went to work that morning.
Belly Button in or out? Out and it looks so small because it is completely stretched out
Wedding rings on or off? They unbelievably still fit but I don’t wear them because I would swell too much with this heat (it is in the upper 80’s!). But my overall swelling is so much more minimal this pregnancy.
How is mama feeling? Honestly I am feeling a little emotional and sad that my last pregnancy is coming to an end. Just trying to enjoy these last few days.
Looking forward to? Meeting Baby L 3.0 and introducing him/her to Brannock and Amelia. Newborn snuggles! Daddy and I are already emotional thinking about meeting you!!!

I had my last office visit with my OB at 38.5 weeks. Even after that crazy night with intense pelvic pain and some contractions I am still just at 1 cm. But my cervix has softened. I am scheduled to be induced on Tuesday May 25th at 5:30 a.m. and will be getting a Covid test in advance. This is the only way I won’t have to wear a mask through my entire labor even though I am vaccinated. (Luckily guidelines are changing outside of the hospital, mask requirements are dropping, and life is starting to feel much more normal!). If I don’t dilate anymore between now and then I will have to start with a balloon catheter to help dilate but she assures me I am a great candidate for induction at this point. And it takes a lot of the stress of the waiting game away with having the two kids and dogs at home. Grandma Lude is going to come stay with the kids. The kids are so excited! Bran has been asking a lot of questions about how many nights we will be gone. I told him 1-3 most likely, but Grandma will make sure they are well taken care of (a.k.a. spoiled).

Joe had his last night of call before baby on Wednesday night. It was kind of nerve wracking for me for some reason even though I had no indication that labor was looming. But anyway I am just happy he’ll be home with me at night from now on! I took both of the kids to Brannock’s first wiffleball practice, then had to get them to bed and to daycare bright and early in the morning. I was tired!! Thankful to be done with those early morning drop offs for awhile (we had 3 this last week!) now that I started maternity leave. The kids are going to continue going to daycare this summer. They are going to have fun summer camp activities it will be great for them! But we definitely won’t be rushing out of here early in the morning. Joe is taking 3 weeks off right away, then he gets 3 more weeks to use as he pleases (OSU went to 6 weeks of paternity leave in 2021, we are so excited!!). 

Wiffleball is so entertaining to watch! It is a smaller team and all kids starting Kindergarten in the fall. So far we have only had practice but games will run until the end of June. Joe may be doing the vast majority of running the big kids to activities here for the first little while but I really hope I am feeling up to partaking in some of it because it is so nice to get out! We have really been enjoying this nice summer weather!

I am getting so excited to see both of the kids with the new baby. I think Amelia will be motherly. I still giggle that she thinks the baby “that is in Mama’s belly” comes from my belly button. Brannock I think is going to be the best big brother ever. He always loves, kisses, and hugs on my belly, it melts me heart! The other night at bed time he laid his little OSU pillow on my belly and said it’s for the baby so he can be cozy. And then he snuggled up in bed. I mean talk about tugging at a pregnant Mama’s heart strings. Dada also made sure to take care of getting some gifts from the baby for Brannock and Amelia that we’ll give them when we get home. No hospital visits because of Covid.

We finally set up the crib in the guest room and packed the hospital bags. It is amazing how much less planned (and last minute!) the prep for this third baby has been. I hope our relaxed demeanor can continue after baby arrives. It’s going to be a little crazy around here for awhile (the next 18 years?!). Interestingly it has been 6 years since we first found out we were pregnant with Brannock. What a wild ride into parenthood it has been! These kiddos really make like so much better!

The next blog will be introducing our final addition!!! Boy or girl?! Here are the final side by sides at 39 weeks. Brannock, Amelia, and Baby L 3.0. Guess Mom and Dad need to officially decide on some names........