Introducing...

Tracey, Caroline, Lee Lee, and I, 

and especially Howard and Hubby  

are thrilled to announce that

...
...
... 

IT’S A BOY!!

Introducing 

Hunter Nicholas Miller!

Hunter Nicholas Miller made a very quick arrival into the world Friday, November 15, 2019 at 5:15pm. 

Hunter’s a healthy little guy weighing in at 7lb 2oz, 19 inches long. 

His siblings and parents are overjoyed. 

1000 Words

1000 Words

Snarky

I don't know that I've ever hit this phase of pregnancy before... but after two nights of not sleeping well (that is not common for me) and waking up with a migraine headache that lasted all day... yesterday I was SNARKY!

Oh how fun it was to go to four different school and be asked by twenty different people if I had had the baby yet.

I'm not even to my due date people!?!?!

I have a student who's mother is ten days over her due date!  That woman is amazing and deserves a pat on the back -- and probably a foot massage.  But I'm not even to my due date -- it could still be awhile, so let's be more encouraging about the waiting and less pressuring about when I will go into labor.

Oh, and I love text messages from my mother-in-law asking me if "anything is happening."

 ... Sure.  Plenty of things.  Not in my uterus, but plenty of things are happening in the world.

Yes, lots of text messages from people telling me they "heard that the baby is on its way this week".  How nice.  Would someone please tell the baby that?

Oh, I have hit quite the level of snark.

So, to cope, I find funny snarky pregnancy pictures on the internet.

 

Preggers V: 39 Weeks

Disclaimer -- this is a very realistic 39 weeks pregnancy post... not my most upbeat or positive post about pregnancy.

How far along?  

39 weeks, 2 days

Comparisons:

39 Weeks with Addallee 

 

 38 Weeks with Tracey

 
35 Weeks with the Twins... because they were born at 36 weeks 1 day, and I never took a 36 week picture.

How I am feeling?  

Well... physically I'm feeling really well.  The rest of me is just annoyed.  It is hard to have plans in place for going into labor with four small kids and a working husband and parents 2 hours away.  I'm annoyed that I haven't had the baby when I've been ready to have the baby for several weeks now.  We're getting closer and closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas and I'd like a few weeks with the baby prior to those Holidays, but so far... its still cooking.

How big is the baby?  

The size of a pumpkin (hopefully a small pumpkin) -- 19.9 inches long, 7.23 pounds

 

Sleep:  

I'm still sleeping really well for which I am very grateful.

Boy/Girl Predictions:  

Nope.  I just want to know.

Baby Nicknames: 

"Baby" 

  Best moment this week:  

Hubby and I had a babymoon getaway this past weekend, and that was wonderful.  It was very relaxing and we had a great time.

 

Food cravings:  

Chocolate chip cookies and Starbucks peppermint mocha!  Yum!

 
 

Missing:  

I feel like I've been in a bad mood lately.  I like to plan out the week, I like to know how things are going to go... and I'd like to know when I'm going to have the baby.  It is annoying not to know.  But I don't want to just plan for another week of being pregnant because that's getting annoying too and I'm ready to be done working.  I miss when I enjoyed being pregnant.  I am not enjoying it at the moment.

Exercising:  

I've been trying and I really enjoy it when I do exercise, but the workouts before school/work have been less and less.  My time in the morning just seems to be filled with getting everyone out the door.  I'm not sure if I'm moving more slowly or sleeping later or what, but workouts before work/school just have not been happening.  I should try to make them happen every day this week knowing that I will have to give my body a little break after I have the baby.

Movements:  

Yes, and I really enjoy them... except every time I feel the little feet moving around, I just want to cuddle the actual little feet of a newborn.  

Labor Signs:  

Yes... but not enough to be in labor yet.  I've been having signs of labor for WEEKS which adds to the frustration at this point

 

General Attitude:   

Well, as you can tell... a little frustrated by this point.  I am trying to enjoy the last days with our four little ones, and sharing my room with just Hubby and not a newborn.  Sunday night was really fun with Howard and Tracey playing indoor basketball with Hubby, and Lee Lee and Caroline helping each other feed the animals and then play at our writing desk.  

But I just want to be able to plan the week and plan the Holidays and know when the baby is going to come.  Tracey has to take snack to school on Tuesday and has a Field Trip on Thursday... and I'd like to know if I will be in the hospital on either of those days and who will be in charge if I am.  I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that it is best for the baby to come on his own in his or her own time... but I also see how much more convenient it is for a mother to plan a C-Section or induction and mark it on her calendar weeks in advance.

 

 What I am looking forward to this week:  

Umm... having the baby... if I have the baby.  Other than that, I don't know.  Maybe hanging some Christmas lights so that's done before the baby comes.  I wish I could say I was looking forward to my last day of work... but I just want to be done seeing students.  I want to finish this pregnancy strong, just like I would a workout program or running race, but its so hard when I don't know when the end is.
The truth is, this is very normal for me at the end of pregnancy.  I don't remember it so much with Tracey, but the the twins, I was very uncomfortable and just getting through every day waiting for them to arrive.  And I know with Addallee I was ready and frustrated because I carried her longer than anyone else.  So, I am par for the course -- I just want to know when the baby's coming so I can plan and reserve my strength accordingly.

 

 

Milestones: 

Hubby and I had our babymoon, and I've now carried this baby longer than I carried Tracey or the twins.

Babymoon Baby 5

Hubby and I got to spend about 30 hours together on a Babymoon getaway.  From Friday afternoon until Saturday night, we got were together, just the two of us enjoying some time in Grand Junction.  My parents watched the kids for about 24 hours, and baby-sitters came for the last 6 hours.

Here are some pictures from our time away.

Pedicures... a fun babymoon tradition

Hubby's shirt says "The Man Behind the Bump"

Hubby trying not to laugh as they pumice his callouses

Morning workout at the hotel -- walked over 2 miles on the treadmill

Went back to bed to enjoy some football after my workout -- something I do not get to do when home with the kids.

39 weeks

 

 Lunch with college football

 Shopping at Target with a Starbucks Peppermint Mocha -- my Christmas drink of choice

 More shopping without kids in tow

Dinner with a dice game before heading home

Not pictured -- both of us got hair cuts, we saw a movie, and I got a massage before we headed out of town.

What a wonderful pre-baby getaway.

 

Preggers V: 38 Weeks

 

How far along?  38 weeks 2 days

 

Gosh that mirror is dirty...

 

Comparisons:

 

38 Weeks with Addallee

 

 38 Weeks with Tracey

 

 

35 Weeks with the Twins... because they were born at 36 weeks 1 day, and I never took a 36 week picture.

How I am feeling?  Nervous.  This is a change because I have been excited for the past few weeks... now I'm just nervous.  Wondering when and how I will go into labor -- how the kids will do, how will it work with five, how the kids will actually react to the baby, how I will handle the newborn days of less sleep plus the routine of the four big kids.  I'm feeling nervous.  This week my doc mentioned that she thought was going to be my baby that comes late... I was not thrilled to hear that prediction.

 

How big is the baby?  The size of a winter melon -- 19.6 inches long, 6.61 pounds

 

 

Sleep:  Sleep is wonderful. 

 

Boy/Girl Predictions:  Tracey and Howard both insist its a boy.  Several moms at Tracey's school predicted a boy this week.  A store clerk told me she was sure it is a girl -- I don't think I'll be giving her my business.

Baby Nicknames:  "Baby"

  Best moment this week: Halloween despite the cold temperatures.

 

 

 

Food cravings:  Nothing in particular... Food that someone else prepares.

 

 

Missing: There were a few times a beer would have tasted really good this week... and having one probably would not be the end of the world, but I would hate to go into labor and have alcohol on my breath and in my system.

Movements:  Yes.  I think I feel little feet up high sometimes.

 

 

Labor Signs:  Some... but frankly, I was having more contractions and cramping two weeks ago than I'm having now.  Just trying to be patient and not really pay attention to anything until my water breaks.

General Attitude:  Just trying to gear up for another week and enjoying my time with the kids before I leave for the hospital and come home with a baby.  Also, I'm probably a little emotional.

 

 
 What I am looking forward to this week:  Maybe getting some paperwork done for work.  I don't know.

 

 

Milestones:  I have now entered the week that I had  Tracey -- she was born 38 weeks 6 days... so we'll see what happens this week.

 

Preggers V: 37 Weeks

How far along?  37 weeks, 4 days

Comparisons:

 37 Weeks with Tracey

35 Weeks with the Twins because they were born at 36 weeks exactly, and I never took a last picture

37 Weeks with Lee Lee

How I am feeling? Well... emotional and pretty exhausted... but we just keep chugging along.  Physically, I feel great.  I feel very grateful for all I'm able to do so far along in my pregnancy.

How big is the baby?  The size of a papaya -- 18.9 inches long, 6.17 pounds

Sleep: Sleep is glorious.  I hope this is a wonderful sleep week.

Boy/Girl Predictions: Well, after months of Tracey expressing her desire for a sister, she suddenly announced that she KNOWS we are having a boy.  So for the past week, she has told anyone and everyone who will listen that she knows we are having a boy.

Baby Nicknames:  Baby

Exercising:  I have exercised 6 of the past 8 days, and it feels really good to be in that routine again.  I definitely go easier than prior months -- very few exercises with weights.  I figure my body itself is a weight at this point.

  Best moment this week: Watching Michigan pummel Notre Dame last weekend was pretty awesome!  We spent the day a the pumpkin patch and get home in time to watch most of the Michigan game... and Michigan creamed them!  That was an awesome moment of the week.

 

 

Food cravings:  Nothing in particular.  Water!

 

 

Missing:  Nothing really.

  

 

Movements:  Yes, and I really like them.  Getting pretty strong in there.

 

 

Labor Signs:  I notice more and more contractions from time to time.  Hopefully just my body getting ready for a quicker labor and delivery when the time arrives.

General Attitude:  Just trying to be ready for the baby... but also patient because it still may be awhile.

 What I am looking forward to this week:  Halloween!  I love Halloween with my little ones!  I do wish the new baby was here and home in time for Halloween... but it looks like that is unlikely.  So, we'll just enjoy Halloween with him or her next year.

Milestones: I'm officially considered full term.