Preggers VI: 39 Weeks

How far along?  

39 weeks, 2 days

    

Comparisons:

 

 38 Weeks with Tracey... because she was born 38 weeks, 6 days

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

Lee Lee at 39 weeks

Hunter at 39 weeks

How I am feeling?  

I'm actually feel very well.  I mean -- I'm large, I'm very pregnant, I'm uncomfortable at times, but really, I am cherishing these final days of pregnancy because this is it.  I don't plan to ever be pregnant again.  Also, I am feeling some relief and accomplishment because as of this afternoon my maternity leave begins.  The baby can come as soon as he or she wants... or he or she can take his or her sweet time because I am DONE working for the year!  PRAISE GOD!

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 as long as I can fall back to sleep.  Most nights I get up several times and go right back to sleep... occasionally, I wake up during the night and then I'm awake for about 2 hours.  That's not fun.

Boy/Girl Predictions:  

Nope but I'm getting excited to find out... and I'm getting VERY excited to come home with the new baby and tell our other children if they got a brother or a sister.

Baby Nicknames: 

"Baby" 

  Best moment this week:  

So far the best moment of this week has been Mother's Day, and finishing work.  Also, the kiddos have learned that if they offer to rub my feet and my back before they go to bed, they usually get to watch a little extra tv.  So that has been incredibly sweet and special.  I've ended several days this week with Tracey and Caroline each rubbing one of my feet, Howard rubbing my back, and Lee Lee rubbing my belly.

 

Food cravings:  

I'm eating ice cream at while I'm writing this blog, and that tastes AMAZING! 

 

Missing:  

At the moment... nothing.  I'm really happy to be where I am in this pregnancy, and so happy to have finished my work and be on maternity leave.

Movements:  

Yes, and I really enjoy them... they are definitely less frequent now that the baby is bigger... but still moving around.

Labor Signs:  

Yes... but just getting my body ready.  Nothing that has made us head to the hospital yet... but labor is coming eventually, no doubt.

 

General Attitude:   

Really calm and peaceful at the moment.  I feel like I've gotten a really good sense of how my body heads into labor with my last two childbirth experiences and so I am able to just chill when I'm having contracts and not get overly excited about anything yet.

Both Hunter and Lee Lee arrived within 24 hours of their due date, so I am expecting the baby will arrive sometime this next week... but time will tell.  I am just so excited to be done working, and ALL I have ahead of me this week, so spending time with my children, focusing on being a Mama, and preparing for the baby.

 

 What I am looking forward to this week:  

Hubby and I are headed off for a 24 hour baby-moon, and I am excited for that.  We have done a one-night getaway before every one of our babies has arrived, and it feels very special to be doing it before this last baby arrives.  And then, I'm excited to not work heading into next week!    

 

Milestones: 

\I've now carried this baby longer than I carried Tracey or the twins... and I've reached the week when Hunter and Lee Lee were both born... so we're expecting this baby sooner rather than later.

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.

 

Baby Moon #3

With some great help from my parents, last night, Hubby and I took a pretty last minute Baby Moon.

We stole 24 hours to zip over to Grand Junction and have a little getaway just the two of us before this fourth little bundle of joy arrives.

We both got haircuts, both got massages, I got a pedicure, and we had a great dinner.

All in all, a wonderful time together and chance for a little R&R together before our new baby arrives.

A big thank you to my parents for keeping our three little ones so we could take the getaway.

(By the third baby moon/fourth baby -- we took no pictures... but we had a wonderful time.)

 

Preggers I: 38 Weeks

How far along?  38 weeks

How I am feeling?  Really good.  I even think I have less aches and pains these days than I had a few weeks ago.  Hubby and I have accomplished everything we REALLY wanted to accomplish before the baby arrives, and so we're both feeling really good.

How big is baby?  The size of a small pumpkin...18.9-20.9 inches, and 6.2-9.2 pounds.

Sleep:  I sleep very well, and I am very grateful for it.

Boy/Girl Prediction:  I predict I will be very excited to find out if we have a son or daughter.

Baby Nicknames:  Baby, Nugget, or Little One.

Best moment this week:  Hubby and I took a "Baby Moon" -- a last romantic getaway before the baby comes.  Even if the baby doesn't arrive for a few weeks, our family begins arriving Thursday, and will stay until after the baby arrives, so this was our last hurrah as a two-some.  Our wonderful Baby Moon included a prenatal massage for me, a little shopping,  dinner out, husband-and-wife pedicures, and an amazing Bed and Breakfast complete with a canopy bed, jacuzzi bath tub, and chocolate-covered strawberries.  We had a wonderful time.

Food cravings:  Nothing really... and some days nothing really sounds good.  I'm hungry but nothing sounds good to eat.

Missing:  Nothing really... I'm really trying to cherish every pregnant moment because I feel like this is going to be over in no time.  These last days of baby movements, these last days of waddling, these last days of Lexie and Lloyd nosing my belly... I'm trying to not focus on what I'm missing, and instead, focus on what still is the case.

 

Movements:  Yes, but they have changed.  The baby is definitely run out of room, because the movements aren't so forceful anymore, they are subtle.

Labor Signs:  Yes, a few... I'm not going to go into details, but yes, my body has been preparing for labor.

General Attitude:  So excited that our house is ready for the baby AND for the company!  Check out these pictures of our beautiful guest room, living room, and basement.  All systems are GO.

Our guest room

Our living room...

... complete with our new glider/rocking chair

Our basement

Ready for over-flow guests if necessary

and even a new curtain to offer some privacy

 

if not overflow for company, it might be where the baby and I spend some nights when Chris needs to be well-rested and ready for work the next day.

 What I am looking forward to this week:  My parents arrive on Thursday, and I know they want to be here for the birth (or shortly thereafter).  It will be nice to have them here.

Milestones:  I'd say our Baby Moon, and the fact my body is preparing for labor are both pretty big milestones.  This really could happen any day... I can't help but wonder if this is my final Pregnancy Update post?