Baby #2 - 39-40 Weeks

Well, you guys, my due date has come and gone. And with it, most of my brain cells. Can you spot the mistake that took me a whole day to notice? Yep. I misspelled the word forty. I taught spelling and math for 11 years and misspelled forty. And walked past the chalkboard a hundred times (admiring my work each time, btw) before I picked up the mistake at around 9pm. And I'm way too over it to redo the board. So there ya go.

#babybrainisreal #iamanidiot

Anyway, baby brain aside, things have been pretty status quo around here. At my 39 week appointment, the word induction was sprung on me with a crazy urgency due to my age. I've been 40 for about 5 minutes, and this was the first I was hearing about the dangers of delivering after the due date when you are of advanced maternal age. My pregnancy has been pretty healthy and uneventful, with the exception of the diabetes "scare", so when words like "stillborn" and "failing placenta" get thrown around, you start to panic. Which I totally did. Induction was not on my to do list, having heard about horrible experiences from friends, but I was in a panic about what could maybe happen if I didn't let myself get hooked up to the Pitocin ASAP. But after speaking with the Hubs, my mom, and another OB from the practice, I was told it would be fine to wait another week to see if things got rolling on their own. They did not. Obviously. 

So today, I went in for my 40 week check, along with another ultrasound and a non-stress test. Everything with baby boy looks good, about 8lbs 10 oz (give or take), we even got a peek of him sucking his thumb. He certainly looks swished in there, but in no rush to make his way out. I'll spare you the dilation and effacement details, cuz...gross, but I will tell you that things are progressing, just not fast enough for this old broad. So tomorrow morning, we make our way to the hospital to begin the induction. Here's hoping it goes easily and quickly, but not so quickly that I can't get the epidural. Just cuz my body was made for this, doesn't mean I want to feel it. 

I'm definitely excited to meet our little man, but feeling a wee bit nervous for the whole induction process. Fear of the unknown and all that. Focusing on the positive...tomorrow we get to see that sweet face and become a family of four!!

Baby #2 - 37-38 Weeks

You guys, Baby Watch 2016 has officially begun! My mom arrived on Memorial Day to help out with Zoey and we really feel like it could be any day now. Which fills me with equal parts excitement and dread. So super ready to not be pregnant for one more minute, but not so sure I'm ready for life with two kids. Are you ever?

A couple of weeks ago, we had our final ultrasound, to assess the bambino's size. If you've been following along, you might remember that he was forecast to be huge at the time of delivery. I was consistently measuring 2-3 weeks ahead, and he was measuring in the 90th percentile at each ultrasound, estimating his weight to be a pound+ more than the average. There were even discussions of a c-section, which had me totally freaked out, cuz that meant he could weigh over 11 pounds! Holy moly! They even made me go through the diabetes testing again, mostly due to his gargantuan size. Well, at this last ultrasound, he weighed an estimated 6 ½ pounds - right smack in the 50th percentile. I also measured right on time. Not sure how or why, but he graciously slowed his roll, and at my appointment last week, the doctor estimated more like 8½  - 9 pounds. Big by some folks' standards, but tiny when you're fearing a 14 pound baby! We'll just have to wait and see.

How far along: 38 weeks

Maternity clothes: Oh ya! 

Sleep: Terrible lately. Just so uncomfortable these days.  

Best Moment: Finding out that the baby is a more normal size. The Hubs and I got a nice date nite this past week, thanks to Grammy JJ. A great dinner at Tupelo Honey (If you ever go, get the s'mores cake...you won't regret it!) and stroll around Town Center. Zo was sound asleep when we got home. It was perfection! 

Missing anything: Energy, comfort, and exercise. The ship has sailed on all three! 

Cravings: Strawberries, chocolate, peach Izze, fish tacos, strawberry lemonade, fresh strawberry ice cream from the farm stand...it's amazing!

Symptoms: I've lost the rings thanks to my sausage fingers. My feet and hands have been swelling a lot, but that could be due in part to the unseasonable heat here in VB. I'm definitely at the point where there isn't a part of my body that looks like it belongs to me. Also, the baby's watermelon head is putting a ton of pressure on the bottom of my belly. Zero fun. (complain, complain, complain!!!) If I had it to do again, I'd have invested is a support band.
Looking forward to: The next phase of this adventure. Every twinge and tingle I feel seems like it could be the start of things. It hasn't been. The waiting and the unknown are the worst!