Goodness Grace! I am already 30 weeks along.
The last 12 weeks of this pregnancy have seriously gone by in a blink.  I could actually use a little slow down about now.
I have done exactly nothing to prepare for this sweet little babe.
I need to start getting my baby stuff together!
I’ve learned that how you prepare for a surprise baby is… you don’t.  Other than a handful of white onesie and some newborn diapers… I got nothin’. 😉
If I had to guess this week what I’m having, I would say girl.
We have been talking about names this week.  We are currently at the stage of naming that we’re sick of all our options and hate everything. ha!
I’m hoping taking a breather from discussing names will help us come back to it with fresh ears.
At least we have a list of a few to narrow it down from.
My birth is just right around the corner.
I have slacked off reading this go-round (actually I borrowed my birth books out to someone and can’t remember who!) I’ll be placing an order today to get things moving.
I have found that reading birth books is my best preparation.  Knowledge is power and I always feel so empowered when I read a few pages from Ina May.
I’ve started prepping for the big day, making a list of things I want/don’t want.
I want to focus on having a very calm environment this time.  When I had Grae, we had moved just two days before, so things were pretty chaotic.  I know things will be much more relaxed this time no matter what, but I’m hoping to be more intentional about it.
I have assigned Brady to make me a laboring playlist.  I never really think about this and then after I have a baby I realize it would have been nice to have music playing.
I got a birth tub last time and I was so glad.  I’ve never actually had my babies in the water, but I really love it for laboring. I’ll be doing that again this time, and maybe I’ll actually have a water birth this time.  I always play that part by ear.
Labors and kids can be tricky.  I had Grae in the middle of the night while the girls were sound asleep.  They have made me PROMISE this time I would wake them up so they can see what goes on during labor and delivery.  I plan on having some things for them to do, like quiet games and new movies – things that can keep them busy while they wait for the baby to come.  When the time comes they may choose to stay in the room with me or wait out in another room and either way is okay with me.  Depending on the time of day, we’ll figure Grae out.  We’ll likely just have someone who is solely in charge of her. If I have this babe in the night, we’ll just let her sleep. 🙂
I have also found I do better with a very limited number of people around during my labors.  We’ll have the bare minimum to get everything taken care of, but I always make it clear to everyone that I pretty much only like Brady and my midwife while I’m in labor. 😉 Having too many people around makes me anxious while I’m so vulnerable.
One thing that I am really making a point to do this time is to not rush calling everyone and posting and all that.  I just want me and B to have that time together, and the girls to have all the time they want/need to bond with their new little sibling.  There is so much time for all the calls and texts and visits later.  I always get excited and kind of jump the gun, but this time Brady and I really want to take a beat and just have that sacred time for our family, uninterrupted.
I will also be thinking a LOT more about what we need after the baby is here.  I plan to have some freezer meals stocked up as well as a fridge stocked with plenty of snack type foods, which is all I really eat after I have a babe.  It takes me some time to get my appetite back, but I need to eat to get my milk in and all that.  I love having things like granola on hand that I can grab any time of the day or night.  I’ve already started making a list of things I think of that will be nice to have when the baby comes.  Special snacks and drinks for the girls, stuff like that.
Having a baby around here is SUPER special and I want all the details to match the occasion. 🙂
I had my 30 week midwife appointment yesterday.  Baby is head down and posterior which means I have little limbs poking out all over the place, feet constantly in my ribs.
My belly is measuring 32.5 cm so it’s not in my head that my belly is bigger this time. Yikes!
I get comments asking how much longer and if I’m due any time now on the daily… at church especially.
Super fun to say “nope, actually I have two and a half months left!” ha!
Times I’ve been asked if I’m having twins so far : 3
I’ve gained more weight with each baby I’ve had, so we’re right on track! (although I’m really only a couple lbs more than I was with Grae at this point).
I find that I always weigh different at the beginning of pregnancies, and end up at the same by delivery.
Sleeping has gotten hard.  I can’t breathe.  I feel like someone is sitting on my lungs when I sit or lay down and I can hardly get any air though my nose if I lay down.  So weird.  I put Breathe oil on every night, but between fighting for breath, having a super wiggly baby in my belly, a squished bladder and barely being able to roll over, I usually look at the clock like every 20 minutes through the night.
I also already feel pretty achy.  My hips and feet are super sore by the end of the day.  I warm up my heating pad basically every night.
This baby is incredibly active.  It’s almost always moving, I swear.
This last week it started getting the hiccups. 🙂 We have such hiccuping girls, so we always love this part.  The girls got a kick out of feeling them the other night.
We’re definitely feeling things getting closer! Some days I have mini panic attacks over having another baby in the mix, and other days it feels like we’re missing one.
I’m so grateful I’ve felt well.  That has been the biggest relief this pregnancy!
Hoping to make the most of these next ten weeks!