40 Weeks - For the First Time!

I knew I would make it here, deep down - but I was really kind of hoping he might surprise me and be a few days early. But nope, I am 40 weeks and I'm seeing no signs of anything happening any time soon. I'm really, really hopeful that I'll go into labor on my own here in the next few days, but if nothing else, I'm going in to have my membranes stripped on Friday. Which means he should, fingers crossed, be here within the next week or so. Yayyy!!!!

Since I never made it this far with Grayson, I don't have a comparison photo or a comparison of what I was experiencing last time. I already had a week old baby at that point! So here we go, on to my first ever 40 week update.

Due Date

October 17th

This Week Baby A...

according to BabyCenter the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and is around 20 inches long, but Grayson was bigger than that and was born a week early, so I'm guessing this kid may be a bit larger than that :) He is all ready to go in there, so any time he decides to make his arrival we are good to go! 

Symptoms

Honestly we don't have a whole lot going on over here, unfortunately. I definitely feel like I have a full grown human being inside of me. I'm having some sciatic pain for sure, some cramping and contraction like feelings here and there, and just your basic exhaustion. But honestly, for as pregnant and huge as I am, I feel pretty dang good. 

Weight Gain

At my last appointment I was up 30, which I am perfectly happy with. I only got to 39 weeks last time and gained 34, so even if I jump up to a 34 pound weight gain before he gets here, I still technically did better than last time. So weird how I was basically competing against myself this entire time...

Gender

Baby Boy!

Food Cravings/Aversions

Cereal, mainly Frosted Flakes. I randomly needed toast with lots and lots of butter the other day. Some mornings I have to have Cream of Wheat. But really, nothing too crazy. I guess I just don't really do the whole craving thing that intensely. 

Movements

Some days he's super duper active, some days he's a little quieter in there. Typically when I'm really busy I don't notice him moving as much and when I'm being lazy he's all over the place. He definitely feels huge - my belly is allllll baby at this point. 

Sleep

Not terrible, but definitely getting worse. My hips have started hurting some, and it's just getting really difficult to flip from side to side. I generally sleep pretty soundly until around five or six, and then I toss and turn quite a bit until Grayson is up for the day. 

Daddy's Thoughts

I think we are all on the same page around here. On Sunday I asked him if he was getting anxious and he said definitely, but probably not as much as I am. Which is accurate. We've both been really prepping Grayson the last week or so, talking about how the baby will be here to live with us soon, telling him how fun it will be to hold and kiss and snuggle with the baby, what a good big brother he'll be, and so on. I think everyone in this house is ready at this point! 

Fun Moments

We finally got the baby's name hung on his wall, and I bought a few more things to go on the shelves in his room, so we've basically finished the nursery up. Yesterday I got everything else packed and loaded in the car for when it's time to head to the hospital. Basically every single thing baby related is done. Most of what I've been doing is snuggling up with Grayson, trying to soak up every last minute of one on one time with him. I don't know if I'm feeling extra emotional because he's not going to be my one and only soon, or if he's just become extremely adorable and sweet lately, but I have seriously just been enjoying every little thing about him the past couple of weeks. 

Looking Forward To... 

Going into labor! I can't say I'm totally looking forward to the actual process of giving birth, but I am looking forward to going after my VBAC. I really, really hope everything turns out the way I want it to, but I know if I do for some reason end up needed a repeat c-section that I trust my doctor 100% and will know I really truly needed to go that route. But in my mind, I am going to absolutely accomplish what I'm setting out to do. I really, really, really cannot WAIT to meet this crazy little fella that has been dancing around in my tummy for months. So ready to dive back in to newborn life!!!

My Grayson

Since I will be 40 weeks pregnant tomorrow, things are really starting to sink in. Like, the fact that there will be a tiny infant living in our home in the next few days (fingers crossed, I am so very ready to be done with this last few weeks of pregnancy!). And also the fact that Grayson will no longer be my only baby, my only child, my only boy, my only everything. I know I will love and adore this baby boy just as much as my first, but man - it's really kind of freaking me out thinking about sharing the love.

Right now I spend so much time just cuddling with, kissing on, obsessing over Grayson. He and I have such a special bond. I spend more time with him than anyone else, and he really is like my best little friend. He's such a joy to be around (most of the time, ha!) and I so enjoy all of our one-on-one time together. I have heard so, so, so many mamas say that instead of splitting the love it's almost like your heart grows in size, and I fully expect that to be the case. I guess I'm more concerned with splitting the actual time than the love. Love I have an abundance of. Time, not as much.

I think this is why I've been so obsessed with Grayson the past few weeks. I mean, he really is hilarious and smart and full of joy, and he is endlessly entertaining. But he's been that way for awhile now. I think I'm just really soaking it all in, trying to truly see him for the amazing little man that he is before half my attention has to be devoted to a tiny baby. So he and I have been spending a lot of time cuddled up in our big comfy chair, him sitting as close to me as humanly possible, sometimes playing with my hair, sometimes just leaning on my arm. He watches Paw Patrol or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and I play on the iPad, and we just snuggle up. Up until just a few weeks ago I was all about staying active, avoiding screen time as much as possible, and getting out and about whenever we could. But being this pregnant has forced me to slow down, and really, it has been so nice. Taking the time to simply sit with him and giggle about whatever random thing comes up or talk about his day at preschool has been some of my most favorite times with him lately.

So until this baby decides to make his appearance, this is how we will proceed. Excess amounts of cuddling. laughing, kissing, "I love you's", and probably since he's 2 1/2, several tantrums and meltdowns thrown in for good measure. I cannot wait to meet the little one growing inside me, but I will always, always treasure the time I've had, just me and my Grayson.

What Grayson Wore - September

So, one of the great joys of being a parent, at least for me, is picking out someone else's clothing. I used to try to do this for my husband, but he would switch things up or blatantly tell me no at times, so it wasn't near as fun. But with Grayson, at least for now, I can dress him pretty much however I want. Very rarely (knock on wood) does he refuse to wear something. It's awesome.

What's even more awesome, is now that he's going to preschool twice a week, I actually have a reason to dress him in something other than athletic shorts and t-shirts that he can wear to be comfy around the house. I am taking full advantage, and it's so fun. Lord help us all if I ever have a girl...I can only imagine how fun the bows and frills and leggings and little boots are! But luckily (for A's wallet at least), I'm a boy mama for now. But I have fun with it, and I think I've kind of created a bit of a signature Grayson style, if you will ;)

I started on the first day of preschool taking photos of him each morning before we leave the house, and I've kept it up each day so far. I typically text them to A and my mom, and that's the extent of it. But I figured if I'm going to be taking the pics, why not put them to good use. So, I'm thinking this shall be a new "regular" (haha, I know, who are we kidding) blog post around here.

These aren't exactly the highest quality photos, because they're taken on my iPhone, typically as I'm saying, "Hurry up baby, we're about to be late! Hurry! Can you say cheese? No? Come on, cheeeese! Ok, that'll work, let's go!!!". But they get the job done.

 

First Day!!! 

(Ralph Lauren Polo shirt, Old Navy shorts, Converse Chuck Taylor All Star shoes)

I have a daily battle with this hair. 

(Old Navy tank top, Old Navy cut offs created from jeans he outgrew, Tom's shoes)

I'm working on a more natural smile with him....so far it's not going so well....

(Old Navy t-shirt, Old Navy shorts, Converse shoes)

Hat Day!!!

(Dallas Mavericks hat, Baby Gap tank, Children's Place shorts, Tom's shoes)

(Tank top from Kohl's, Old Navy shorts, Converse shoes)

(Garanimals shirt, Old Navy shorts, Nike Flex Run Athletic shoes)

38 Weeks with Baby #2

OH, we are so very close now. I'm actually 39 weeks today, so I'm behind on the updates once again. I was induced with Grayson at 38 weeks 6 days, and I had him at 39 weeks exactly, so by tomorrow I will officially be the most pregnant that I have ever been. I'm still feeling way better than I did the first time around, so hopefully that will continue on throughout the remainder of the pregnancy! Although, I'm really hoping that the remainder of the pregnancy is not too long...mama is ready! 

Due Date

October 17th! 

This Week Baby A...

is just getting bigger and bigger. According to Baby Center he's around 6.8 pounds and over 19 1/2 inches long. My doc doesn't do late sonograms, so we literally have no idea if he's measuring big or small...we haven't seen him since around 20 weeks! He apparently has a firm grasp and his organs have matured and are all ready for life on the outside. So come on out little man!

Symptoms

Definitely feeling a little more pregnant these days. I've started swelling, hips are a little sore, back hurts sometimes. The main thing that's been bugging me is the fact that he has dropped, and his head is pushing down HARD. And often. And it huuuurts. I also was quite convinced I was having contractions last week, but turned out to be a bit of false labor. I had a massage about a week and a half ago and the lady did accupressure or whatever it's called the entire time and basically almost killed me. That's when he dropped, and I was in intense pain for the next few days. It's been better the past few days, but there are certainly still moments when it feels like he's trying to break out of there! 

Weight Gain

At the appointment Wednesday I was up 29 - still better than last time! I was up 33 at 38 weeks last time, and gained 34 total. I'm hoping I can hover around 30 total this time, that would be fab. But I have been eating so horribly the past week or so, I may blow past that if he stays in there too much longer. 

Gender

Sweet Little Baby Boy

Food Cravings/Aversions

Tonight we went out for my birthday dinner and I decided pizza was what I had to have - I would say pizza is probably the number one food craving I get, I usually have it about once a week. Other than that it's all sweets. All sugar, all the time please!!!

Movements

He is still nutso. He's moving less frequently, but OMG when he does move he is caraaaazzy! He feels so huge. And he is seriously constantly head butting me in the cervix, which isn't the most pleasant thing ever. I still think it's amazing and wonderful and exciting every time he moves, but sometimes I'm like daaaang kid, take it down a notch! 

Sleep

Pretty good, I must say. I wake up around midnight and again around 3 - 3:30 to pee almost every night, and then after the second wake up I'm up for a little while, usually browsing around on Facebook or Instagram until I fall back asleep about 30 minutes later. Other than that, I sleep through the night :) 

Daddy's Thoughts

We've had a lot of "I can't wait for him to be here and to see how Grayson reacts" conversations over the last couple of weeks. It's so different this time, because we don't have as much of that fear of the unknown when it comes to what to do with an actual real, living baby, but more excited anticipation about becoming a family of four. He's been so insanely busy at work the last few months that I think he forgets I'm pregnant sometimes, but I can tell the reality is starting to set in for him. 

Fun Moments

Well, the main thing that has been driving me CRAZY for the last several months has finally been crossed off the to do list - baby boy has a name! I am so insanely relieved. Hubs is serious about not telling until his arrival, but I will say it's kind of funny because this baby will be named one of the names that I wanted so bad for Grayson and that A didn't like. This time around, he was obsessed with this name and I was kind of like, eh, I'm over it. It was my favorite boys name for years and years, and I had others this time that I wanted more. But we finally came to an agreement on it, and I think we both feel pretty good about it :) THANK THE LORD!

Looking Forward To... 

His arrival! This last part is so, so hard, just the anticipation of when is it going to happen? We are basically ready, aside from a few small things that I need to finish up, so I'm just ready for him to get here now. I believe I will let myself go until about 41 weeks before doing any type of induction, and at that point we would do stripping membranes versus inducing with pitocin or any real medical interventions. Soooo....he should be here in about two weeks, at the very latest. Fingers crossed he decides to come on his own before then, though. We are all so ready to welcome him into our little family!