I promise I’ll include pictures

I always swear I’m not going to be the pregnant woman who is all "I’m going to go early, it’s going to happen any time!" but I swear I’ve been that way lately. I was pointing out to Phil all the parallels between last time and this time. Last time we did a lot of yard when I was right around 38 weeks, this week I was out weeding and raking while Riley played on the swing set. Last time I had annoying cramping all of week 38, it started 2-3 days ago this time (almost right at 38 weeks). Last time we had big plans for our last weekend as a childless couple that included eating out and a hike….I’ve already said next weekend we should take Riley to music and go out for lunch and do the local egg hunt. If he were to be born at the same gestational age as Riley it would be a week from today, crazy.

I actually really feel like I’ll go later this time – like 40 weeks and change. But then I thought I’d be induced with Riley and she came early, you never know! Last time I didn’t get any stretch marks, this time I gained less weight and am measuring smaller, yet have them all around my belly button 😛

I’m ready to sleep again. With newborn Riley I only got 2 hours at a time, but OMG it was deep, good, normal sleep. I can "sleep" 10 hours now and wake up exhausted. It’s all tossing and turning (I swear my right hip pops out every time I roll over!), getting up to pee, waking soaked with sweat in my 60 degree bedroom. It’s not real sleep. I’m also ready to be able to play with my kid again. I find myself avoiding things like the park or walks around the neighborhood because if she runs or throws herself down in a tantrum it HURTS to pick her up and wrestle her back to the house/car. If she doesn’t want to go somewhere she plants her feet on the back of the truck seat  and her legs are long enough I can’t get her butt down into the car seat. I’m lucky enough it’s only in the last week it has gotten hard, but I’ll be happy to have more mobility again.

This is my last scheduled weekend before my due date, wohoo! My next scheduled is Easter weekend, I’ve tried to assure him it’s a good idea to come before then so my mom and dad can come down for church and ham since we won’t be traveling.

Have I mentioned my midwives aren’t on call around the clock currently? It’s causing me a bit of stress. They have been short staffed a long while and couldn’t keep up with office appoints, so they’re on call 24/7 Fri-Sun, but Mon-Thurs they’re not there between 7P and 7A. Meaning I could end up being delivered by an OB I’ve never met. I’ve been assured that they’re very respectful of patients preferring midwife care and none of them are knife-happy, but it still makes me worry. We had such an awesome natural birth experience the first time around, I can only hope this time will go as smooth.

I’m finally getting excited. I’ve been leaning more towards the scared side this time and I know it will be a test to my sanity those first couple months, but it’s definitely what we wanted.

I feel like I have a ton more to write about, but it’s midnight and I was up even later last night, I can suddenly barely keep my eyes open. To keep my promise:

St Paddy’s girl

And 38 weeks this time

Compared to 38 weeks with Riley

I feel like my belly is bigger this time, but I’ve gained almost no weight anywhere else. Last time my face and legs especially got huge, and even my arms got fatter, I can’t get over how normal my body looks this time besides the belly. Best of all minimal swelling = no Shrek feet or sausage fingers!