Baby r2: 38 weeks!

How far along: 38 weeks.

How big is the baby: I'm assuming my chunky monkey is about 8-8.5 lbs! As long as a leek (19.5 inches or longer), he/she has a firm grasp which we'll be able to test soon. Organs are matured and ready for life outside the womb!
Weight gain/loss: About 34.5 lbs.

Sleep: I need more. By the time I get comfortable and sleep a couple hours, it's time to get up and use the restroom - I'm taking 2-3 breaks per night now

Diet/Cravings/Aversions: Nothing really big. Still feeling full lots of times. I do still really love my peanut M&Ms. My parents are cooking for us Thursday night and I've requested my favorite meal from childhood - tenderloin cooked in tomato juice to make a gravy and mashed potatoes with a veggie. I wanted wilted lettuce but don't think it will happen.
Gender: Still a surprise :) I'm still thinking girl too.

Movement: Quite a bit. And it's downright painful right now.

 

Worries: The baby is still breech, so when combining that and size, we are looking at a C-section.

The belly: Huge. Still growing. Oddly my belly measures on track while the baby is about 2 weeks ahead.

(Clearly I got a little photo collage happy this week, especially since I still had the same outfit from 38 weeks with Cooper)

 

 

  

 

8 weeks vs. 38 weeks ... no big deal

What I'm Loving: This is my last week of work! With the holiday on Monday and knowing the baby will arrive sometime next week if not sooner, it just makes more sense.

Symptoms: Just lots of aches and pains.

Big Brother: Good luck, baby. He will love you but also try to smother you.
 

What's different this time: Breech baby and knowing that we are so large!

What I'm looking forward to: Dinner at my parents house.
 

Best moment of the week: Filling out all the maternity leave paperwork. I'm not coming back until Aug. 7 and super excited.

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Baby R2: 37 weeks

How far along: 37 weeks.

How big is the baby: Typically about 6 1/3 lbs. this one measured about 7.5 at last week's ultrasound so another one on the bigger side - I'd guess close to 8 lbs. at this point? About 19 inches long. The head is also in the 90th percentile. Which is large, but they said actually less dangerous than Cooper's wide shoulders were. Baby's brain and lungs are fully maturing. Lots of babies have a full head of hair, from 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches ... and we saw hair during the U/S!
Weight gain/loss: About 33.5 lbs.

Sleep: I like it and need more of it! Hard to get comfy and too many bathroom breaks.

Diet/Cravings/Aversions: The past few days I've really started having that nauseous, not hungry feeling. Super sad because today is potluck day at work.
Gender: Still a surprise :)

Movement: Quite a bit. I like to watch the waves in my belly.

 

Worries: The baby is breech. My doctor wasn't there to really talk game plan with a larger than typical baby AND breech baby, so I've been stressing about that. But then I remind myself that early on in this pregnancy when they started threatening a C-section for another big baby, my specific prayer was that, should I need a C-section, it be very clear because the baby was breech, etc., so it kind of seems like a God thing. Even though I don't want a C-section, I feel a bit of peace about it.

The belly: Huge. Still growing. Oddly my belly measures on track while the baby is about 2 weeks ahead.

 

  

37 weeks with Cooper

 

What I'm Loving: Officially considered "late term" and baby's birthday is right around the corner!

Symptoms: Just lots of aches and pains.

Big Brother: Hugs and kisses baby Tootie every night before bed. Has been a big help getting gear such as the car seat, swing and all that out and ready.  
 

What's different this time: Being warm! Oh and husband is still on crutches, at least until next Thursday. So I'm trying to keep this baby in until the 22nd.

What I'm looking forward to: My doctors appt. and getting a better idea of the game plan to get the baby out safely.

Best moment of the week: Celebrating another Mother's Day with my boy ... and realizing next year I'll have TWO kids. Also got both car seats installed and its a bit surreal.

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A letter to my firstborn

Dear Cooper:

Every since this pregnancy was confirmed, you have been my No. 1 thought. No matter what, you are my first baby, the one that made me a mama and taught me so much.

There was a time that I thought I could never love another baby as much as you. To be honest, I'm still a little unsure. How could anyone ever duplicate what we have (even though you are a Daddy's boy who I am sure hates me 50% of the time.) I totally could have seen my life with you as an only child.

But believe it or not, you are a big part of the reason we wanted to have another baby. We want you to have that best friend. If anything happens to your Daddy and I, we want you to have another piece of us that you can lean on and support. And to be brutally honest, we believe you will learn more life lessons as a big brother than any other way. You will learn so much about sharing, not being a brat, and things that we believe can only be taught with a sibling in the home. Because let's face it, you are pretty spoiled right now and need to be knocked off your pedestal a notch.

People always ask if this is my first, then when they hear I have another, what the age difference is. And how you will handle it. Honestly? I think you will be the best big brother. You already seem to love this little one. Most nights before bed when we give kisses, you have to hug and kiss my belly and tell Tootie (your nickname for the baby) "I love you soooo much!" You are learning that all the things you used as a baby or have outgrown will be used again and seem thrilled by it. About a month ago, we finally decided it was time to take your well-loved boots out of the closet as they were getting tight, and you took them to the nursery "for baby sister!"

You're pretty funny, because for the longest time you said Tootie was a baby sister, but now you state "She's a boy like Daddy and me."

I pray that, boy or girl, you will be this baby's protector, best friend, and most of all, a good example.

Just the other day, I took you for doughnuts since you were such a good boy during your haircut and we had about 20 minutes to burn before picking up a prescription. I'm feeling pretty emotional lately, and watching your sweet face as you ate the treat, licked glaze off your fingers and drank milk just about made me lose it.

On one hand, I feel like I'm about to turn your world upside down. But on the other, I truly feel that we are giving you the greatest gift. You get to be a big brother and have a little sibling. Someone who will look up to you and idolize you. I know you'll fight and there will be times you hate each other, but that's OK. It's normal. At the end of the day, I just want to know that no matter what, you'll always love and be there for each other.

Love,
Mommy


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packing list ... round 2

Since I'm insistent that we get our bags packed this weekend, I dug out my list from last time including what we took and DIDN'T need and wanted to post, as well as get any feedback from y'all.

• Camera with battery and charger
• Phone chargers
• Flip flops.
• Toiletries for showering, etc. Including a loofah. Lotion.
• My small battery-operated hand fan.
• Books
• A tub of food. I remember always being STARVING around 10-11 p.m. after Cooper was born so I'll want some munchies.
• Notebook to keep notes/updates throughout the birthday process. I actually recently found the notes from Cooper's birth and really love that I have that.
• Insurance/ID cards
• Onesies, hats, socks, mittens. Yes the hospital has the generic stuff but I don't like that. I'm also throwing in a couple headbands if it's a girl.
• Headbands and ponytail holders for mom.
• Toothbrush
• Straightener and/or curling irons.
• Makeup
• Car seat
• Mom's clothes
• Nursing bras/tanks
• Yoga pants
• Maxi dress to wear home
• My own gown - debating this one. I hate to mess it up but really hate the hospital ones 
• Robe
• Clothes, etc. for dad
• Garbage bags for laundry, extra tote for any gifts, etc. brought to the hospital (that stuff seems to multiply!)
• Cooper's "Big Brother" present from the baby.

And of course, I also have to pack a Grandma/PaPa bag for little man.

• 3 pairs pajamas
• 5-6 shirts
• 3 pr. jeans, 3 pr. shorts
• Undies, socks, white T-shirts
• A few books
• A stuffed animal
• Boots, flip flops, tennis shoes
• Hats
• Medicine (just in case)
• His present to give the baby
• His "big brother bag" that he got at the sibling class offered by the hospital

Thankfully since my parents are close by and have been watching him quite a bit with doctors appointments, they keep a lot of the essentials like baby wash, cups, etc. at their house so there isn't too much we have to drop off. We also intend to probably leave a car seat with them in the next week or so, that way we don't have to worry about transferring that over if we meet them at 3 a.m. while en route to the hospital.

What am I forgetting?


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Baby R2: 36 weeks

How far along: 36 weeks, less than 30 days until my due date!

How big is the baby: Baby weighs approximately 6 lbs, gaining about an ounce a day! He/she is about 18.5 inches long, the length of a head of Romaine lettuce. "Tootie" as big brother calls the baby, is shedding most of the downing hair and the waxy substance that protects the skin. He/she is swallowing them and will become meconium passed in the first bowel movements. At the end of this week, I'm considered "early term!"
Weight gain/loss: I'm avoiding the scale these days. It was a rough week.

Sleep: Depends. I'm tired but have a hard time getting comfortable. I think I woke up for three bathroom breaks one night? And since hubs is on crutches (more on that later) I let him have my side of the bed, which is closer to the bathroom, so that's taking some getting used to.

Diet/Cravings/Aversions: I'm finding I'm not hungry and just eating whatever is easiest to whip up.

Gender: Still a surprise :)

Movement: A lot. This baby is in both hips and my right rib. Ouch! Must be a tall one.
 

Worries: Since my parents will be out of town this weekend, I don't want to go into labor while they are gone. After hubs' accident last week, I had some pretty bad contractions the following day (likely stress/exhaustion/dehydration) and was terrified I would go into labor then. Especially since a girl due the day before me ended up having her baby last week.

The belly: Big and seems to be growing by the day.

  

 

 

 

What I'm Loving: It's May, which I'm keeping my fingers crossed is baby month.

Symptoms: Back, hip and ribs hurt. I'm waddling.

Big Brother: Hugs and kisses baby Tootie every night before bed. He also picked out a present for her this weekend.
 

What's different this time: I didn't remember being this miserable at this point last time, but reading back over that post, it sounds like I was.

Oh, and I have a husband on crutches. Long story short, last week he was out riding/playing with the horses while I was on the treadmill and in the workout room. When I was about ready to wrap everything up, Cooper ran in saying "mommy, that horse hurt daddy's leg." I freaked and ran outside - he was standing but in pain The horse bucked and threw him, then when J landed the horse essentially fell over on him. After a little debating, we spent four glorious (haha) hours in the ER to be diagnosed with a broken foot. In the grand scheme of things, I know it's really great that it was ONLY a small bone in the foot where he could have had a broken pelvis, ribs, back, neck, etc. from such a large animal, but being on crutches really, really sucks. Orthopedic dr. today and if they won't do a walking boot I'll likely cry/flip out.

What I'm looking forward to: We have another ultrasound on Thursday!

Best moment of the week: The nursery is basically ready to go. I'm slowing ticking things off the to-do list and that calms my nerves a bit.

 

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