35 Weeks Pregnant

When you’re a third time mom, it’s kind of hard to get those cute belly pics without a mini photo bomber. Related: I am too big and hot to do my hair, so waves and ponytails is likely what you will see from here on out 😉

35 weeks pregnant?! Oh man. My heart just skipped a beat just typing that. How has this pregnancy gone by SO fast? Just yesterday I found out I had another little bean in my belly! It’s officially go time.

Time to finish organizing, put together the nursery, pack my hospital bag and prepare several weeks worth of content for my job. And people say to sleep and relax in the final weeks…HA!

Speaking of relaxing…Ugh. Sleeping has not been fun lately. I am constantly hot and uncomfortable. Since nighttime is rough, I am exhausted by afternoon and have been trying to sneak in a cat nap for 20 minutes or so when Karina naps. Once in awhile, Kinley lets me get away with it. Other days she throws a ball at my head or shouts “mommy! mama! mom!” in my face until I move. This is the reality of my life. No rest for the weary.

When I do catch some shut-eye, I dream of baby boy. I have a great, speedy birth and he’s another big baby {9 pounds, 6 ounces in every dream, actually}. He latches, I cry, and another chapter begins. I’m hoping if I keep having this dream it will come true but I am realistic in knowing that births rarely go how we plan them.

I had an ultrasound last week to check my placenta {I had a partial previa}, and it does indeed look like I’m brewing a big boy. This isn’t a shocker — I make big babies…and no, I do not have gestational diabetes. The head is the only part that worries me, naturally. Otherwise, I’ll look forward to squeezing some plump cheeks because let’s be honest — big babies are pretty cute and not-so-scary to hold, right? Right.

On the placenta front, mine is still covering a tiny portion of my cervix, but my midwife has given me the all-clear to labor naturally. Only God knows what will *truly* happen when that day arrives. I have an open mind and am trusting my body to do its job. In fact, I keep thinking of these words from Ina May Gaskin, world-renowned midwife:

“Remember this, for it is as true and true gets: Your body is not a lemon. You are not a machine. The Creator is not a careless mechanic. Human female bodies have the same potential to give birth well as aardvarks, lions, rhinoceri, elephants, moose, and water buffalo. Even if it has not been your habit throughout your life so far, I recommend that you learn to think positively about your body.” 
― Ina May Gaskin, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth

*Positive thoughts*Positive thoughts*Positive thoughts* My birth plan? Just to birth quickly and deliver a healthy baby boy! I am getting crazy excited to hold my little man and look into the face that has been moving inside me. He is such an active little guy. It’s a very bizarre feeling when I’m holding one of the girls and I feel him pushing where they are laying — he is so curious already! Also, I LOVE the newborn/baby phase. I appreciate it so much now that I have a toddler and preschooler 😉 I’m starting to prep the girls for his arrival {blog post with tips coming soon!}. Kinley is slightly obsessed and excited, while Karina is still pretty jealous when I hold other babies, so that could be a challenge. She LOVES to help out though, so I’m hoping after a few weeks of adjustment and having her help me with small baby-related tasks, she will adjust. Fingers crossed! Cheers to the final weeks! Please send me happy delivery vibes — I’d really appreciate it 😀 Also, stay tuned! for some photo fun. My friend Deanna Spivey Photography is taking maternity photos for me next week and I can’t wait to share the results with you all. She does fabulous work!