Officially Overdue!

Yesterday was my due date and yep I'm still pregnant! No due date baby again in this house!

We're SOOO ready for him to make his appearance it's getting ridiculous! Everyone has been checking on me daily, friends and family and strangers are constantly asking "how are you feeling?"

While I'm loving the fact that they are so attentive and so ready to meet him too, seriously I'm over being pregnant. I'm uncomfortable and I'm ready for my discomfort to be progressive. I want that baby in my arms already!

I really don't want to be induced, I'd much rather go in labor on my own naturally so hopefully it will happen soon and we won't have to worry about it. I have a doctor appointment today which bums me out because for the longest time he was measuring big (both on the outside and with an ultrasound). I honestly didn't think I would make it this far, much less out of August. And now I'm heading to an "past my due date appointment". 

Let's go baby! Any day now!!

Ready or Not

The past few weeks people have been eyeballing my big pregnant belly and announcing triumphantly that "it's a girl". Not one person, not two, but several. And some of them have even taken to rubbing my belly without asking. When I say people, I mean cashiers at checkout, teachers at summer camp. Complete strangers.

Little Mister is due to make is arrival in a little over 3 weeks. September 8th is creeping up on us. Are we ready?

His little clothes are washed and put away. We've got a bassinet set up in our room. The swing and bouncer from Ariana are cleaned and waiting. We've got diapers and wipes. If he came now, we'd be ready, but if he waited a little longer we'd be more organized and my house would be cleaner. But who needs organization right?

I've only got 1 thing in my hospital bag. It's crazy how quickly you forget what you need to take with you. And I still have to pack his items and Ariana's bag for her sleepover with her friend when the time comes.

I don't feel ready. I still want a few more weeks. But if he came now I know we could do it. 

My hips are starting to ache. I have no room to breathe. I feel like I can't stretch any further. Sleep has been difficult and painful. I move so slow.  And every now and then I'll get a really bad Braxton Hicks contraction that takes my breath away and I think "Let's do this, I'm over being pregnant, I'm ready"

I find myself staring at his ultrasound photo, trying to picture what he's really going to look like. And I can't wait to hold him on my chest and cuddle him close. Watch his little hands open and close and stare into his eyes and meet him for the first time. Nurse him, and wrap him up in those soft blankets and smell his little head and pat his little butt.

Then I get a little overwhelmed with how perfect I want things to be. How I'd love to vacuum out the car and how I'm struggling with enough energy to keep the house moderately clean when my brain is telling me I need to scrub the windows. And I feel his little kicks and hiccups and I want him to stay in there a little bit longer and I think "Nope, I'm not ready, I need a few more weeks, stay put little guy" I want a little bit more time to focus solely on Ariana. To be able to make it through open house and the first day of school and not be in the hospital or with a baby who is days old. Because I know those first few days/weeks are hard. Emotionally, physically, hormonally stressful and it takes some time to get into the swing of things and how our family dynamics are going to change.

But whether he comes tomorrow, on his due date (like his sister) or 3 days late (I really hope not) it will all work out.

However it happens, whenever it happens. It will be right. We are ready. 

Hello Third Trimester!

This past weekend I hit my 28 week mark. This means I'm officially in my third trimester with this Little Mister! Hooray! It's exciting to be here again and I'm starting to really look pregnant and I love it!

What's going on with baby?

He is measuring 30 weeks and his heart-rate is 144.

He is growing a lot lately and starting to add some fat so he'll have those cute baby cheeks! His eyesight is developing and he will start being able to see the light filtering through the womb. He's also been getting to taste to foods I've been eating and his sense of smell is developing. Billions of neurons are developing in his brain right now! He's about the size of an eggplant according to the bump. He weights around 2.5 pounds and measures between 13.6 to 14.8 inches from head to heel!

What's going on with Mommy?

It's been sunny and hot this week. By hot I mean in the 90's which has been just horrible. Not to mention the fact that (most) houses in Germany don't have air conditioning and I've been a bit miserable! Other than that I've actually been feeling my best lately. Some of my other pregnancy complaints have gone away. We've had a few bumps in the road but my doctors are monitoring me and all is still on track. I still wake up to pee several times a night and have been having noticeable Braxton Hicks since at least 16 weeks. Some days are worse than others but I've been trying to rest a lot and drink lots of water.

What's going on with big sister?

She's still SUPER excited! She loves to shop for baby - whether it's a new cute onsie or a rattle, she wants to buy it. She happily helps me around the house, especially picking things up off the floor that are harder for me to reach now. She loves rubbing my belly, reading and singing to her brother, and feeling the kicks. She is always talking about all the things she's going to teach him and help him with.

Pregnancy Patrol

I live with the pregnancy patrol. Yep, that's what we call our four year old who feels like she's in charge. She can be pretty bossy at times and now it's double the fun now that I'm pregnant and she is always being on the lookout for me and baby brother.

Here are some of the conversations we've had around here lately.

 I give you The Pregnancy Patrol.

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(At dinner, I couldn't eat all of what I dipped)

Me: "Ugh, I'm full"

Ariana: "Well even if you aren't hungry, you still need to eat so your baby can grow up."

+

(Driving in the car doing errands and she's getting mints out of my purse in the backseat)

Me: "Can you pass me a mint tic-tac, please?"

Ariana: "I don't think you should have one, mint isn't good for babies."

+

(Me commenting on my growing belly one night to Richard)

Me: "Oh my belly button is starting to feel weird.

Ariana: "BECAUSE YOU'RE PREGNANT!"

+

(While shopping for baby clothes, Ariana pointing out an outfit)

Me: "No, let's don't buy that one, I don't think it's very cute."

Ariana: "Mommy, that's because boy clothes aren't as cute. We just have to buy it anyways."

+

and finally I hear this all the time. Randomly. All the time. It makes me laugh.

Ariana: "That's not good for pregnants"

I should state that the way she says pregnant sounds more like preg-ah-nents. It's all hilariously funny to me and I'm happy that she's so sweet and wants me to stay safe and healthy, although sometimes a mama just wants to do what a mama wants to do. 

(photos from our backyard on Mother's Day, 23 weeks pregnant)

BOY or GIRL? A look at old wives tales.

When it comes to pregnancy everyone wants to guess what you are having. I have so much fun playing around with old wives tales and seeing the boy and girl gender results. Here is my list of old wives tales I did for this pregnancy and what they revealed.

Chinese Calendar - GIRL

Mayan Calendar - GIRL

Key theory- BOY

Baking Soda test - BOY, GIRL. I did this twice and it came out different each time.

Ring test - BOY

Cravings theory - BOY, GIRL

Skin theory- BOY

Morning Sickness theory - BOY

Dad's Weight theory - BOY

Baby's heart rate theory - GIRL

Spit in water test - GIRL

In case you aren't familiar with some of the test, here is what they are:

Baking Soda (this was new to me, you pour your pee on baking soda if it fizzes it's a boy, if not it's a girl)

Ring Test (hang your wedding ring over your belly, if it goes in a circle it's a girl, straight line it's a boy)

Key test (whether you pick up a key with the round part or the pointy part) 

Cravings, if it's salty or sour it's a boy, sweet it's a girl.

If your skin is the same or better it's a boy. If it's worse it's a girl.

If you have bad morning sickness it's a girl, if not it's a boy.

If Dad is gaining weight along with you it's a girl, if not it's a boy.

If the babies heart rate is over 140 bpm it's a girl, if it's lower it's a boy.

If you spit in water and it floats it's a girl, if it sinks it's a boy.

Ha! I just realized it's 7 for boy and 6 for girl. So it just proves how much weight you can put into these tests, but they are still fun to do.

When I polled our friends on my personal facebook, the majority of guesses was for another girl.

Check back soon for my gender reveal post!!