38 weeks and sort of counting

Being 38 weeks pregnant and knowing what is looming in front of me, I can honestly say that "D" day will come with bittersweet emotions. While I am looking forward to meeting my newest little girl, I am dreading the actual labor and delivery.

This pregnancy has gone by a lot quicker than Gwen's. I have been ultimate slacker-mom and haven't participated in any preparations until this week and my list of to-dos seems like it is a mile long.

I have avoided thinking about the actual giving birth part. If you read about my birth story with Gwen, you will remember that while the labor and delivery were easy compared to many other birth stories, I was still traumatized. There is nothing in comparison to the pain of childbirth (many men will say kidney stones is worse than childbirth, of course, they will never know what childbirth is like and I will never know what passing a kidney stone through a male member is like...but I would still beg that childbirth is much, much worse. At least we get a beautiful baby out of the deal. They only get a little mustard seed.)

Instead of making a practical list of all the chores and preparations that need to be made, I instead made a list of helpful hints for surviving childbirth and the following days:

Music: Music made labor bearable, at least the first 14 hours of labor. I made a playlist that included a nice blend of worship music, Band of Horses, Dave Matthews, Edwin McCain and other music that I found to be soothing/calming or tunes that incited brilliant memories from days passed. I would sing through contractions and it seemed to work well.

Doula: No matter the cost, I suggest getting a doula. Having someone there that knows how labor works and ways to alleviate labor pains is priceless.

Granny panties: Yep. You read that right. If you are pregnant and about to pop, stop what you are doing, go to Wal-mart and grab a bag of 3-times too big granny panties. You will thank me later.

Towels: Bring your own towels. The hospital towels are teeny and are made for children.

Snacks: Joseph jumped in on this one. He was standing beside me for so long and I barely even let him step away to take a sip of water much less go and get a snack. Bring snacks that have a low-aroma as nausea does happen.

Fan: Hospital rooms are hot and stuffy. I feel for the poor nurses who work there everyday. Your hospital will have a fan available - you just have to ask for it.

Comfortable bra: At the end of labor, I ended up completely naked (I was hot...). This time, I am going to bring a belly band to put on like a bra so when Charis arrives I will have photos that don't show my upper region in all it's glory.

Diaper pads: These are pads made from diapers. Our hospital provided these and some hospitals have a product that is similar. To make them at home, simply cut the end of a diaper, stuff it with ice (preferably Sonic-style ice), roll up the cut end and tape it closed. I think the nurses were getting annoyed with me as I kept asking for these little gems. They are soft and feel amazing after giving birth.

A few other things:

I was scared to death of the first dreaded bathroom visit after pushing out a 7 pound 5 ounce baby. I shouldn't have been. It wasn't as bad as I thought (certainly not as bad as the pain of childbirth).

I brought a hair dryer and my flat iron when I was in the hospital with Gwen. I didn't use it.

I brought a whole wardrobe. I didn't use it.

I brought a diaper bag full of "baby essentials". Who was I kidding...the hospital has everything you need for your new little nugget. Do bring a cute going home outfit and car seat.


So here is to another birth. Another little miracle.

32 weeks...and counting.

This pregnancy has gone by so quickly. When you already have a child, time completely changes. It is no longer the hands on a clock whirring by. It is in pounds and ounces of your little one, in dirty diapers and bottles, minutes spent reading board books with crazy names like, "But Not the Hippopotamus". It is measured in the minutes not sleeping at night, in unexpected smiles and cuddles, in watching your baby who is growing so rapidly sleep in your arms.

So no wonder this pregnancy with our Charis has flown by.

How far along? 32 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Two weeks ago at the doctor I had already gained a whopping 18 pounds. Considering my total gain with Gwen was 20 pounds, it's looking like I am going to have a lot of baby weight to lose.

Maternity clothes? Is there anything else? I'm never going back to regular clothes.

Stretch marks? Nope!

Sleep: Gwen is FINALLY sleeping through the night (most nights). I, however, am not. Looks like I need to sleep train myself. 

Best moment this week: Gwen walking...but this isn't about Gwen. The best moment is just feeling Charis move and knowing she is there. I feel like I ignored the first part of my pregnancy due to fear of having another child. I am finally enjoying it. 

Miss Anything? I miss eating like a normal person. Acid reflux is of Satan and sometimes I just don't feel like eating even though I am hungry.

Movement: She is a mover and a shaker! Mostly when I am trying to nap or sleep at night. I guess she doesn't want me to get used to sleeping all night again.

Food cravings: Steak and baked potato....vanilla ice cream with hot fudge....sushi....yuuum.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Just the acid reflux. It feels like my stomach is burning sooo...yeah. I am having a lot of back and hip pain.

Have you started to show yet: Oh yeah. My father-in-law actually mentioned how much I had grown in just the small span of a week! I am much bigger than I was with the Duck.

Gender: She is still a she and it is what she will always be.

Labor Signs: Nope!

Belly Button in or out? Innie! It never poked out with Gwen so I am guessing it will stay in.

Wedding rings on or off? Off....they are so uncomfortable and way too tight.

Happy or Moody most of the time: A mix of the two. I think I have been better over the last couple of months...hm.

Things you love: Sleep...or the idea of sleep.

Looking forward to:  Getting adjusted to our new life with two babies under two years old.

It's time...24 weeks and counting

I want to say thanks to everyone who has embraced my return to blogging but I feel the need to especially thank my friend LaTiffany for encouraging me to start blogging again. Thank you, lady.


I think it is about time I post a pregnancy update. So...I am pregnant! Again. It seems that for the past two years I have been pregnant which I suppose isn't such a bad thing, minus the six of those months that I spent nauseated.
We found out a week before Christmas that we are going to have another little girl. Her name is Charis Elizabeth and my hubs came up with her name. "Charis"(pronounced khar-ece but we will pronounce it more like care-ece) comes from the Greek Lexicon meaning "grace".
No belly photos this time around...

How far along? 24 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Not sure. Though I feel as if I am gaining a lot with this pregnancy. With Gwen, I never really wanted to eat but with this little one, all I want is dessert. I gained only 21 pounds with Gwen and I am pretty sure I will gain more like 50 with this one! 

Maternity clothes? Yep. What they say about your belly growing quicker with the second pregnancy is completely true. 

Stretch marks? Just the ones that I had from my pre-preggo days. 

Sleep: Here's the thing about sleep, since Gwen was born I haven't really gotten much of it. She is still waking up 1-3 times a night, depending. It seems that Charis is more active during the night so I get to feel her move around a lot more since I am up with Gwen.

Best moment this week: Just feeling Charis move around. That is one of the things I missed most about being pregnant. 

Miss Anything? Not really. I feel like I am getting to be a pro at the pregnancy thing. I guess I do miss not having to go to the doctor. 

Movement: Charis is extremely active! I just wish that Joseph could feel her kick but that hasn't happened yet.

Food cravings: Chinese food. "What?", you say? Yes, I detested Chinese food when I was pregnant with Gwen. But that is the beauty of pregnancy...they are all different.

Anything making you queasy or sick: I feel nauseous on and off. Gwen's poopy diapers make me feel ill sometimes, but that happened even before I was pregnant.

Have you started to show yet: Yep[! Though some people still act shocked when I tell them that we are expecting again. I think they are just trying to be nice, otherwise they just think I am fat.

Gender: Girl! Which is exciting to me. I don't have to learn how to deal with boy parts, Gwen will have someone to be best friends with from the get-go, we will have tons of clothes between Gwen's and their cousin Raegan...but the poor girl will always get hand-me-downs.

Labor Signs: Not really, but I noticed that I contract sometimes when I pee.

Belly Button in or out? Innie! I am hoping it will stay in.

Wedding rings on or off? Off....they are so uncomfortable and way too tight.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Moody. I have been a beast this time around, though I have gotten better over the past month or so...at least I think I have. I suppose Joseph is the real judge.

Things you love: I love dreaming about who she will be. I love thinking about the relationship Gwen and Charis will share. I love thinking about sleep. Most of all, I love her father.

Looking forward to:  Honestly, I am looking forward to the labor being over. Labor sucks. It isn't something to look forward to. People say, "oh but at least you have a baby afterwards" like it is a consolation prize. No...labor sucks.