This Baby

We've affectionately been calling this new little baby Baby B, which Henry pointed out was like the animal, so we've also been calling him or her Baby Bee.  We called Henry Little Baby and we called Maggie New Baby, so Baby B it is.  (although alphabetically it would be Baby C, but that's just confusing!)  I'm 36 and a half weeks, and ready to meet this new one.  Physically ready, but not mentally ready, nor is my house ready!  But we'll get everything figured out with life with three kids as we can.  The due date is February 14, which would be a fun birthday for the baby, but I'd like to have the baby before then I think.  I've talked about an induction date with the doctors, but since this baby is growing well, we won't discuss it until 39 weeks.  So we're anxious, excited and nervous!

Looking back, the first trimester was pretty rough on everyone, as it normally is for my pregnancies.  I was definitely on medication for nausea which helped tremendously, so I actually didn't get sick very often, but was feeling sick all the time and tired too of course.  It came early at 6 weeks, the earliest of any of the pregnancies, but luckily was gone early too, by 13 weeks.  (Henry came at 8 and went at 14, and Maggie came at 10 and went at 12).  So about 7 weeks of misery is typical for me.  Gabe was amazingly helpful in taking care of the kids and house.

The second trimester is always a welcome relief.  Gabe calls it my "crafty trimester" as nesting for me means making a bunch of stuff, or at least planning on making a bunch of stuff.  We also had fall travel in there, which was a busy time, followed closely by all the holidays.  So it went by quickly of course.

And the third trimester has been quick as well, simultaneously too quick and too slow!  I'm doing as much as I can to get ready, but feeling like my to do list is long and getting longer instead of shorter.  This is the first time I've felt quite a bit of pain before delivery, since with Henry and Maggie I felt nothing until it was go time.  I'm hoping that will lead to a faster labor and delivery with the third!  The baby is weighing in at 5 pounds 3 ounces, so no sign of bedrest thankfully.  The doctor did a quick ultrasound last week and has monitoring growth and weight gain closely due to Maggie's growth restrictions, but everything looks good.  I took a slip on the ice two weeks ago which gave me a quick trip to the hospital, but again everything was fine.  Seems like that is my standard procedure a month out, as I went with Henry for a fall and Maggie for gallbladder and growth rates.

The gender of this baby is also a surprise!  Although I really wanted to find out this time, more so than the other two times, I've held strong and we'll wait to delivery.  We are still debating names, and will probably decide last minute like we normally do.  This is the first time I haven't had a clear indication of what I think the baby will be.  I've had dreams of both boy and girl, heart rate 140s right in the middle of the rates of the other two.  No dark line like I had with Henry, just the one that never went away that I got at the end of Maggie's pregnancy.  Craving sweets like I did with Maggie.  Nausea pattern more close to the one with Henry.  I carry all my babies about the same.  I think it is a boy, but I'm not sure and have gone back and forth.  So we really will be surprised!  Come on baby, we're ready to meet you!