8 Months (weeks 32 - 35)



Compare/Contrast: So I feel like I'm at a weird in between with this pregnancy. I'm more swollen than I was with Gwen, but not as swollen as I was with Cara at this point. This baby girl moves more than Cara, but not as much as Gwen, from what I remember (but MUCH more closely to Gwen's movements...it's a lot and all the time haha). I do feel like I'm getting the nausea again a tiny bit (just mostly smells set it off and that's about it) and I'm getting irritable easily again. Those have both been common with my previous pregnancies.

I'm also getting to the point where at the end of the night I feel like I'm stretched to my limits so knowing I have a month left gets discouraging. The good news is I seem to be getting a second wind with nesting. I'm SUPER motivated this month to get things done before she makes her appearance. It was a tough couple weeks last month that I just didn't care to clean or do anything, even though I knew I NEEDED to do them. But now that it's back I have a lot to get done and it feels great to get them done!

I've also started getting REALLY breathless now. I can't stand too long without sounding like I've worked out. I pant after changing the girl's diapers...and if I've left anything upstairs it's not getting back to me until bedtime haha. I'm also craving ice cream a lot...another very common thing with both other pregnancies haha.

Ice cream craving fulfilled!

Also, another common thing - sleeping. I sleep great once I get to sleep, but getting comfy to fall asleep is SUPER hard!

Another half thing is heartburn. With Cara I only got it once, maybe twice. With Gwen it was ALL THE TIME. This time around I get it more often, but it's definitely not everyday.

I didn't realize...but apparently around this time I tend to de-junk our house...I wonder why I sitll have so much around then? Haha

Organizing the play area...felt and looked great!
(Didn't last long)

Best Moments This Month: As stated, I've been more motivated so we're getting more purging done (things I didn't finish from before like the basement and our master bedroom). I've ordered the things we'll need for the baby (new bottles/nipples, new scrubbers, new teething toys, my new pump, etc.). I'll be ordering my postpartum needs (depends, new belly band...maybe, black out drapes for our room). I've also reached out to our newborn photographer so hopefully she'll be able to get us in (this covid stuff is really starting to get to me...I get antsy on the weekends to get out, but I get tired easily and it's hard to be out too long).

Shirts I ordered because they are TOO cute!

Shirts I ordered the girls as a gift from the baby

Oh and I had a follow up midwife appointment on the 14th and baby is head down (a first for me)! AND my placenta moved much further away from my c section scar so now we don't have to worry about that either. Woot woot!

I got my TDAP shot out of the way on the 14th as well...hurts for a couple days, but it's done with. Now to get the strep b test done next month.

Gifts Stace made for me (for the baby)

Also, this one is silly, but from the second I had Gwen I could tell number 3 would be a bit easier because Cara and Gwen would have each other to play with and I wouldn't feel as bad about neglecting one of them and seeing them play so much these last few weeks have been such a reassurance of this. Gwen is pretty sensitive, but for the most part they get along SO well and Cara's really getting to be a big help around the house so I feel like this might be my easiest transition. I also have a good feeling that nursing will work better this time...fingers crossed!

I've also realized I can feel hiccups this time and I probably felt them the other times, but I always thought it was some sort of pulsating before. This one gets hiccups ALL.THE.TIME. I actually kind of like feeling them now that I know what they are.

What I'm Looking Forward To: Getting more things organized and cleaned, getting a postpartum plan put together, getting all the rest of the baby stuff I've ordered (covid is also intervening with our 2 day shipping benefit!). Enjoying our last month of just the 4 of us before the newborn days hit hard (I'm feeling prepared, but at the same time dreading those first few months). Maybe getting our new family car soon (we might *gasp* actually get a minivan!). I guess I should also get a hospital packing list ready? I'm not sure if we even need that at this point.

Cara is THREE!

How is my little baby girl three years old already?? It really is true how they say the days are long, but the years are short. Doesn't feel that way in the newborn days, but knowing she's 3...and her baby book only lets us do updates until 5 so she's already past the halfway mark. Brings a tear to my eye a little bit.

It's funny because I look back at pictures from her newborn days and I look at her feeding and sleeping log and I remember being SO frustrated so many nights with her, but I don't remember specific moments of frustration. I remember crying a lot at how much I loved her (haha) and how I had anxiety a lot. She rocked our world when she came, but I miss the naps on my shoulders, I miss taking her for walks in the car seat/stroller to the store, I miss watching home improvement shows while watching her (those days were SO much easier..with just one kid, not going to lie haha).

For her third birthday this year, we had to do things a little differently. We couldn't have a party because of Covid-19, so we had to stay in. We still did the streamers on her doorway for her to run through when she woke up, we had gifts waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs to surprise her with, we did cinnamon rolls for breakfast, we let her play outside as much as she could handle (she loves being outside), and just had a great day as a family. We decided we'd do a party/celebration with her after the Covid stuff is over (or when they decide it'll be safe to go to fun places again) to make up for it...even if that takes all the way till next year. 

Smiling SO big in her new princess dress up

To my special C - you are the most amazing little girl! You are the greatest big sister to G and I can't wait to see how you are with the new baby. You have your moments of having tantrums, but then you have moments of saying thank you and please and you're welcome and I'm so proud of you! When you share your toys I swell up with love for you. When you give me kisses and hugs I know every hard moment we had with you as a baby was totally worth it! I love watching you learn, I love watching you be the little independent daredevil you are. I love watching you say hi to people at the store. I love how you play with your toys, your imagination play is starting to come through and I can't wait to see that increase. We got so lucky when you were born and I'll cherish all the future moments we get with you. I can't put into words how much you mean to me and how my life will never be the same because of you and I literally couldn't imagine it without you! I love you for forever and I hope you had the best birthday ever!