34 Week Bumpdate

Two measly weeks until this baby is full term.

I was sitting in bed last night wondering where on EARTH the last few months have gone. I can’t believe this pregnancy has gone by so fast. I worried in the beginning that this one would drag and drag and drag because of how excited we were and how long we tried to get pregnant this go around.

Boy was I wrong. Maybe it’s the full workload I’ve maintained throughout most of my pregnancy that’s made things go faster. Or already having a child to take care of. Either way, this has gone by quickly and the reality that maybe this will be our baby has started to sink in.

We haven’t made any decisions about our family size yet and probably won’t for a while, but for a long time we always said that we’d only have two. We always just assumed that we’d be “two and through.” Now? We aren’t so sure. More so, I’m not so sure that I’m done having children.

I really don’t like being pregnant. I don’t like the backaches, the nausea, the insomnia mixed with absolute exhaustion, the headaches, the acne…all of those annoying side effects of pregnancy leave me going back and forth on wanting more children.

But at the same time…

The baby smell…the tiny little clothes…the firsts that come with being a parent…the hugs…the snuggles…the kisses…knowing that a tiny little person is solely my responsibility. Those things tend to outweigh the hardships of pregnancy.

We had to have a third ultrasound yesterday. Two weeks ago at my 32 week checkup my belly measurement was right on target and measuring precisely where I needed to. Then, at random, the belly grew 6 centimeters in a two week time frame. My 34 week appointment last Thursday had me measuring nearly five weeks ahead of schedule. Jonah’s heartbeat is strong and right where it’s supposed to be, so the doctor wasn’t overly concerned that there was something wrong with him.

The appointment went fantastic. Jonah was as active this time as he was during our last ultrasound. He was balling his tiny little fists up at the ultrasound tech every time she tried to get a good measurement of his head. He looks like he’s going to have his brother’s nose. See how that sweet little nose kind of turns up on the end? That’s absolutely my nose…Noah’s nose…and it makes me excited.

Everything measured around 34-35 weeks like it should. Except his head; which is measuring 36 weeks. They measured his weight at about 5 lbs 8.8 oz…which means that he will probably be bigger than Noah was (who weighed 6 lbs 8 oz at 38 weeks). They couldn’t give me a lot of information about what they were checking and measuring (they have to wait on the doctor before they can give any of that away), but I’m guessing that a larger than average placenta is the culprit. I had the same issue with Noah, but never measured larger than I should. So we’ll see.

They did confirm that he is, without a doubt, a little boy. So no  more irrational worries that we’re going to be surprised on his birthday.

I have this inkling that he’s going to really resemble Noah. I know he’ll have his own personality and his own demeanor…but I think he’s going to look like Noah. I’m not sure why I think that…but I do.

My family has started taking bets on when this baby will make his appearance. My sister is guessing way early and saying October 25 or 03. My mom is guessing November 4 and Josh is going with November 12. I asked on Facebook what everyone else thought and I’ve gotten answers all over the map. I haven’t a clue. Other than to say that I expect him to come sooner rather than later.

I’ve got Jonah’s bag all packed with bottles, clothes and blankets. It’s sitting in the crib next to the carseat along with the baby brother gift that Noah picked out for him. This weekend, I’m getting my stuff all ready.

Just in case.