My Pregnant Belly - The Countdown Continues . . .

In three weeks I plan to be sitting in my private hospital room nursing "Sprinkles". I am sometimes incredibly giddy about all this and other times incredibly overwhelmed. Life feels like I am already speeding in the fast lane, so maybe four days in the hospital after my c-section will help me put the brakes on. I'm seriously considering hiring someone to come clean my house over the next 6 weeks or so. I can't remember the last time I hauled out the vacuum cleaner - it seems like so much work right now. Starting this weekend, my freezer is going to get filled with ready to serve and easy to prepare meals and cookies and muffins. I have already been blessed with several friends who are preparing meals for my family. Blessed indeed. I have one more baby purchase to make before the big day - a diaper bag that is of GOOD quality - most of mine start falling apart after a few months of usage. I think I may have to dish out a little more moolah this time around. 21 days to go . . .

My Pregnant Belly - The Countdown Begins

I am in shock. Six weeks from today, baby Sprinkles will be born. March 20th is the scheduled C-section date and it is rapidly approaching. I have made myself a list of things that I need to do before baby Sprinkles arrives - included on that list is "decide on a name". My husband and I have always been an excellent team when deciding on a boy's name, but when it comes to the pretty but not too cute girl's name we struggle. I actually may need to start praying for unity in the choices of our girl's names or maybe Sprinkles will be a boy . . .

Some other important "things to do" include:
~ complete my last baby's 1st year scrapbook - scary!
~ sew 2 rag baby blanket quilts - I've bought the material but that's it so far!
~ set up nursery which means moving Sprinkle's siblings to a new bedroom - which also means laying new carpet!
~ purchase shae butter diaper cream, newborn diapers, newborn sleepers, a sturdy diaper bag, a breast pump . . . I love buying baby stuff!
~ make up a countdown calendar - the girls will LOVE this!
~ take the girls shopping to get baby Sprinkles a gift - the girls will LOVE this!
~ launder all the baby stuff - mmmm baby fresh!
~ I think I'll stop there for now . . . I'm exhausted!

My Pregnant Belly

I am now 29 weeks!

I'm not sure how this happens but it seems that the more kids I have, the faster the pregnancy draws to an end. I remember when I was in the hospital after my first munchkin was born, there was a mom who went into labour at 27 weeks. Obviously not a good thing, but it still makes me think - "Yikes/Wow, there's an actual baby under that belly lump!".

A few other interesting things to note with this pregnancy:

1. My cravings are short but profound. Anything from dill pickles, to grapefruits, to navel oranges, to an egg, cheese, and bacon english muffin.

2. I'm measuring small - again - so I get to have another ultrasound at 36 weeks just to make sure all is well. Another chance to find out whether it's a boy or a girl . . . we'll see . . .

3. I have serious pelvic pain. I have started searching for a pregnancy belt. Last weekend I went through a play land with my 2 year old - through the balls, down the slides, etc. By the bottom I couldn't walk. I felt like that lady at our first prenatal course who could barely walk. At the time my husband and I were thinking "What's up with her?" - Now I know. . .

4. "Sprinkles" is moving like crazy. I have never had a baby move this much which causes me a little concern since my first two babies were so easy. Either Sprinkles is one hyperactive baby, or I'm eating too much sugar, OR it's a boy!

Two and a half months are left to prepare the nursery and allow all my nesting instincts to kick in. I can't wait!

My Pregnant Belly

I am just in awe of how much I love the baby in my womb already. I don't remember feeling such a connection to my other two children until after they were born. With this third little blessing I am noticing every movement even from as early as a few weeks ago. The little kicks and punches are such a treat. We have started to call this baby "Sprinkles" (this is my oldest's choice for a girl's name), but often in my thoughts and words I refer to "Sprinkles" as a "him". I truly do believe that I am having another girl due to the conception time, but until the ultrasound (I don't think we're going to find out the gender this time) or the actual birthing, a mama never knows! Looking forward to bringing this little munchkin into our world.

My Pregnant Belly

Just wanted to share a humorous little side note to my pregnancy. My 4 year old is very aware of the fact that a baby is growing inside of my belly. She is so aware that she has actually decided what to call the baby once it is born. Are you ready? If the baby is a boy he will be named "Tozer". This name came from a character from an "Arthur" video. If the baby is a girl, she will be named . . . "Sprinkles"!

My Pregnant Belly

On Friday night I was browsing through some mom blogs. I came across 2 blogs that had me sobbing at the computer screen. Both of these blogs are about moms who are going through an amazing journey with their little ones. Both of these blogs demonstrate amazing strength and faith within the moms. Both of these blogs remind me that God is in control of every pregnancy and every good and perfect thing comes from Him.

Here are the links to the blogs about these precious moms and their children:

Especially Heather
Ivey Elizabeth

My Pregnant Belly

I have been tagged by Dianna at My Angels From Heaven and Me . I am to describe myself using each letter of the alphabet. Since this tag is falling on "My Pregnant Belly" posting day, I thought I'd describe myself in relation to my present and previous pregnancies.

A - Appetite changes
B - Belly button bulging
C - Chunky Monkey
D - Diapers - the teeny tiny newborn size
E - Emotions - joy, anxiety, fear, excitement
F - Figuring out all the "dos" and "don'ts" of being pregnant
G - Grapefruit binges
H - Hungry at midnight
I - Itchy abdomen
J - Joy
K - Kicking baby feet
L - Little rumblings in the tummy
M - Maternity clothes
N - Nesting syndrome
O - Oatmeal
P - Painting the nursery
Q - Questions and more questions
R - Reaching around the belly
S - Sciatic pain
T - Traumatic name decisions
U - Uterus expanding
V - Van shopping
W - What to Expect When You're Expecting
X - Xpanding ankles
Y - Yippee - the countdown begins
Z - zzzzzzzzz

My Pregnant Belly

Naptime has become one of my favorite parts of the day. I know that most moms would be very envious of my naptime routine, but as a pregnant mama it has become a habit of necessity. It works like this: After lunch I put my 2 year old down for her usual 2 hour nap. My 4 year old then asks if she can play buttons aka browsing through her favorite preschool websites. Then I say, "Mama needs to take a little rest". During this time of survival I am ok with a little media overload for my 4 year old while I catch a few zzzzz. I've read that the need for naps ends during the 2nd trimester so unfortunately my afternoon snooze routine may be shortly coming to a end.

My Pregnant Belly

8 weeks pregnant and experiencing the unpredictable, yet somewhat comforting effects of nausea. Every pregnancy seems to get a little worse in the nausea area - This round is no exception. I have a few tricks . . . salty soda crackers, chocolate milk over ice, and blender drinks.

Cravings are just as unpredictable. The other day all I could think about was having a binge on some peanut butter butterscotch marshmallow square. I went to the grocery store, picked up some butterscotch chips and coloured marshmallows, came home and threw the square together. I had a small slice soon after it was made (because I just couldn't wait) and then . . . that was it. The next day I caught a whiff of it in the fridge when I was making supper so I cut myself another piece. But that's it. Two days later and only one and a half pieces are eaten! Very atypical for this pregnant mamma!

Last night I just had to have chicken alfredo . . .