Brian and I were having a discussion the other day about how I don’t seem to really be talking about my pregnancy on my blog.  Certainly, I mention my pregnancy and share a photo here and there but I don’t really write about it.  We are thinking it’s probably some sort of defense mechanism.  With James and Jake I wrote so freely about my hopes and dreams, my symptoms, my excitement and the next moment it was gone.

I am so glad to have that piece of history written out for our family and for me so I’m going to try to share more about this little miracle growing so well inside of me right now.

I’m getting tired.  I’m sleeping less.  My bed is less comfortable or my body is tolerating less, either way, I’m always waking up, seeking some sort of comfort.  I still love being pregnant but am really, really feeling pregnant right now.  My hips, butt and back hurt.  My legs always seem to ache and yes, I’ll be seeing a chiropractor on Friday.  (WHICH IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME.  Just ask my friends.)

This boy moves like you would not believe.  I’m not sure if he’s going to be an acrobat or a soccer player or if he’s just a kind-hearted soul who wants to reassure his Mama, his Daddy and his siblings but man, he can move.

I am starting to see my OB every two weeks and once a week I go into Labor and Delivery for an NST.  My first one was last week.  I actually had to lay in a bed in a L&D room.  The last time I did that, I was laboring with James and Jake.  It was not an easy visit but the nurse (apparently, a saint) made me feel more comfortable and reassured me so much.

I go back tomorrow.

The kids are so excited.  Sometimes I think they can’t possibly become more excited but then they always prove me wrong.  They count down the days, they tell him how much they love him, they want to feel him move and today Noah told me that he’s glad the baby hasn’t died, yet.

It’s just the way we live right now.  Interesting, isn’t it?

Noah is obsessed with the idea that he has a cord attached to his belly and Anna keeps better track of how many weeks I am better than I do, she also thinks it’s really cool that soon we will be a family of seven.  (yes, she actually counts James and Jake as two members of our family – I love her heart.)

We do not have a name picked out, however, there is a name I love so much that I want to sleep with it and marry it but Brian is apparently trying to kill me by pretending he doesn’t like it.  It’s really annoying.

I realize that I should use the same bedding that we picked out for Noah but I’m just not that same person and this baby is not that baby and I really did not want to use it.  But, I also realize how stupid it would be to spend $300 on new bedding for such a short period of time.  So, while Brian and I were out shopping yesterday, I came across the perfect sheets, bed skirt and bumper pad all for a grand total of $22.  (these pieces are not a set but they work wonderfully together!)  I’m a very happy girl and Brian’s wallet thanks me.

We also have a paint color picked out which means in February we will begin creating the baby’s nursery which also means that we are REALLY GOING TO HAVE A BABY.

Apparently.  Right?

Yesterday, I paid a visit to my cardiologist at the University of Chicago and everything was amazing, my blood pressure was beyond perfect which is such a blessing considering how high it became with both Anna and Noah.  (I delivered Anna at 35 weeks due to pre-eclampsia).

In no way are we out of the dark, in fact, it’s during this time that I need to be monitored very closely, but we are all very hopeful.

At my last OB’s visit, I was measuring big for the first time during this pregnancy, which is not necessarily shocking since Noah weighed as much as a small row boat (I delivered Noah at 38 weeks because of his size, he weighed 10 pounds.)  So, we are hoping, hoping AND HOPING that this baby won’t be as large as Noah because I want to be as close to 40 weeks as possible.  (both kids spent their first weeks in the NICU and it was not a good experience, obviously, we are just trying to avoid that!)

So with that…here’s this:

We haven’t even officially met yet and I can’t believe he’s really ours.