38 Weeks Pregnant: Thoughts on the Last Stretch

This pregnancy (with my 3rd baby) has definitely kicked my butt! Between intense morning (read: all day sickness) for the first 3-4 months, sciatic and lower back pain in my second trimester, really low iron that zapped all my energy throughout the entire time, and chasing around my two sweet little girls, it has given me a run for my money! While it has been so tough, it has obviously been very special too. I am pregnant with our first boy and the excitement of experiencing life with a boy has been something we have all been eagerly anticipating!

I think at this point in the game, every pregnant lady starts to miss a few things about her pre-pregnancy life. Here are a few of mine:

1. My Normal Body. While it is incredible to live as a 2-in-1 combo, my aches and pains and heaviness is definitely overwhelming at times! I realize the next stage is me being more of a squishy, cushy mamma with a glorious post-partum body, but I admit that sounds great right about now.

2. Sleep! Oh goodness. How I miss sleep. I crave sleeping on my stomach and there are no amount of pillows I can surround myself with to make sleep more comfortable. This Arizona heat doesn’t make it any better- our thermostat has been the lowest it’s ever been and is probably driving my husband a little crazy!

3. Energy. Our days are filled with one to many T.V. shows, staying in our pajamas until almost lunchtime, and rarely leaving the house. I miss having energy to have the want to play with my girls! It makes me feel sad and even guilty sometimes, but I have realized to release those things and just let this time be a time of low-key activities and REST. And sometimes, that HAS to be okay.

4. I’d like a ticket off the emotional rollercoaster! Whew. I shouldn’t be allowed to watch any kind of show or movie- I always end up in tears! And heaven forbid my husband loads the dishwasher the wrong way- he doesn’t want to face that wrath! Ha!

In fear of being a serious Negative Nancy, here are a few things that I LOVE about this stage:

1. The love my girls have for their brother already. They are both obsessed with my belly. It gets kissed, hugged, and loved on so much. It shows me how much they already think of him and adore him, and it makes me sad to think about that not happening and me being the recipient of that love as well when he’s out.

2. His birth. While the anticipation and waiting can be a serious killer at times, the mystery and in my opinion the magic of birth is awesome. Every single labor and birth story is so different and I can’t wait to see how this one unfolds.

3. The movement. I love watching my belly morph into weird shapes and being able to feel his tiny little body parts and wondering what it is I’m touching. It is such a special thing that is in so many ways for just him and I to experience together.

4. The 2-in-1 Combo. I know I listed this as a sort of complaint earlier, yearning for my own body back, but in another way it’s one of the most amazing things there is. The fact that I can grow a baby blows my mind.

I’m hoping that the next time I post on here is my birth story of this sweet, little guy. But until then, I’m going to prop my feet up, guilt-free, and enjoy this hard, but precious last stretch!