How Are You Feeling?

As my growing belly expands the biggest question I get is “How are you feeling?”.

Here’s a little update on my not-so-little baby bump!

For the past week or so I’ve been having some great pre-labor contractions. These contractions are normal for me. They are usually pretty uncomfortable but not terribly painful and I am able to time them for a few hours before they fizzle out. I don’t get too excited when they start because I know all too well that it’s not active labor but it is nice to know that my body is starting to get ready to evict my little prince or princess!

In addition to contractions, it seems that morning sickness has returned- it’s so not fair! I spend a few hours each day completely nauseous and sensitive to smells. I want to collapse on the couch until the misery ends. It’s like I’m newly pregnant all over again. I’m chalking up these unpleasant feelings to hormonal surges and the fact that everything in my belly is squished together.

It appears that I am also in the nesting phase of my pregnancy. In the past 3 days I have grocery shopped, cleaned the house, did all the laundry, put baby clothes in his/her dresser and sanitized everything in sight. As of right now, I am ready for baby to arrive….that is until the kids eat up all the food, create a pile of dirty laundry and destroy my freshly cleaned house and I will have to do it all over again!  Ah the joys of motherhood!

My mood swings have been OUT OF CONTROL! I resemble that episode of “Friends” when Rachel is overdue with her baby and she is so emotionally crazy that her friends are willing to do anything to get the baby out! One minute the kids are on my last nerve and I’m about to lose it and the next minute I’m crying because I remembered something sweet my husband did for me 6 years ago. I’ll admit it, I’ve been certifiably insane the past week and my husband deserves an award for coming home every night!

Today I went to my 36 week prenatal appointment with my OB. Holy cow, how am I 36 weeks already??!! I had my first cervical check and was surprised to find out that I am already 2 cm dilated and 60% effaced! Dr Gilbert also said that she could feel the baby’s head! I’m so excited to meet this little one but I’m not quite sure I’m ready to be done being pregnant already! I guess I don’t really have a choice in the matter!

The kids are getting excited to have another baby in the house! Charlotte is convinced she is going to have a little sister while Remie says that we need more boys in our family. Isaac has no clue what is going on but he has learned to point at my belly and say “baby”. Charlotte puts her hands on my belly to feel the baby kick and tries to guess what part of the baby she is feeling.  Watching their little faces light up when they talk about the baby is one of the best parts of being pregnant! Hopefully the transition to a family of 6 won’t be too difficult!