It appears that Baby G is growing quite well these days. My belly just keeps getting bigger and bigger. According to the measurements at the doctor’s office she is right on track with my due date, but I am feeling so huge it is hard to believe that I have another 12 weeks to go. My doctor is keeping a close eye on the baby’s size this time around though so I might actually have a chance to deliver a normal sized baby. She has scheduled a 36 week sonogram to check the size and I guess we’ll decide what to do from there. I’m really kind of hoping that she comes a little early, especially considering that I just found out my doctor is planning to take a vacation during my 40th week.
The last week or so has brought along the 3rd trimester fatigue. Part of is it most likely due to the chaos of the holidays, but making it through the day is getting harder and harder. By about 2:00 I’m struggling not to fall asleep at my desk and by the time I get home in the evenings I’m ready to just go to bed. That wouldn’t be a problem if it weren’t for the fact that I have a husband and son at home who kind of like me to stay awake for a little while. The last few nights I’ve found myself snoozing on the couch while Zach plays. Then I wake up long enough to get him to bed and usually fall asleep in his bed with him. Last night I woke up in Zach’s bed around 12:30 and had to force myself to get up and move to my own (much more comfortable) bed.
On top of the fatigue, I think I may be having some Braxton Hicks contractions. I first noticed them a couple of days ago, but figured it was just my stomach revolting from all of the junk I put into it over New Year’s. Then I noticed it again yesterday, and a couple more times last night. I don’t remember having them at all when I was pregnant with Zach so I looked it up in my handy dandy pregnancy book and I’m pretty sure that’s what it is.
Just yesterday I realized that I ONLY HAVE 12 WEEKS LEFT! Somehow 12 weeks sounds like much less time than 3 months. Even though I’m hoping she does come just a little early, I’m suddenly feeling very unprepared for this baby. Judging by how quickly the weeks have flown by so far, this baby is going to arrive before I know it. I have so many things I want to do before she gets here. Besides things like setting up the crib, washing blankets and tiny baby clothes, and digging out the swing and other baby paraphernalia, I have a lot of preparation to do with Zach. I’ve been trying to talk to him more and more about the baby over the last couple of weeks, specifically talking about how the baby will come home with us and be part of our family. Unfortunately, I still don’t think he has a clue and I’m really scared of how he will react when Baby G actually arrives. I know he will be a great big brother in time, but those first few weeks may be very difficult.
When I first found out I was pregnant with Baby G, I set two very specific goals that I wanted Zach to reach before the baby came. The first one was to break him of his pacifier, which we accomplished fairly easily. The second was to get him potty trained and out of diapers. That one hasn’t come so easily. We’re getting much closer, but I really don’t see him being able to go without his pull-ups before the baby comes. He’ll go on the toilet when I take him, but he hasn’t really figured out how to detect when he needs to go and actually get to the bathroom on time. He has actually told me he needed to go a few times over the last few days so I think it will come soon, but not soon enough. I really wish I could just take a week off work, keep him home, and do nothing but potty train him for the entire week. I really think he would have it down if I just had a little more time to work with him.
I know that in the end it will all work out. I’m sure I’ll get things ready before the baby gets here. If Zach isn’t potty trained it isn’t the end of the world. He’s only 2 1/2. We still have plenty of time. I’m just having a little pre-baby panic. I just want everything to be perfect when Baby G finally shows us her pretty little face.
