the third one

So here we are. That is, here I am with my soon-to-be-evacuated-in-less-than-six-weeks freeloader kumquat. I figure it's time to devote one post to this squirmer, and what better time to do it than at the point where you simultaneously want him out out out as much as you want him to stay in longer because tooooo sooon noooot ready. That point of pregnancy is apparently at 34 weeks. Because here we are.

So! Here are some pregnancy stats!

Overall: Excellent. Really, nothing to truly complain about. I'm enjoying this pregnancy a good bit, just in comparison to Finley's go around. Last time was much more symptom-y and this time, with the exception of the food aversions and slight fatigue early on, I have felt great and normal most days. Even the dreaded glucose test went as well as can be expected, in so many ways, and was definitely the "best" one to date. I have a lot to be grateful for.

Time: Baby boy #3, week 34.4. This marks 1,919 consecutive days of either growing a person inside of me or nursing a person outside of me or simultaneously both. Seeing as Jason and I have been married for 3,971 days, that is nearly half of our married life. Poor Jason.

Weight: At our week 31 appointment, I was up 16 pounds. This is pretty much on par with my weight gain with Finley, though I am starting 2 pounds heavier than I did with Finley, so... Basically I feel like a whale and since I carry most [all?] of the weight in my stomach, I feel like I look like a whale. Or like this orangutan.

When I compared myself to this orangutan, all Jason had to say is, "You don't know that orangutan is even pregnant." 😐

Height: Still the same. Still waiting on my growth spurt.

Length: Of what?

Problematic pregnancy side effects: Sometimes I need a good shove to sit up in bed. If I try to sit straight up from lying down without turning onto my side or getting a hand from Jason, I now experience the phenomenon Jason refers to as "turtling." Basically, picture a turtle who has fallen on his back and is struggling to right himself. I now wake up at least once a night to go to the bathroom. My stomach enters the room a good 0.4 seconds before the rest of me. Reading books with the boys in my lap is downright uncomfortable.

Movement: This baby is a mover and shaker. Or more like somersault-er and roil-er. At our last appointment he was not head down so I've really been giving him pep talks to get a move on it, to quit partying in there and get [head] down to business. I don't know if he's listening. I think he has his music on too loud.

Foods: I'm all about the fruit right now, particularly oranges. Lucas and Finley also happen to be all about the fruit as well, particularly oranges. Boundaries have been drawn. Discontentment has been expressed on both sides. We manage to still love each other.

Things I'm looking forward to: Not poking my stomach with counter corners. Lying down on my stomach. Bending over to pick something up instead of squatting. Seventeen less bathroom trips each day. Having the boys use me as a jungle gym without grunting and groaning about the all the knees and elbows digging into me. Eating a meal without wondering if I'm going to regret it. And, most of all, HAVING A SQUISHY BABY TO CUDDLE.

Baby preparation: We bought a new onesie for him, does this count? He will have a clothing item all of his own that does not have Lucas or Finley liquids embedded in the threads. I think that's prime living for the third child! We have literally done nothing else in tangible getting-ready tasks. The problem is, I'm not entirely sure what all we actually need to do. It feels wrong but maybe that's just the natural progression of things as you have each new kid. I guess we will find out once he pops his head out what we've overlooked. Whoops.

So, there you have it. Things really have been flying along. We are counting down the days until Jason's summer break [because who doesn't like Dado home ALL THE TIME FOR THREE MONTHS 🎉], but then we realize once again that his Summer Break Relaxation Break countdown is the same exact countdown as the Three Kiddo Craziness countdown. His last work-related task is on April 30th and the kumquat is due May 3rd. That's a tight squeeze right there. I can't believe we have less than 6 weeks left...

the man who makes all this possible