36 weeks

You can tell you’re getting to be pretty big because the question I get most seems to shift from “what are you having?” to “when are you due?”  It’s amazing some of the comments you get from people and you can quickly distinguish if you’re talking to someone who has been pregnant or not.  For example – the “WOW, you’re full on into the maternity clothes now, huh” comment I got a couple months ago came from a woman with no children.  I told Dane that maybe I’m weird but the comment I got from a girl who also has two little boys who just simply said, “you’re getting big” didn’t even phase me.  I think it’s because it’s just honest – I am big, I know that, so sometimes I feel like people are trying to say that, but not say that to spare my feelings.  It’s probably just because I don’t feel cute but I sure do feel big.  But I do appreciate all the sweet comments I get and it’s nice to know people think I’m a “cute pregnant lady” even if I don’t feel that way.  I had someone ask me the other day how this pregnancy compared to my one with Carter.  It’s basically been about the same physically.  I felt like I’m bigger this go around and Dane did too, but my doctor compared my measurements and I’m exactly the same as I was with Carter other than weighing 2 pounds more - these two boys measure the same.  Other physical differences have just been that this guy gets hiccups pretty often.  If he does get them it’s usually multiple times a day and at least every couple days.  Carter only got them a couple times.  I also had no Braxton hicks contractions at all with Carter and I started having some a couple weeks ago.  This week they’ve gotten much more noticeable though and not so comfortable.  I’ll be curious to see if they continue to get stronger or if they’ll just stay the same.  Dane would probably agree with my thought that I’ve been more emotional.  I cry over stuff I normally wouldn’t and when we found out about Wheat Ridge I cried for pretty much 2 weeks on and off.  But along with that I also cry at ridiculous stuff.  I started crying at an episode of Survivor – a guy made a decision not to see his mom so others could see their families and his mom said she wasn’t surprised by the decision because that’s the sort of person her son is and that he’s a hero – and I cried.  I thought how I want my sons to be like that and so what better response than to cry.  Somewhat ridiculous, I know.  I feel like I’m so calm about this pregnancy too.  I was so anxious throughout the whole pregnancy with Carter.  By 32 weeks I felt like I could not stand it and just wanted him to be here and to meet him.  I’m SO excited to meet this little guy but I know that it’s still better for him to “cook” a little longer and he’ll be here soon enough.  I don’t have any anxiety about the delivery and while I know there’s so much that can go on, I feel ok because I know what to expect this time.  I hope it goes as smoothly as everything did with Carter (other than my epidural wearing out…)  I’m not nervous at all about the idea of a newborn and a toddler and having to try to watch them both – though I probably should be.  The only thing I’m concerned about is that first trip out to the grocery store.  That’s what scares me.  This pregnancy has been at a very busy and somewhat rough time, but as I’ve told Dane for all the things that don’t seem to fall into place for us our babies are what works out.  We were hoping for a brother for Carter and that’s what we got.  We’ve got a healthy and spunky 2 year old and a baby and pregnancy that has gone along with zero issues.  Having 2 healthy and happy kids trumps everything else that we struggle through.  And hey no one can say Dane and I haven’t worked hard for where we’ve ended up and where we want to go.  One day it’ll pay off, but for now we have our boys to treasure.  And thinking about it all, of course, makes me want to cry – happy cry though J