Five Years

Leland James,

Today, my sweet boy, you are five years old. You. My baby. The one who made me a mama. I can still remember the details of your entrance into this world so vividly, as if it were yesterday. You changed my whole world the instant I saw your face, and you've made every day since then brighter than the last.

Leland, I can't begin to describe how proud I am of the person you're becoming. You have matured so much over the last few months, and while you still have your difficult moments, you truly have a kind heart.

The most exciting thing in your life right now is your brand new sister, Olivia. She was born just six days ago and you are absolutely smitten with her. You come running whenever you hear her crying (usually when I'm changing her diaper). You ask to hold her several times throughout the day. You want to be near her at all times. I love to see how much you love her. You told me a few days ago that you will always protect her and my mama heart exploded.

That's not to leave Alden out though. You two are best buds. You may bicker and fight, but you adore each other. You love to play cars together and jump around and wrestle, and Alden likes when you pick him up and carry him around.

You are in preschool again, but this year you have a new teacher, Mrs. Winowiecki. You love school, your teacher, and your classmates. Though it's hard to get you up in the mornings, you love to be there and it's hard to get you to leave at the end of the day. You talk about school all the time and you like to teach Alden the different songs you learn.

Your interests haven't changed much in the last few years. Your favorite things are still tractors, trucks, trains, planes, etc. You also enjoy building with Legos, riding bikes, and doing pretty much anything outside. You love music - singing, playing instruments, and listening to a variety of musical genres. Your favorite color is blue.

Your favorite foods are hot dogs, spaghetti, breakfast casserole (a sausage/egg concoction that we usually have for dinner more than breakfast), pizza, green beans, cucumbers, and just about any fruit. You don't like cheese, except on pizza.

You still love your blanket. You snuggle with it when we watch movies and you sleep with it every night. It has seen better days and is turning into an old, ratty thing, but you love it. I will be just as sad as you when it falls apart, but for now, whenever it needs mending, Grammy Patti is there to help us out.

You weigh 42 lbs and are about 45 inches tall.

Leland, I could gush about how wonderful you are all day long. You bring indescribable joy to our family. And as much as I would like you to stay little forever, I love watching you grow and develop and figure things out. It is so much fun being your mom.

Happy Birthday, my big kid, I love you.

Love, Mom

Bumpdate: 39 weeks

How far along: 39 weeks. For real, I am shocked (and so is my doctor) that I am this pregnant. Uncharted territory for sure!

Total Weight Gain: I forgot to weigh myself, but I’m going to say around 38-40. It feels like 80 though.

Size of Baby: pumpkin – sounds about right

Maternity Clothes?: Yeahhhh….ummm…even those don’t fit me. Yoga pants and giant DairyVille t-shirts for the win! Oddly enough though, my GTA fleece still zips – and it’s a size small. Weird.

Sleep: Not the greatest (thank you, heartburn), but it could be worse. I’m not complaining.

Food Cravings: Cookies, candy, hot chocolate. Craziest sweet tooth ever!

Food Aversions: Real, actual meals don’t sound very good to me at all. Probably because I can’t fit much in my stomach at this point.

Gender: Girl

Symptoms: Heartburn, ligament pains, pelvic pressure.  But no signs of labor yet.

Milestones: How about just being this pregnant?!

Movement: Movement has definitely slowed, and yesterday I didn’t feel her for a very long time. My doctor told me if I don’t feel her for several hours to lay on my side and count kicks – I should feel 5 per hour. I did that yesterday and felt 5 within about 20 minutes and then consistently for the rest of the day. That was a relief.

Best moment this week: Date night with my husband (we went to see Office Christmas Party instead of going to my work party), another movie the next day with my friend, Michelle (It’s a Wonderful Life), and taking the boys to the Festival of Trains.

Looking forward to: OB appt on Wednesday. My doctor said if I want to, I can schedule an induction at that point if I haven’t gone into labor yet. I have a really hard time thinking about that because I know it can be a much longer process than if I go into labor naturally. But we’re considering scheduling it for her due date if we get to that point.

Extra Notes: The way I’m feeling changes from day to day. Some days I feel pretty comfortable and other days I am in so much pain (pelvic and ligament) that I just want to have this baby NOW. And the heartburn is KILLER! I’m still trying to soak it all in, as this is most likely my last pregnancy (we’re not planning on having anymore, but I know how “plans” work out sometimes, ha ha). But I am ready to meet our girl and get to snuggling.

Bumpdate: 38 weeks

How far along: 38 weeks

This picture is from this weekend, but I didn't feel like taking another picture today. Two days' difference...I can't have changed that much. 

Total Weight Gain: 37-ish lbs

Size of Baby: winter melon…sounds about right

Maternity Clothes?: Yeah…those don’t really fit anymore. My uniform pants are ok, but nothing else. Yoga pants and my two biggest t-shirts are my best friends these days.

Sleep: It’s been hit or miss. Some nights I sleep really well, and other nights I just can’t get comfortable.

Food Cravings: Just snacks, especially sweet ones.

Food Aversions: Actual meals. Yesterday, I ate yogurt for lunch.

Gender: Girl

Symptoms: Heartburn is insane. Lots of ligaments pulling and stretching. And pretty much my entire body just hurts.

Milestones: Baby girl is pretty much fully matured and ready for life outside the womb. According to one of the doctors at my OB's office, there is no reason a baby needs to stay in after this point. 

Movement: Movement has been less lately. Every time I start to feel anxious that I haven’t felt her in a while, she gives me a little jab to let me know she’s ok.

Best moment this week: Sunday nap! Hollaaaa!

Looking forward to: Having this baby. Hopefully sooner than later.

Extra Notes: Part of me feels like this baby could come anytime, and part of me feels like she’s going to make me wait until my due date or later. I am ready to meet her, and my body is ready to not be pregnant anymore. I feel silly saying that because I know I’m only 38 weeks, and some people have to go 42 weeks, but my body feels stretched to its limit. Everything hurts all day long. My doctor is on call today, so I’m really hoping it happens today. I don’t know the on-call schedule the rest of the week, but I’ve never had my own doctor deliver my babies. Hopefully it works out to have her this time. 

Bumpdate: 37 weeks

How far along: 37 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 35 lbs

Size of Baby: romaine lettuce (18-20”)

Maternity Clothes?: Yes, and I’m on the verge of wearing Dave’s shirts for lounging at home…they’re like dresses on me though.

Sleep: It’s been rough the last week. Having a hard time getting and staying comfortable. And heartburn all night long.

Food Cravings: cereal, cookies

Food Aversions: Nothing really…just still hate cooking.

Gender: Girl

Symptoms: Insane heartburn, lots of pelvic/bladder pressure. I’m not one to complain about pregnancy, but the last week has been super uncomfortable…I’ve never felt like this before in my other pregnancies. But regardless of how unfun it has been lately, I still feel incredibly thankful to experience it. And I know I will miss it when it’s over.

Milestones: FULL TERM!

Movement: Lots of movement. Mostly her butt and feet pushing up toward my sternum.

Best moment this week: Visiting Santa and setting up the tree with the boys. I love this time of year.

Looking forward to: I always look forward to my OB appointments – next one is Friday (they’re weekly now). Also, all the Christmas parties/events/activities coming up, even though we’re not really sure if we’ll make it to any/all of them.

Extra Notes: At my OB appointment last Friday, they did the group B strep test…oh the joys. My doctor also checked my dilation (also a fun experience…not). She was surprised at how low our baby girl is. Said she’s WAY down, I’m dilated to 1, and my cervix is soft and definitely getting ready. Wee 3 could be here any day, or she may take a few more weeks. There’s no knowing for sure, so we just wait and see. My doctor doesn’t seem to think it’ll be too much longer though; she predicts around 38 weeks like Alden was.